The Astronomical Society of Southern Africa Johannesburg Centre
18A Gill Street OBSERVATORY Johannesburg Telephone: (011) 717-1392 Fax:            (011) 339-2926	P O Box 93145 YEOVILLE 2143 Web site: www.aqua.co.za/assa_jhb.htm                                                  E-Mail:   assa_jhb@aqua.co.za

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD IN THE HERBERT BAKER LIBRARY,
18A GILL STREET, OBSERVATORY ON 14 JULY 2001.

Welcome

The Vice Chairman Mr. C Stewart welcomed everyone present and opened the meeting at 18:26

Apologies

The following members send their apologies for not attending the meeting:

Mr. T Budge, Mr. T Gould, and Mr. E van Zyl

Minutes of the previous AGM

The Minutes of the previous minutes were taken as read, and has been accepted as a true record.

Proposer: Mr. C Penberthy Seconder: Mr. W Lange

Chairman’s Report

The Chairman’s report has been read.

"I am in Israel while this is being read… My good wishes to all and apologies that I can’t deliver this in person.

Life’s clock seems to tick faster the deeper we move into the new millennium. Where have the languid days gone sitting on the veranda watching the setting sun, looking for the early spark of Venus against the twilight glow. Now it seems that we only occasionally remember to glance fleetingly heavenward somewhere between the driveway and the house.

Natural celestial phenomenon always attract great public interest. Two very good eclipses have inspired us during the past twelve months.

The first, the Lunar eclipse of 9^th January was wonderful. The great clockwork mechanism of the solar system certainly favoured us in South Africa, bringing us the eclipse in all its glory during the balmy evening hours of a good summers night. I joined the Johannesburg Planetarium staff where hundreds of interested people gathered in the car park to watch in awe. A queue of guests, almost a hundred meters long, waited patiently to watch the Planetarium show that explained the phenomenon. Small children that had been granted a reprieve from an early bed suddenly rejuvenated when the drummers started their beatings to beseech the moon to return from the jaws of the hideous lunar-gobbling dragon.

The lunar eclipse had a tranquil beauty and serenity but nothing on this planet could have properly prepared me for the total eclipse of the sun on 21^st June. I stood in awe, waves of goose-flesh swept over my skin and I choked with emotion trying to capture the event on my tape recorder. I encourage every one of you to witness a total eclipse at least once in your life.

It was not only the heavenly stars that entertained us but the human stars too. We are so fortunate to have in our group wonderful men and women whose passion for astronomy is an inspiration to us all. Danie Overbeek and Eben van Zyl stand out as exemplary members of our Society. I must express my admiration and deep respect to such fine gentlemen, let’s hope that their influence rubs of onto subsequent generations.

Every year that I have been in office as Chairman of the Society I sit to write this report and reflect on the regrets and successes of the past months. Competition from today’s fast-paced life with all its technological expectations is our single threat to survival. Each year a willing group of members volunteer their time and efforts to Committee duties. Some are able render great service, others simply good advice. I wish to thank my team for their efforts. Grateful thanks too to Brian Fraser for his tireless efforts organising the excellent events outside of our regular activities.

Where to from here? It’s hard to predict. We did not make huge strides forward but I think that we maintained a nucleus of interested people that were able to meet regularly to exchange common ideas and experiences. Competing for time on a busy social calendar is not easy. Presenting topical information in competition with television and Internet’s accessibility is similarly difficult. Why do still have a fairly good attendance at the meetings? Why do people still renew their membership with our Society? One reason, I think, is status. It makes good dinner-party chitter-chat to say, "You do know that I am a member of the Astronomical Society? Don’t you?" Another reason is friendship. Many new members are recruited each year and yet the list suffers attrition at about the same rate, leaving a core of members that have been on the Register for years and years. Lastly, I am of the opinion that people like to gather information and expertise in eye-to-eye contact. We will succeed if we can merely satisfy these basic needs. What though, turns a Society into a Great Society? I’m not sure that I know the answer.

Regrettably, I cannot avail myself for Committee duties this year as I have a commercial project that must be completed before I can relax and indulge in the recreational activities that I so enjoy. My best wishes then to the incumbent Committee. Remember that us folk out there want to have fun, be educated, mix frequently with fellow amateurs and be shielded from hum-drum politics of the Committee Table…"

Proposer: Mr. M Hannibal    Seconder: Mr. B Dickson

 Treasures Report

It has been decided that the current membership fees will remain the same.

The biggest expense for the Centre is the monthly rent at R471.58 per month.

Proposer: Mr. C Stewart              Seconder: Mr. C Penberthy

Librarian’s Report

The librarian stated that due to his heavy business commitments over the past year, he has not been able to devote any attention to the state of the library; this was a pity as the library is a valuable asset to the Centre.
He was sure that the next librarian would bring along some refreshing new ideas.

The librarian thanked Peter Erlank for giving the library some astronomical journals and for offering to locate others that were missing.

He also thanked Constant Volschenk for purchasing new books for the library during the year.

The librarian thanked the Committee for their understanding and support during the year.

Proposer: Mr. E Dembskey    Seconder: Mr F van Nieuwkerk

Curator of Instruments Report

During the year overall maintenance of the equipment has been done plus a few bigger jobs.

The Jacobs telescope dome rotates on six bearings. He replaced all the bearings and the dome rotates much better than before. The drive mechanism of the Jacobs telescope has been fixed, and is tracking the stars as it should. The bearings of the shutters remain to be done.

The Papadopoulos dome while turning got stuck at certain places on top of the cover of the motor and gearbox. The cover has been bend and realigned so that it fit properly. He stated that one of the steel cables of the shutters of the dome broke. He fitted a new cable and the shutters open and close as they should.

The Centre’s four inch Newtonian telescope clockwork has been fixed and the wooden tripod is in good condition.

The parts of the electronic setting circles of the Franklin – Adams telescope has been received back and still needs to be fitted.

The Curator of Instruments stated that he is busy making a tripod for the three inch telescope, which is at his home. Apart from the periodical tree cutting there always remains enough to be done.

Proposer: Mr. T Goulding    Seconder: Mr. C Stewart

Election of Committee

The following members were elected to serve on the Committee:

Mr. T Gould
Mr. D Gordon
Mr. E Dembskey
Mr. C Volschenk
Mr. F van Nieuwkerk
Mr. C Stewart
Mr. C Penberthy
Ms. M McKinnon
Ms. S Tait
Mr. B Dickson
Mr. W Lange

Proposer: Mr. F van Nieuwkerk    Seconder: Mr. E Dembskey

Closure

Mr. C Stewart closed the Annual General Meeting at 19:10

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