Present: J. Bowdrey (CIMS), P. Wise (CIMS), J. Hardingham (SNS),
A. Chalkley (SNS) and C. Hawes (SNS)

      It was agreed that the new Curator of Natural History (Ipswich) would sit on the Council of the SNS as museum representative.
      The Museum Service confirmed that access to the natural history collections would in future be available at any reasonable time by prior appointment with JB.
      Although the Victorian Gallery at the High Street would be retained and improved, it was noted that that the other Natural History galleries were in need of refurbishment. A priority would be the Birds gallery.
      It was agreed that both CIMS and SNS would confirm the status of the Society’s collections within the IBC museum collection.
      SNS offered to publicise future museum events and news stories through its newsletter and website.
      The Museum Service offered the High Street Museum as a venue for joint SNS/ CIMS meetings.
      The Museum Service would review the availability of equipment, especially digital cameras for use by volunteers.
      Both organisations would consider what sources of funding may be available for partnership projects.

No date was set for a second meeting, but this would take place when the Curator of Natural History (Ipswich) and Natural History Trainee were in post. This would be therefore an opportunity for the SNS to meet the new museum staff. In the interim a further meeting could be organised as necessary.