EDITORIAL
After a rash of publications in the form of the Millennium booklet, followed quickly by the Annual Report and the Summer Newsletter, your editor is now suffering from writer's block. He is, therefore, delighted to be able to hand over this page to our Treasurer, Stan Llewellin, who has a couple of important announcements. Over to you Stan!
Declaration of Gift Aid
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has relaxed the regulations relating to the reclamation of tax by charities. Although covenants have not been abolished as yet, an equivalent financial return may be achieved by signing a simple declaration that you wish your donations (subscriptions) to be treated as Gift Aid donations. There is no requirement to maintain such donations over a given period. The conditions which apply to such declarations are summarised on the form, which should be included with this copy of the Newsletter. If you are a taxpayer, you are strongly urged to sign and return the form to me at the given address. It costs you nothing, but on the basis of current taxation and Society membership, a significant increase in our income could be generated by our members' corporate action.
'Chorley Naturally' - a report
The committee hopes that you have enjoyed reading our birthday booklet. We gained our 'Awards for All' Lottery Grant on the basis of generating a greater awareness of their natural environment among both the residents of, and visitors to our borough. One thousand copies of the booklet were ordered, of which approximately 300 have been distributed free to members, associated charities, libraries, youth groups and secondary schools in Chorley, Leyland, Bamber Bridge and Horwich. If you know of an official youth group, which could make good use of the booklet, please let us know. Awards for All has given us permission to sell up to 600 booklets at £2.00 each in order to establish a fund dedicated to the promotion of interest in our natural environment. Members, mainly committee members, have sold or hold for sale some 150 copies, and a further 240 have been placed in 14 commercial outlets, while another 85 copies are in the hands of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, the Bolton RSPB group and Chorley Scout Shop on a sale or return basis - we to share the sale proceeds on a 50/50 basis. There are still a number of copies available. You are invited to show your copy to anyone likely to be interested, with a view to making a sale. My local Post Office has sold 30 copies. If you are able to suggest an additional sales outlet, please let me know via the editor.
Stan Llewellin (Treasurer)