Dec 06

Committee Meeting 6 Dec 2021

Minutes

Attendees: AC, KP, CR, JR, DT

Apologies: EG

Open actions from previous meetings

  1. Request for assistance in running the society (committee, catering, etc.)

To date there have been 5 offers of assistance

  • SG has put himself forward for the Membership Secretary
  • KR has offered to manage the entry to meetings
  • RB has offered to assist Lynne Watson with the catering
  • PA has offered to assist at outreach events
  • MS has offered to assist at outreach events

Action: The subject will be raised again at AGM emphasising the possibility of “shadowing” of committee members. – KP

  1. PLI (Public Liability Insurance) issues
  • PLI insurance provided through FAS (Federation of Astronomical Societies) is very generic. It covers members of the public attending society events but possibly not society members at events.

Action: Contact Doug Edgeworthy of ESAS (East Sussex Astro Soc.) for details of their private insurance. DT to forward contact information – JR/DT

  1. Monthly Meetings

The FAS was founded to provide a forum for like minded people to socialise, listen to talks by experts and members, observe and discuss astronomical issues. In March 2020 the pandemic forced us to switch to virtual meetings. When we tentatively restarted meetings at ACC in August, with a restricted attendance, it was assumed that by the AGM the meetings would primarily live at ACC, but circumstances are forcing us to rethink.

Action: Monthly meetings for the next 3 months – The current plan is to return to online meetings for the AGM 2021, January 2022 and February.2022. Then restart live meetings at ACC in March 2022 with a talk by Danny on “Astrophotography with a DSLR”.

Action: Telescope demonstrations/tutorials – We plan to introduce practical telescope demonstrations and observing sessions after the monthly meetings at ACC using a selection of equipment from the society’s store. This will hopefully give new astronomers useful guidance and maybe “try a loan scope before you buy” option.

Action: Equipment Auctions – The society holds quite a range of equipment and we may from time to time auction off surplus equipment.

Action: External Speakers – However, it is likely that professional speakers will prefer to give their talks virtually via Zoom. This may provide an a much wider range of speakers than we could normally expect to attend ACC.

  1. Do we restart membership fees, is so at what level? – JR

Action: Yes, restart membership fees. Probably at previous rate of £15 per member. Put to membership at AGM. – Complete

Topics for discussion

  1. Health and Safety
  2. AGM

Action: Confirm and update AGM – CR

Action: The meeting will by Zoom only – All

Action: Thank you present for ACC barman – JR

Any Other Business

 

  1. FAS website needs updating – JR

Action: Update Image attached to meetings to ACC

Action: Update minutes on website (ensure no non society emails, no financial data)

  1. Next meeting 3rd January?