Beguiling Time - Contemporary Lace, exhibition at the DeMorgan Centre, London SW18, until 31 May 2008

David Cobb was approached by a member of the 98 Lace Group, Sue McLaggan, with questions about the British Museum Haiku book. She used the information to create a piece called Haiku Streamer. This was subsequently selected to feature in an exhibition, Beguiling Time - Contemporary Lace, at the DeMorgan Centre, West Hill Library Building, 38 West Hill, London SW18 1RZ, which opened on 22 March and runs until 31 May 2008. More details on the website, www.demorgan.org.uk.

splish splash! - Saturday, 21 June 2008 - a Haiku Day in Broadstairs, Kent

Join the British Haiku Society in making a splash at: The Bradstowe Room, The Royal Albion Hotel, 6-12 Albion Street, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 1AN, on Saturday, 21 June 2008. Felicity Brookesmith will host the day from 10.00 - 16.00. Events include:

          a talk by Martin Lucas about haiku with reference to Stepping Stones: a way into haiku (recent BHS publication - see below)
          a workshop facilitated by Annie Bachini which will incorporate lunchtime observations and a kukai
          a reading by Felicity Brookesmith of a selection of her haiku inspired by the local environment

You may buy lunch at the hotel or in one of many eateries nearby - alternatively, bring your own food and drink and sit on the beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Places are limited, so please let host Felicity Brookesmith know if you are coming. Contact Felicity too about wheelchair accessibility. Write to her at 19 Magdala Road, St Peter's, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 2TZ, or e-mail 'felicity493 at btinternet dot com' (you will of course need to convert the foregoing e-mail address to a form your computer will recognise).

You can reach Broadstairs by rail from London Victoria, with a direct hourly connection. The Royal Albion is a short taxi ride or a ten minute downhill stroll from the station. By road the M2 connects with Thanet via the A299 Thanet Way. Then follow A253 signs to Ramsgate, passing Manston on the left. At the double roundabout take the first exit signposted for Broadstairs and follow the signs to the Town centre. The hotel is at the bottom of the High Street on the right-hand side, overlooking the bay.

BHS AGM and Autumn Event, London, 22 November 2008

Coffee and a warm welcome from 9.30 onwards awaits all members able to attend this annual event. The AGM starts at 10.00 and usually lasts about an hour. It will be followed by an interesting programme, as always. Light refreshments will be available at lunchtime. This is a wonderful day for all: meet members of your committee and other Society members. The venue, as usual, is Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1. If you are not sure of how to get there, please contact any committee member for directions and they will explain and ensure that you receive a warm welcome on the day. More details nearer the time, but meanwhile put this date in your diary right now! An outline of last year's AGM and Autumn Event, including photos, appears below.

AGM and Autumn Event, at the Conway Hall, London, 25 November 2007

The day was a great success, with more members attending than in the previous few years and several members who had not attended BHS events before. Prior to the AGM, Annie Bachini generated a lot of energy with an exercise to highlight the role of kireji in haiku. In the AGM, the general secretary and president reported on the Society's achievements and activities over the past year: the Spring Gathering; sponsorship of members' participation at the Edinburgh Fringe; our role in the Biken International exhibition at the Bankside Gallery in London; the publication of two books; the setting up of an education group; and the continued reliability of Blithe Spirit and The Brief to reach members four times a year. David Platt was thanked for editing The Brief for so long.

The day continued with a varied programme. An exploration of sound in haiku, led by Ian Turner, inspired a number of interesting haiku; and a lively discussion about reality, imagination and authenticity was sparked by Ken Jones's talk on haibun. Colin Blundell treated us to a taste of his role as mentor, and Martin Lucas gave a short explanation of how his anthology with commentary, Stepping Stones, came to be written. In addition, Graham High gave each of us an illustration from a film on Basho he as been working on, and Maggie West auctioned an LP of music and haiku from the 1970s, with the proceeds from the sale going to the Society.

Local BHS Groups

At present we have two thriving local regions, London and Yorkshire/Lancashire. There are several other areas of the country with a high concentration of members, where regular local meetings might be viable. Possibilities include South Wales, the West of England, the North/East Midlands, East Anglia and the South Coast. It can be good - both socially and creatively - to meet other haiku poets for activities such as workshops, renga or ginko (haiku composition walks). If you would like support in forming a group in your own area, contact Martin Lucas (North & West) on 01772 251827 or Steve Mason (South & East) on 07779 793265, and we'll help you set something up.