Yet another summer draws to a close, and by the time you read this Newsletter, we will be into the forthcoming season of winter lectures. The summer after a very poor start has improved somewhat towards the end, and August has turned out to be a fairly dry month. Hopefully, this will have meant plenty of butterflies in your gardens, which you have been able to enter onto your survey forms. I know that Phil is keenly anticipating receiving them, so don't disappoint him!

Looking towards the winter season, we have a problem. Lionel and Hilary Walker, who have sold bird food at the evening meetings for several years, have decided to take a rest from the job, and we thank them for all their efforts. However, at the moment we have no volunteer to sell bird food at the meetings for the coming season. The sale of bird food during the last season raised £200.00 for Society funds, which subsidised membership subscriptions to the tune of about £2.00 per membership. If we are not able to find a volunteer, we will therefore have to raise subscriptions by around £2.00 per membership to offset this potential deficit. It would be a pity because in any event we see the sale of bird food as a service for members. The biggest problem related to the job is the question of storage between meetings. If you are able to assist in any way to maintain this service, we would be very pleased to hear from you.

The wider issue of finance was raised at last year's AGM, at which authority was sought and was given by the membership to raise subscriptions this year, if the Committee deems it necessary. The Committee has decided that in view of a continuing annual loss, and irrespective of the sale of bird food, it would be prudent to raise subscriptions. So with effect from 1^st September, they will be increased by two pounds per membership. The revised rates are shown at the back of this newsletter. The increase could well result in an administrative nightmare for our Treasurer, Stan Llewellin, so can I make a special plea to all those who pay by Standing Order, that they will complete and forward the revised mandate to their banks, as soon as possible after they receive it.

We also need new blood on the Committee. We have lost three or four members over the last couple of years, and have only had one replacement. Someone recently observed that it was difficult to find committee members at indoor meetings. There aren't that many of us, so if you can help?