True summer weather has at last arrived and I for one have been wilting in the heat. The fuchsias will certainly be thirsty but with tender loving care they will survive and hopefully reach the show bench.

The May meeting was the first at the new venue and I hope that you will be happy there. There is plenty of room and I know some have found the seats not so soft as at the University but you can bring a cushion if you wish. Ann, June and Aubrey are impressed with the kitchen facilities, a little different from coping with flasks and not having enough water at some meetings.

George Evans the speaker at our May meeting covered all aspects of growing, from cuttings to showing and also touched on bonsai plants. In June we had Eric Coupland who told us about his way of growing fuchsias. I hope he does not give up growing  fuchsias altogether and as Stewart Walker said in his vote of thanks "Come and tell us bout your trip to Australia" - I will keep it in mind as that could be an interesting talk.

The Mini Show will be held on the 25^th July and Charles Jenkinson from Barnsley, the secretary of the North East Fuchsia Group, will be judging and hopefully we will learn from some useful tips.

The next event will be our Annual Show and once again I hope we can give the public a really good show with the hall filled to capacity - can we beat the number of plants exhibited last year? Once again the appeal goes out for prizes for the Tombola, if every member could bring one they soon mount up, if you bring them to the Mini Show I will pass them on to Lois. Also don't forget the plant stall, we can never have too many plants, ones other than fuchsias are also acceptable, as long as they can be sold. We have to keep our reputation up for the cakes, and what a wonderful selection we had last year! Can I ask members to bring cakes so we have a good and varied selection for the public and of course for the helpers. Keep up the good work in all these sections as they all help to make the show a success as well as helping with the expense of putting on the show. Lastly can we have volunteers for setting up the hall on Friday morning as we can do with all the help we can get, the more willing hands we have the sooner the job is done.

The North East Counties Fuchsias Group meeting in June discussed arrangements for the 2002 display. The dates are 31st August and 1st September and will be held at the Elsecar Heritage Centre, Barnsley, in hall 21. It will be an ideal location and there will be more room for the display than last year at Lincoln and a refreshment area in the hall with a seating area. Our Society has agreed to do a display in an area of 9ft x 12ft and once again it will be in the capable hands of Peter Long and David Edmond, with of course some assistance from members.
The next meeting will be in November so I will have more to report then. The plant sale held at Hornsea made a total of £180.00 which will o towards the cost of staging the event.
The committee have discussed arranging trips, some prefer a coach as it makes it a more social event, others going in their own cars bad meeting up for a meal. There is bound to be a difference of opinion but with your help in letting us have your views it will give us something to work on. I mentioned this in the last newsletter but so far there has been no response.

Finally all trophies to be returned to me by the 21st July but will accept any late ones at the Mini Show.
I wish exhibitors and helpers an enjoyable show and with your help feel sure we will be successful.

     Bye for now, Chris

I can smile when I am beaten
I can shake the victor's hand.
I can pat the judge on the shoulder
I can say his choice was grand.

I can be a real good loser
I can take it on the chin.
But although it isn't sporting
I would really rather win!