SECRETARY'S REPORT

Connoisseurs of this page in the annual report will be aware of a general theme in its content. As often as not, I report that the society is ticking over happily, that someone has left office after years of service, and that members are to be encouraged to take a more active role in the affairs of the society.

This year I continue the theme.

The society's continued success may be due to, rather than in spite of, a certain conservatism in its activities. Radical change is certainly not its nature. The indoor meetings continue to attract a reasonable proportion of members and a reasonable number of visitors. Field trips are invariably enjoyed by members and thanks are due to the small nucleus of committee members who devote time to organising them.

After this annual report we lose the services of Andy Leach as Records Secretary, the post being taken on by our editor Neil Southworth. We wish Neil good luck and thank Andy again for all his years as Records Secretary.

I appeal to members to give serious thought to joining the committee, which is desperate for new faces and new ideas. Apart from pointing out the need for new committee members to give new impetus to general committee work, I would like also to point out that the Secretary has been in post for 18 years, the Treasurer for 13 years and the Speaker Secretary for 20. Change must come. Please consider whether you can help.

The Committee and Officers and the end of 1998 were:-