clashes with other events.

That was the claim recently of several of Bermuda's fund-raisers.

They say scheduling conflicts have sometimes led to money-spinning events being put off.

And at other times crowds at charity functions are disappointingly low because of rival attractions.

Said fund-raiser Mrs. Jane West: "Something has got to be done. We need one clearing house where all events are publicised.

"There should be a central location where we can see what's happening months in advance.'' But yesterday it emerged a service meeting fund-raisers' demands -- The Bermuda Diary -- had been in existence about seven years.

Mrs. Jane Bielby, however, who runs the computerised diary at her firm General Atlantic Co, said it had been poorly used.

"It would work very well, but it is only as good as the people who use it,'' she said.

"Unfortunately many people just aren't aware of the diary.'' Mrs. Bielby said she was seriously thinking of giving up the service.

And she had contacted the Chamber of Commerce to see if it would take the diary on.

"I received a very lukewarm response, however,'' she added.

Mrs. West, a member of the Keep Bermuda Beautiful charity and Project 100, is a regular fund-raiser.

She said a July fund-raising venture at Fort Hamilton for the National Gallery had pulled in about $51,000.

But she reckoned organisers could have raised at least another $15,000 if there had not been a another function on the same day.

"That is a very conservative estimate on what we lost out on, and demonstrates the problem.'' Mrs. West also pointed out organisers of a September 18 KBB treasure hunt had been forced to reschedule it -- because of a conflicting political event.

The hunt -- featuring Drusilla, a star from the popular TV soap Young and the Restless -- would now be staged on September 25.

Said Mrs. West: "This is a difficulty charities throughout the Island have been experiencing for a long time.'' She added: "It can be very disappointing to people who have put in an awful lot of work into an event if attendances are down because of another function.'' Mrs. West said there were several ways of advertising events in the Island.

But what was needed was one "clearing house'' which would include up and coming events well in advance.

KBB president Ms Kendaree Burgess-Fairn agreed: "It would be a lot better if we could encourage all groups to note their events in a calendar so people would not spend a lot of time scheduling functions only to find out someone else has scheduled another function on the same day.

"It means you are a going to lose money, and it is painful and expensive to change dates especially if you have already sent out invitations, and started the public relations ball rolling. It is a problem.'' National Trust volunteer Mrs. Carole Bailey said scheduling conflicts were commonplace throughout the world.

"What one has to do is scout around and speak to as many people as possible to make sure nothing conflicts with your event.'' Mrs. Bailey, however, foresaw no easy solution to the problem.

There was a difficulty in relying on a single "clearing house'' for advertising events a long time in advance.

"What is printed is only as accurate as the contributions, and sometimes dates are left out.

"That is a common problem we have had to face.'' Mrs. Bailey also accepted some people would not want to promote private functions, such as weddings.

The Bermuda Diary can be contacted on 292-4322 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.