"tightrope'' experience for Ms Amanda Outerbridge.

Looking back on her first year as Director, the former editor of The Mid-Ocean News talked last week to Living about running the day-to-day affairs of the Bermuda National Trust.

"We have to be very efficient on a very lean budget,'' she explained.

From her office at Waterville, the Trust headquarters at the Foot of the Lane, Ms Outerbridge heads up a staff of 22, some of them part-time, and ranging from financial and fund-raising directors to museum guides and gardeners.

"We are a non-profit organisation, and to a large extent we rely on donations. But our operating budget has to pay salaries and turn the lights on. So we have to maintain a fine balance. Asking people to donate money, furniture or time, and then being in any way frivolous with that assistance, just isn't on! It's essential that we are `lean and mean' in the way we operate.'' Ms Outerbridge feels that as Trust director her priorities are to increase the membership, and in so doing increase its accessibility to as many people as possible. For this reason, the Trust has resisted calls to increase membership dues, which still remain at a low $10 per annum.

"We feel it's much better to increase the membership rather than raise dues.'' This sentiment is reflected in what she considers the other priority, which is to improve the image of the Trust.

"Everything the National Trust stands for becomes meaningless unless we become representative of the whole of Bermuda,'' she emphasises. "I know there still tends to be a perception that the National Trust is white, wealthy and elderly. That may have been the case some years ago, but it certainly isn't true now. We have a good cross-section of the community who are committed and work very hard for the Trust. It is only an image, but an unfortunate one, since it may put people off getting involved. So we have to work to overcome misconceptions and to attract more young members. We need to get into the schools and try to make our museums more user-friendly.'' That, she adds, is a problem, when there are signs all over the place, warning people `Don't Touch'.

"Most children don't really get too excited about walking round an old house, looking at furniture and pictures on the walls. We would like to set up some kind of room where kids could actually try their hands at making Victorian wallpaper, to do or make things that would really show what it was like living in those days.'' It is hoped, she said, that $350,000 from the appeal fund would be set aside for an educational programme: "The purpose of that would be to increase awareness of the National Trust and to encourage people, especially young people, to care about their buildings, open spaces and farmland. There is also an urgent need to educate people about Bermuda's marine environment.'' One of the things that really surprised Ms Outerbridge when she took over as director last year, was the amount of work done by volunteers.

"Contrary to what people may think, our volunteers are not just retired people -- although many of them do a wonderful job. We find it's often the people in really `high-flying' jobs who find the time to help out. We're also extremely fortunate in the expertise that's available on this little Island.

They have specialised knowledge and abilities that we could never afford to pay for!'' These might include experts in conservation, horticulture or Bermuda's history. "Of course, there are also lots of people who may not be professionals but who, for instance, love gardening, have learned a lot about it and are able to pass that knowledge on.'' Realising that, these days, most people work during the week, the Trust instigated ANTS (Another National Trust Service).

"The theory behind this is that `many hands make light work', and Bob Duffy came up with the idea that volunteers help out on a special project one Saturday each month. It might be cleaning up a cemetery, building walls, or helping with some gardening.'' Stressing that specialised knowledge is not required, Ms Outerbridge said this was a way in which people could give practical, rather than financial help. "We desperately need more volunteers and the only requirement is a desire and willingness to work.'' Another recent innovation in the effort to keep members informed as to what is going on, was the formation of small discussion groups, where Trust officials talk on a regular basis to all members, in groups as small as possible.

Ms Outerbridge's first year as Director happened to coincide with the most ambitious fund-raising drive ever undertaken by the Trust. Deeply concerned about the present condition and future maintenance of many of the Trust properties, an appeal for $6.5 million was launched. Despite the recession and increasing uncertainties about Bermuda's future, the Trust has already raised close to $4 million.

"We are very pleased with the way the appeal is going. We're hoping to set up endowments to maintain the major Trust buildings. We also need about $800,000 for Springfield in Somerset, a wonderful old plantation house, which needs urgent attention. In addition to all that, we are also trying to raise money for open spaces, gardens and artifacts.'' With February designated as Bermuda National Trust Month, Ms Outerbridge says it is hoped that the special events planned will reflect the wide range of activities undertaken by the Trust.

The highlight will be the opening by the Governor, Lord Waddington, of the new archeology museum at Tucker House, in St. George's. With displays of artifacts recovered from beneath the early 18th century house, Ms Outerbridge said this latest venture underlines the Trust's emphasis on educating and enter taining visitors, especially young people. The museum will be visited by the Queen during her visit to Bermuda next month.

Although the Trust's museums are highly popular, particularly with overseas visitors, Ms Outerbridge points out that they are very expensive to run.

"They don't pay for themselves. In fact, admission receipts barely cover the cost of hiring museum guides. On the other hand, we do generate income by renting out some of our properties.'' Amanda Outerbridge feels that recent publicity over controversial projects, such as the proposed Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, sometimes gives a distorted impression of the work undertaken by the Trust.

"We do a lot of quiet, positive work but we seem to only get publicity when we object to things! That's only a tiny part of our work. It's our duty to point out potential dangers or problems in proposed developments.

Basically, we inform the public so that people can decide for themselves how they want to see this Island developed. Ultimately, decisions are made by the Development Applications Board, but we feel we have to let people know about massive shore encroachments, or big, unsuitable buildings. Most people would agree with that, I think -- but we have noticed that if we criticise a certain project, the people who want to push that project, suddenly start calling us a whacky bunch of flakes who object to everything! We most certainly do not sit around thinking how we can make things difficult for people, but we do our research very carefully and we do care, passionately, about Bermuda's environment and doing our utmost to preserve it for future generations. That's why we are here.'' BERMUDA NATION TURST MONTH FEBRUARY 1994 Thursday to Saturday, February 3-5 -- Trustworthy shop moves to the former Esprit store on Reid Street. (courtesy of Calypso) * * * Saturday, February 5 -- Plant Sale at Waterville, Paget 9 a.m. to 12 noon * * * Monday, February 7 -- Auction -- Receiving Day, Poultry Building, Botanical Gardens, Paget 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

* * * Tuesday, February 8 -- Opening of Archeology Museum, Tucker House, St.

George's by H.E. The Governor, Lord Waddington * * * Thursday, February 10 -- Auction Preview and Sale 8.30 a.m.-5 p.m.

* * * Friday, February ll -- Auction Preview and Sale 10 a.m.-6.30 p.m. Saturday, February 12 -- Auction from 10 a.m.

* * * Thursday, February 17 -- Nature Walk for Children at Spittal Pond, at 9, 10 and 11 a.m.

* * * Friday, February 25 -- Bourbon Street And All That Jazz! Party, No. 1 Shed, Hamilton, 7.30 p.m.

HELD IN TRUST -- Ms Amanda Outerbridge, director of the Bermuda National Trust, pictured on the balcony of the Trust headquarters at Waterville in Paget.*l