The 80th Annual General Meeting of the Society was held at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday 22nd April 2009, at the Holiday Inn, Ipswich. The most significant parts of the formal business were a series of Resolutions to modernise and improve the Constitution of the Society. These Resolutions were all passed unanimously. As a result, the post of internet “web-site manager” now becomes an Officer of the Society; Ordinary Members of the Council may now serve two 4-year terms before having to stand down, should they so desire; the relationship of the Society with like-minded natural history special interest groups and Society sub-committees has been clarified; and finally, the meeting gave approval in principle for the sale of land at Rose Hill.

Adrian Chalkley and Tony Prichard ended their four-year terms as Ordinary members of Council. However, Adrian immediately returns as our web-site manager and Tony returned under the newly sanctioned rule regarding two terms on Council. Other vacant positions were filled as follows: Colin Hawes has long sat on Council as an observer in his role as one of the Rivis Vice-presidents but is now a full ordinary member with voting rights. Ann Ainsworth is the natural history curator at Ipswich museum, with a particular interest in geology. Gen Broad heads up the Biodiversity Action Plan team in the museum and has an interest in marine life as well.

Howard Mendel has been acting Chairman for the last year but was voted in as Chairman at the meeting. There is now the need to find a replacement Treasurer since Howard, quite understandably, does not wish to maintain both posts! The formal business of the society was then followed by an informative talk given by Simone Bullion of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust on her new book on Suffolk mammals, copies of which were for sale on the night. Our thanks go to Simone for providing such a good talk for our members.