** Post updated on Tue 2024-09-03 15:32 BST **
This month we will return after our well earned summer breaks ready for a new season. Thank you to all the members that have joined or renewed their memberships for the 2024-2025 season. If you wish to join or renew and have not yet, please do so via the normal membermojo online system.
Chair
With this new season brings some changes to the society. After many many long years of service to the society Andy Burns is stepping down as chair. We owe Andy an enormous thank you for all his efforts over the years. He is a one of a kind (in all the good ways!) and his committment to the seeing the society continue and thrive has been amazing. He should be very proud. I am delighted to say that Simon Barnes, the previous chair prior to Andy who has recently returned from the UK has volunteered to take up chair again for the coming year. Therefore, at our first meeting back this coming Tuesday 3rd September 2024, we will hold a short AGM to confirm committee positions for the coming year.
Speaker Secretary and Monthly Meeting Format
The society is still in the position with no Speaker Secretary which is problematic for continuing our traditional format of monthly meetings with an external speaker. Last year, we managed to organise a few external speakers and relied largely on member contributions. However, for this year, once again, we please request one of our members to step forward and volunteer for this essential role if the members wish in-person speakers to continue, see our committee page for further info on what exactly is involved.
At the September meeting, we will therefore require input from members regarding which format that the society takes from now on.
The options are:
(a) continue with monthly meetings in person with a speaker (requires a volunteer)
(b) change to zoom/online only monthly meetings with speaker that is remote (requires a volunteer)
(c) discontinue speakers at monthly meetings and switch to a social meet up (maybe change venue to a pub)
(d) discontinue monthly meetups and change to an observing-only society format
With Simon in place, there will be a fresh set of exciting ideas that we can discuss on how to move the society forward, but this is also dependant on the members contributing ideas and energy too.
Mailing List
We’ll be making some changes on how to communicate with members, so look out for updates and I will provide more details on Tuesday.
Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 3rd September 19:45 or 20:00 start at the normal Irene Usher Memorial Pavilion at Seend, see our meetings page for more details. Together with the AGM, and society direction, Andy has kindly offerred to lead a discussion on recently topics of interest from this summer, from Auroras, meteors and and the pending T Coronae Borealis Nova.
Newsletter
Please find the September 2024 newsletter available to download on this link. Once again, many thanks to Andy Burns for putting this together.
Clear Skies,
Sam (Treasurer)