benefits.

Mr. Dan Blagg, director of fund-raising for one of the Island's biggest charities, the National Trust, made the point this week in explaining the need for charity to Hamilton Rotarians.

"Charity is not solely the domain of the rich. Many people do voluntary work,'' he said.

"Who should be asked to give to charity? Everyone. Everyone benefits from the work of these groups. Everyone should make a sacrifice for these groups.

Charity is a two-way street.'' As the Trust's fund-raising supremo, Mr. Blagg is leading the campaign to raise $4 million for capital work, as well as $700,000 operating costs.

But the campaign faces tough competition from the hospital which is attempting to raise $5 million, the Bermuda Cathedral and the Aquarium seeking $4 million each and the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute which will need to raise $4 million.

He pointed out that Bermuda's newly-formed Centre of Philanthropy had published a guide to more than 500 fund-raising organisations on the Island, of which 200 are officially registered.

"All of them have found that traditional forms of fund-raising, like flag days, are falling short of maintaining services that we all feel are important,'' he added.

"As members of the business sector you consider it a rare day when you do not get a fund-raising appeal in the mail or a visit from someone who is campaigning.'' According to Mr. Blagg, Government must provide essential services but is unable to provide many services that people deem important. Hence the need for charities.

"Bermuda should be proud of the philanthropy of this Island. It has been going on since the parish poor houses of the 18th century.'' Listing the hospital, the Mariner's home, clothing services for the needy, elderly and infirm, and those bodies supporting the arts, music, libraries and education, he asked: "Where would Bermuda be without these organisations? What kind of community would we have without them? "Would any of us want to live or raise a family in a country without these things?'' Mr. Blagg stressed that the public should not be confused if a charity was running more than one appeal. Organisations must now raise cash for operating costs, building projects and endowment money for long-term financial security.

"We may enter a service in the Cathedral and how many of us pause to consider how some poor clergyman had to go out cap-in-hand to raise the money to build it?'' Rotarians were told how the National Trust had grown over the years and how over one third of its revenue came from fund-raising. That is why it set up a permanent fund-raising office.