Got your first newsletter. Very interesting activities. Looking forward to lepak-ing with nature.

1. Since you encourage members to write to be heard, especially through the e-mail, I suggest that our branch set up an address book consisting of members' e-mail addresses. It may not benefit those without this electronic media but at least it helps us to communicate better especially when it sometimes takes umpteen phone calls to get to a person! I think MNS HQ has set up an address book too.
2. Perak MNS Homepage is a great idea but we need to be active first. For example, MNS Selangor has many groups - astronomy, pathfinders, marine etc. I suggest we initiate some other special interest groups too (besides Birding & Caving) so that the particular group/sub-committee can have proper planning for its activities. (Looks like only the Bird Group is switching to top gear). Here, others who are not in the committee can contribute ideas through the group too. The committee need not lead all the trips but at least they make sure it has some activities from time to time. Of course, this idea needs voluntarism, ideas and interest.
3. I suggest we have some learning-based activities when we have field trips. I encountered one embarrassing incident when I attended an MNS School Nature Club Facilitators' Gathering not long ago. Somebody pointed out some plants during a trekking trip. I did not (still do not) know much about plants (and many other things in the forest!) and this person bluntly said," My god! You're a facilitator and you don't know this??!!" Well, I have myself to blame for the ignorance as I have never learnt more about the forest earlier (and I'd never seem to be able to have time for many MNS trips). Anyway, I hope there will be more activities where members can learn something rather than dashing through the forest and only learn that there are leeches and sweat and generally think of MNS as a social group.
4. Another suggestion - whoever is writing the envelopes - why not get all the addresses ready printed and then just cut and stick before sending? May sound messy but I think it can save a lot of time in writing and checking the addresses. And he/she may make errors.
5. There are vast padi fields in the Sungai Manik area, about an hour's drive from Ipoh. I saw a lot of birds during the harvesting season last December. I was wondering if anyone's interested to do bird-watching here. It's about 15 minutes from Teluk Intan so accommodation can be arranged for those who want to have an overnight trip. They may then adjourn to Bagan Datoh for another session.....(and seafood?)

That's all.....
(Writer wishes to remain anonymous)

Chairman's Reply.

Thanks a lot for your views and constructive suggestions which concur a large part with my thinking. I hope more members will show the same concern as you and write in to help us improve.

1. Regarding the address book, especially e-mail, I must get the agreement of members concerned to protect their privacy. Anyway not many people have this facility.
2. I have started on the homepage and will be operational soon (see announcements).
3. We cannot be like the MNS Selangor branch as they have 2500 + members. They are rich, have more facilities, able to use the facilities of HQ and various Universities whose staff are members and so they have more expertise. Trying to maintain membership here is already a problem. Anyway we are starting a Marine Group. Interested? I'll start on flora next year. Wanna help?
4. I understand your predicament but just tell them frankly that Nobody knows everything! The only thing we can do is that we will try to find out from reliable sources. I have been up against the wall for ages since I started to be interested in gesneriads (only!). There are no proper reference books or experts in plants in Ipoh. The forestry department is no help and we can't get help from FRIM easily. I was told to go to the herbarium in Kepong. I have asked Ruth Kiew to come to Ipoh to give a talk and go searching for such plants. Maybe then we can learn a thing or two. But anyway don't give up. See what I did to identify the Paraboea capitata var. oblongifolia?
5. I agree wholeheartedly with you that some members go "dashing through the forest and only learn that there are leeches and sweat and generally think of MNS as a social group". We can't help it and it is obligatory of any society to encourage it whether actively or subtlely. On one hand we need their support (membership) and on the other we need to educate them if they allow themselves the opportunity to learn - remember the saying about being able only to bring the cow to the water but not make it drink? Yes they should first think of MNS as a rich source/opportunity to learn and to share knowledge on nature and then treat it as a social group afterwards.
6. Don't tell me the problems of writing the addresses - it's helluva tedious job. We are trying to get HQ to change their outmoded Cobol data-based system to one which can be easily handled by the branches such as MS Access to produce address labels. Anyway Rose promised to send us the address labels for the next newsletter.
7. I have birded with the Selangor group in that area. It's a good place to see padi field and certain migratory birds.

Chairman