The Essex Naturalist
1
Report of the Essex Field Club for 1997-98
Approved at the Annual General Meeting on 21st March 1998
The Council of the Essex Field Club met six times during the year 1997-98 at
the Old House Brentwood (five times) and Pentland Avenue, Chelmsford
(once). Progress on many of the problems that exercised Council during 1996-
97 has been made but some still have yet to be brought to a satisfactory
conclusion. A start has been made in other directions to ensure that the Field
Club is in good order.
Council is looking to broadcast its activities and achievements and to
increase membership by implementing a number of measures. A pamphlet
and a poster are being designed and costed, for display in libraries, museums
and wildlife centres. The pamphlet will be sent out with all publications sold
and the possibility of a mailing with the newsletters of other county natural
history societies is being investigated. The Essex Naturalist and the Club's
monographs are also to be placed in nature reserve and other appropriate
bookshops.
During the year the remainder of the Harley Bequest came to the Club and
has been invested temporarily in short-term high interest savings accounts.
Decisions will need to be made during the coming year on the best manner to
invest this bequest and on how it is to be used. Council has also been
considering the best status to adopt in order to handle the bequest in the most
financially efficient manner. It has been decided not to register for charitable
status nor to become a limited liability company, though the latter point is still
being investigated.
The Club's former collections and library are still in temporary store at
Burgoyne's, in Newham. Work towards housing the collection in better
temporary accommodation has been pursued vigorously, but there have been
numerous extremely frustrating hold-ups. However, the re-housing plans are
progressing.
A start has been made on updating the procedures by which we operate. A
revision of the constitution/rules is under way, a code of practice for the
Recorders is being discussed and a calendar of ongoing business for Council has
been drawn up to ensure the smooth running of its business.
The Club's subscription has had to be raised to £10 per annum ordinary
member, £12.50 families, £15.00 libraries and societies. As a result of the
increase, the service to members will be better. The quality and reliability of
publication of the Newsletter and the Naturalist will improve. To this end, an
agreement for the printing and mailing of the Naturalist, the Newsletter, the
Programme Card and various notices has been made with Cravitz Printing
Company Limited of Brentwood. The dates agreed for the copy deadlines and
mailings are: