years.

Entitled "The Blueprint and Beyond'', the daylong conference is slated for November 26 at the Southampton Princess.

Under the UBP constitution, a conference to discuss party philosophy, policy, and performance is supposed to be held every year.

"Obviously, that has not been done,'' UBP spokesman Mrs. Kathy Gibbons told The Royal Gazette . "We're going to try to get back to that.

"In 1994, we felt it was important to have the conference. Everybody is feeling very upbeat and very positive.'' Speakers are being lined up from on and off the Island. Mrs. Gibbons said it is too early to say who the speakers will be.

The "very full agenda'' includes discussion of how to increase participation by women and youth, said Mrs. Gibbons, who is chairing the conference.

During a section on "Blueprint progress,'' Government Ministers will briefly outline the status of promises made in the campaign leading up to the October, 1993 general election, she said.

A section on politics and branch development is "aimed at bringing grassroots party supporters into the loop politically speaking and giving them tools to make the branches more effective and productive,'' Mrs. Gibbons said. The party's social agenda and the restructuring of the education system will also be covered, she said.

Another topic to be covered is "the challenge of development,'' with emphasis on economic issues made understandable by the layman. Bermuda and its challenges like the return of the Bases will be discussed in the context of changes around the world, she said.

While designed for party members, the conference in the hotel's new Mid Ocean Amphitheatre will be open to the public and audience participation will be encouraged, she said.