I am the Species Maintenance Officer for the British Livebearer Association and my duties include the keeping of a database of the species which our members currently maintain. Obviously, the more input from the members of the BLA I receive, the easier my job and the better the database will be.
Due to current legislation, the BLA cannot issue personal information to other members without your permission and so the Committee have come up with the following (and we hope workable) solution.
As the Species Maintenance Office, I am the point of contact for swops/wants and I am contactable either by post (address in the magazine) or by E-mail at mclarke@binns-fencing.com. I can only respond to e-mails during office hours but the idea is that all participating members should forward a list of the species which they maintain, any species they wish to maintain and a list of any species which they have surplus stock available to me. If possible, I will match up a person who has surplus stock with a person who has a requirement for that stock and I will then contact the relevant participating members and put them in touch with each other.
This format will only work however if their is a full committment from both myself and your good-selves and therefore in order for this system to work, I would ask that all members forward to me a list of what species (including location data, if known) or varieties of cultivated species that you are currently keeping regardelss of whether it is just one species or one hundred plus!
Currently on about 20% of all members provide me with their lists of species being maintained and I would like to rectify this.
Could all members please therefore: -
1: forward your lists of species being kept, with * next to the species if you have surplus stock.
2: forward your want list ie either a single male/female of a particular species due to having all male/females (this happens regulary) Please include location data as applicable.

Many thanks.

Mike. (member No 93)