lecture series featuring four well-known speakers.

On Friday October 3 Bermudian historian Brendan Hollis spoke on the history of the US bases in Bermuda.

On Thursday, October 9 at 6.30 p.m. Steve Blasco of The Geological Survey of Canada will discuss exploring the wreck of the Titanic at 3,800 metres and at 7.30 p.m. Anatoly Sagalevitch from the PP Shirshov Institute of Oceanology -Moscow will speak on deep ocean research with deep manned submersibles "Mir 1 and 2''.

And on Thursday, October 16 retired banker and Bermuda Shell collector Jack Lightbourn will discuss the Lightbourn Shell Collection at the BUEI. Members $7 and non-members $10. Volunteers are free. For more information 292-7219.

*** Bermuda Audubon Society took part in the world's biggest bird watch this past weekend.

The event was coordinated by BirdLife International -- a global partnership of organisations working for the conservation of birds and their habitats and through that, the diversity of life.

Over 200 organisations in nearly 100 countries took part. Participants joined thousands of people all over the world to watch, learn about, or simply celebrate birds.

The event celebrates the success of World Birdwatch events in 1993 and 1995.

In Bermuda, the Audubon Society ran a weekend camp on Paget Island visiting many bid habitats in St. George's Parish.

Spokesperson for the Audubon Society Andrew Dobson said: "The aim of the event was to draw attention to the plight of the 1,111 bird species that are threatened with global extinction.

"This is nearly 11 percent of the world's bird species. The major problems facing these birds is the loss of their habitat, through the destruction of forest, drainage of wetlands and intensification of agriculture.

"The situation is only too acute in Bermuda where the once abundant Cahow is now limited to minimal habitat.'' *** The Bermuda Chapter of Professional Secretaries will be holding its second annual seminar titled `The Office Professional Responding to the Challenge of Change'.

Facilitator for the Bermuda chapter will be Anita Reed, president of her own consulting firm Anita Reed Seminars.

The seminar will take place on October 15 at the Southampton Princess at 8.30 a.m. until 4.30 p.m.

Ms Reed has over 20 years experience developing and conducting hundreds of seminars. She has conducted seminars for the Fortune 500 Companies, government agencies, professional associations and educational institutions throughout the world.

In addition to the US she has presented seminars in Canada, the Caribbean, New Zealand, Brazil and Slovakia.

While dealing with the topic of next week's seminar, Ms Reed will also deal with the following areas: The Workplace of the Future, Communication Skills for On-the Job success, Time Management vs Self management, High Energy - How to Get it and Keep it, and Reaching for new Heights.

This seminar is for office professionals who want to prepare themselves for the `Challenge of Change' as we enter the millennium.

For registration information contact Carole Linthwaite CPS, president of the Bermuda Chapter of Professional Secretaries International at 295-1111 ext.

3482 or Shirlene Ratteray CPS, Education Committee chairperson at 295-5870.