Minutes of Meeting - AGM

Hull & East Riding Astronomical Society
AGM Meeting Minutes, held on Monday 8th May 2006
University of Hull

Members Present

Rob O (Retiring President)
Sharon L (Retiring Secretary – Elected as President during AGM)
Nichalai S (Retiring Treasurer)
Helen M (Elected as Treasurer during AGM)
Dominic B
Gerry W
Ian J (Elected as Secretary during AGM)

A total of 12 members (including the above) attended the meeting plus 1 visitor.

Apologies
Committee member Martin H. did not attend the AGM due to being unavoidably delayed and sent his apologies.

Review of Minutes of last AGM
Rob commences the meeting by reading the Minutes from the last AGM which was held on Monday 9th May 2005. Dr. M M Smith proposes that they are a true and accurate account and Rob signs them.

President’s Review of the Year
Rob explains how Tony S. decided to step down as President and that the Society had dwindled in numbers, although in the last 3 years the Society has built itself up again.

Rob explains that meetings were previously held at Wyke College. Rob mentions that at the AGM 3 years ago there were 2 nominations for President, which was the first time in many years. Rob mentions that he was happy with the members’ decision to nominate him and he felt that people wanted a breath of fresh air. Rob magnanimously praises his opponent, Dr. Steigman, who he says had previously been a respected President of the Society.

Rob mentions about Helen as Secretary previously and how she decided to stand down. Rob explains that he was fortunate in being able to persuade a reluctant Helen to be co-opted onto the committee and this had been unanimously endorsed by other committee members. Rob explains that the committee has been reorganised from top to bottom and that things are going to change.

Rob mentions that the Society is much better now and explains that it took numerous meetings between him and Sharon in Planet Coffee, to get things sorted for the forthcoming seasons. Rob thanks Sharon for all her hard work and devotion to the Society which he says has considerably facilitated his position as President.

Rob gives individual thanks to all of the committee members and mentions Melanie for her help in organising the use of the room, although she couldn’t attend on the evening. Rob mentions that the University is happy to have us there and the facilities are great. Rob thanks Helen for doing the drinks and allowing the committee meetings to be held at her home, mentioning her generous provision of tea, coffee and chocolate biscuits.

Rob thanks Nichalai for doing the Treasurer’s job for many years. He mentions Nichalai’s dedication to the Society for over 37 years (1969-2006) and explains that it is now time for someone else to give the job a go.

Rob reviews all the speakers who presented topics to the members during the 2005-2006 season. He thanks them for having made this another successful year for the Society.

He mentions his friend, Deidre B who spoke about THE LIFE AND DEATH OF STARS.

Dr. Jeremy Dunning-Davis gave an exposition on BLACK HOLES: FACT OR FICTION, a very technical overview.

Martin Lunn of York AS presented WOMEN IN ASTRONOMY, and also brought astronomical books for sale to the members.

Rob speaks about our own expert astronomer, Dr. Michael Martin-Smith who always presents a topic at the December meetings and who this year presented a fascinating talk on PLANET X about extra-solar planets.

Eric S. from Brough AS presented WEBCAM ASTRONOMY, demonstrating how to construct a webcam camera for digital imaging of astronomical phenomena.

Hazel Collett of York presented THE BEAUTY AND VIOLENCE OF THE SUN.

Paul Buglass of York AS presented METEORITES AND FAMOUS FALLS.
Rob mentions that he also brought some discounted samples of meteorite fragments for sale which were quickly snapped up by our bargain conscious members.

Finally Rob recalls the return of the very popular Paul Money of Horncastle at the last meeting prior to the AGM, who gave a truly wonderful update of the Cassini mission to Saturn, CASSINI: LORD OF THE RINGS. He left the members open-mouthed with his enthusiastic approach which is certainly infectious!

Rob rounds off by saying that it’s been fun and will seem strange for him not to be here any more although he says he will definitely come back for the opening of the Observatory at the University of Hull. He says he will miss us all and is proud to have been here. Ian suggests that he becomes an honorary member of HERAS.

Treasurer’s Report
After 37 years of dedicated service as Treasurer, Nichalai gives his last breakdown of the Society’s financial figures for 2005-2006 before retiring for a well-earned rest. He explains that he isn’t giving the job up but has been sacked!

Nichalai points out that the Society is in good financial health, underpinned by a bequest from Dr. Cameron Walker which has been accruing interest in a Capital Reserve Account and is now a significant sum.

Nichalai invites questions from the members. There are no questions and his report is agreed and accepted.

Observatory Update
Sharon reports on the progress being made on the University of Hull Observatory. She mentions that the capital allotted for this had to be spent by the end of March 2006. She mentions that it is still an ongoing project!

Upcoming Events
Rob mentions that the Yorkshire Astromind 2006 Competition, which is organised by Neil Haggath, who is also the Questionmaster, will be held at a venue in or near Stockton-on-Tees on Saturday 14th October 2006. Details of the venue will be supplied later.

Rob says it would not be fair to ask anyone to volunteer as a contestant, but any member who wishes to attend should advise the Secretary, as Neil needs to know the approximate numbers no later than the end of August 2006.

Website
Rob mentions that the HERAS website has been passed over to Sharon to manage. Rob mentions that the website allows the Society to be recognised on a wider scale.

Solarscope
Rob mentions that he has the Society solarscope at his house and would like someone to take it off his hands. Anyone interested should let Rob know.

Election of Officers

Rob mentions that 2 members, Patrick and Gary have agreed to serve on the committee. Rob asks for an endorsement from the members; this is given, and they are both seconded by Helen. Other already serving committee members will be accepted again on completion of the Renewal Form.

Rob mentions that as the present President, Treasurer and Secretary are retiring, there are vacancies for all these positions within the Society.

Rob says that he has received only one nomination each for President, Treasurer, and Secretary. He says that Sharon has been nominated by Helen to serve as President, initially just for 12 months. Rob asks for agreement and receives a chorus of half a dozen members seconding this proposal!!! Helen is nominated by Sharon to serve as Treasurer and is seconded by Dominic. Ian is nominated to serve as Secretary and is seconded by a number of members. Rob welcomes the new committee.

Any Other Business

Sharon thanks the members for electing her to the Presidency and says that she is committed to astronomy and loves to attend the HERAS meetings. (She is setting a precedent as our first lady President and starting a trend which I hope will continue).

Sharon carries out her first duty as President by conducting the presentation of gifts to Rob and Nichalai, our retiring President and Treasurer respectively. Rob receives a technical book on Comets, (his abiding passion), and a Binomite II Solar Binocular, and Nichalai receives an inscribed hip flask detailing his 37 years (1969-2006) as Treasurer and a book, Norton’s Star Atlas, plus a giant card, along with the best wishes of all their friends in HERAS.

Gerry, a long-serving committee member who has known Nichalai for many years, proposes a personal Vote of Thanks for Nichalai, for his long years of dedicated service to the Society and also for the many old jokes he has recounted to the members over the years. Nicholai states that he wishes to remain as a member of the committee.

Vote of Thanks

Ian proposes the main Vote of Thanks, a pleasant task, speaking about his experience of HERAS from 2002-2006, highlighting the period during Rob’s Presidency. He explains Rob’s and Sharon’s significant contribution to the regeneration and modernisation of the Society, which has brought it to its present renaissance, with exciting possibilities for the future.

Ian mentions that this has been accomplished with Helen’s quiet assistance throughout, drawing upon her previous administrative experience within the Society.

Ian says that we, the members owe them a very big thank you for their prodigious efforts on our behalf.

Ian wishes Rob and Alicia every happiness and good fortune in their future together down in London. He expresses the hope that they will come back and visit us occasionally.

Ian welcomes Sharon to her new office as President. He says he knows the Society is in good hands and wishes her every success during her period of office.

Ian mentions that Sharon will be a very hard act to follow as Secretary but that remembering to take the tablets may help him.

Finally Ian presents bouquets to Alicia, Helen and Sharon on behalf of the Society and then invites the members to partake of the cake and non-alcoholic wine he has organised for the occasion

Addendum
Gerry Wilks asks 2 questions, one about the raffle and the other about the awarding of the prize for the winner of his astronomical pictorial competition which has been running during the meeting.

The raffle is organised by Dominic, the prizes being 3 books which have been donated by Ian. Patrick receives the prize for Gerry’s competition, gaining the highest score, 101/2 points out of 12.

Proposed date for the next AGM
Monday 14th May 2007

The meeting was declared closed at approximately 9:40 pm.

Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting for their individual input.