Feb 21

Committee Meeting 1 Feb 2021

Minutes

Attendees: Andrew Collins,  Kevin Pretorius, Chris Reed, John Rees, Roberta Smyth, Danny Thomas.

Apologies: Eric Grieve

Open actions from last meeting

  1. Observing Coordinator replacement – KP

Action: What is the role of an Observing Coordinator? – KP – Complete

Observing Coordinator

Farnham Astronomical Society aims to promote amateur astronomy as a hobby, and to provide a sociable environment in which both beginners and more experienced enthusiasts can improve their knowledge and share their enjoyment of their hobby with like-minded individuals.

A key committee role is then the Observing Coordinator who has the primary role to encourage, facilitate and support practical observing within the society, with particular focus on the needs of beginners.

We are largely happy to let individual appointees interpret the role according to their interests, but likely activities falling under the role would be…

  1. Contributing observing guides to the monthly newsletter and/or by stand-up presentations
  2. Organising occasional short post-meeting practical demonstrations, moon/planet watches or sky tours from the cricket club.
  3. Organising, encouraging and supporting observing at Alice Holt (with the support of other committee members)
  4. Helping evaluate new observing sites.

Topics for discussion

  1. Health and Safety

No issues reported.

ACC and FAS will need risk assessments before restarting meetings and guidance will be sought from SAGAS, FAS and other societies.

  • Use of images without permission – DT

At January’s SAGAS meeting it was reported that a society that had recorded a presentation containing images without the owner’s permission had paid compensation to the owner.

Action: Check website for unapproved images – DT.

Action: Monitor future presentations, newsletters, Facebook posts etc. – All

  • Ad-hoc online meetings – DT JR

Would it be society members like to have ad-hoc meetings with no agenda where members could talk about anything they liked – “Virtual Bar”? Possibly hosted via https://meet.jit.si/FAScoffee?

Action: Email all members suggesting ad-hoc meeting every other Tuesday at 7:30pm – CR.

  • Issue regarding the use of online form for new members – DT

Website “Join Us” link leads to online application document which is currently not being actioned.

Action: Contact applicants to check if they are still interested and either remove or process application – DT.

Action: Revise online document and access to it – DT.

Any Other Business

  1. As the 3rd May is a bank holiday the next Committee Meeting will be 10th  May 2021.
  2. Zoom account payment.

Action: KP to pay Zoom. JR will reimburse on receipt of the invoice.

  • The FAS Members Handbook contains personal emails and phone numbers.

Action: Review Handbook, remove phone numbers and use society emails – AC.

  • Reduce time preparing newsletter – CR

Action: Produce quarterly, approach SW for Observing Notes – CR