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The Astronomical
Society of Southern Africa
Johannesburg
Centre
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING HELD IN THE SIR HERBERT BAKER BUILDING, 18A GILL
STREET, OBSERVATORY ON WEDNESDAY 9 JULY 1997.
1. The Chairman, Mr. Trevor Gould welcomed everybody present.
2. Apologies
Apologies were received from Mrs. Fraser, Dr. Basil Payne and
Mrs. Penberthy.
3. Minutes of the previous AGM
The minutes of the previous AGM were read and accepted
unanimously.
Proposed: T. Budge Seconded: T. Hilton
4. Chairman's Report
The outgoing Chairman stated that he had pleasure in
presenting his Report on the 50th consecutive year of the
operation of the Centre.
4.1 Membership - The current membership were 144, of
which 7 were honorary members. 48 members fail to renew
their subs in the year under review, but this was offset
by the addition of 33 new members, leaving a net
attrition of 15.
4.2 Meetings:
Aug 98 Gary Els - Astronomical Evidence for the change in the
tilt of the Earth's Axis.
Sep 96 Clem Sunter - Scenarios
Oct 96 Brian Fraser - ASSA President's Address
Nov 96 Brian Fraser - The HR Diagram
Jan 97 Various Speakers - Various Topics
Feb 97 Danie Overbeek - The History of the Johannesburg Centre
Mar 97 Dr Claire Flanagan - Not the Hubble Telescope
Apr 97 Tom Budge - Constellation Recognition held at the
Planetarium
May 97 Eben van Zyl - Let's weigh the Sun tonight
Jun 97 Dr Basil Payne - A History of the Universe
The meetings attracted an average of 31 members and 8
visitors, although the visitor figure is positively
skewed by the 23 visitors recorded on the night of Eban
van Zyl's talk.
4.3 Field Trips
The Centre conducted field trips to:
Internet Cafe 26 February 1997 arranged by Chris Stewart
Schonland Research Institude 26 March 1997
HARTRAO 25 May 1997
Swinbourne week-end trip 05 July 1997 arranged by Ed Finlay
4.4 Papadopolous Award
The Committee decided that the Papadopolous Award would not be
awarded this year.
4.5 Functions
The Centre held public viewing evenings of the
Hale-Bopp comet most of nights from 24 April 1997 to 09
May 1997.
The annual Solstice Party was held at Tom's farm in
December 1996
The Centre participated in Wits Open Day, marking the
75th Anniversary of the University of the Witwatersrand,
by manning a stand at the Planetarium.
The Centre held an evening for the Schonland Nuclear
Institute on 05 June 1997.
The Centre hosted the Banyan Vines User Group (BUGSA)
at the Observatory on 05 July 1997 - approximately 100
people arrived.
4.6 Projects
The Centre has invested approximately R1900,00 on digital
setting circles for the Papadopolous telescopes.
A class is being conducted to build an inexpensive CCD camera
for the use on the Papadopolous telescopes.
4.7 Education
Chris Stewart, with a little help from other members,
conducts a Telescope Making Class, which has become the
largest source of new members for the Centre.
The Centre, in the persons of Tom Budge and Ed Finlay
conducted beginners classes before the main monthly
meeting. This provides a much needed service and their
efforts are greatly appreciated.
The Centre, together with HARTRAO, manned a stand for
the Maths and Science Carnival at Museum Africa in July
1996. The Centre also conducted a Fire-Walk at the
Observatory in response to a challenge laid down by Dr.
Claire Flanagan. Tom ensured that there was live coverage
of this event on Radio 702.
4.8 External Relations
The Centre visited the Pretoria Centre on 26 October 1996
The Centre has established closer relations with the
Planetarium. Constant Volschenk now has a permanent
presence there, and Tom Budge is a regular lecturer. The
Director, Dr. Claire Flanagan, is a good friend of the
Centre, and has become a member.
The Centre has opened a relationship with the
Department of Applied Maths and Astronomy at Wits: viz.
Professor David Block.
The Centre are building a closer relationship with the
Department of Geology at Wits and one member of the
Centre will be on the Committee to organise the visit in
1999 of the International Meteoritical Society.
Tony Voorvelt, of the Department of Physics, is
presently very cross with me, in particulat, and I shall
do what I can to restore the good relations that have
existed in the past.
The Centre enjoys good relations with HARTRAO, and
they have hand-outs for public visitors that include the
Centre's contact telephone numbers.
Since Professor Wargau died in 1996, our contact with
UNISA has reduced, but our good friend Jan Wolterbeek
remains in contact.
In general, these relationships should not be taken
for granted, and members of the Centre should be prepared
to help our external contacts when possible or necessary.
They enrich our lives.
4.9 Conclusion
The out-going Chairman said that: In conclusion, he
would like to thank each member of the outgoing Committee
for making his job both easy and pleasant.
While it is not easy to single out any particular
member, he would especially like to thank Tom Budge, Vice
Chairman, for providing interesting talks at short
notice, for hosting the monthly dark sky viewing at his
farm, for providing an excellent venue for the monthly
Committee meetings at his office, for undertaking the
daunting task of publishing the Newsletter, and also, for
running the mechanics of this AGM.
Peter van Laun, who cut down the trees obscuring the
view from the dome, and maintained our equipment, is also
deserving of special thanks.
He said that he would also like to thank Greg Corbett,
Treasurer, who handles the Centres finances without a
hitch.
The Chairman said that finally, as outgoing Chairman,
he would like to thank all members of the Johannesburg
Centre for enduring his membership of the Committee for
the past six years.
Proposed: Tony Hilton Seconded: Chris Penberthy
5. Treasurer's Report
A statement of Income and expenditure was presented
reflecting a closing balance of R12601,13
Balance in current account R 1420,35
Balance in call account R10993,60
Cash float - Telescope Making R 187,18
R12601,13
Proposed: Peter van Laun Seconded: Chris Penberthy
6. Librarian's Report
Mr Finlay said that during the year 74 members of the
Johannesburg Centre held library cards and that 124 books
were borrowed.
New and second-hand books were procured by the library
and covered such diverse subjects as: Optics,
Astrophotography, Meteors and Meteorites, Mathematics,
Physical Chemistry, Climatology and Logic.
Three quarterly journals were received by the library
during this period:
The Sidereal Times - ASWA, The Webb Society Journal,
and a new journal not received before Observatory
Techniques.
The Centre continue to receive Sky & Telescope,
Astronomy, MNASSA, and news letters as well as monthly
news letters from other centres around the country.
Finally, the Librarian is in the process of listing
all equipment and other assets of the Centre and this
will be completed by the end of July.
Proposed: T. Budge Seconded: T. Gould
7. Curator of Instruments Report
Mr van Laun stated that the trees obscuring the domes
has been cut down. The Jacobs Dome need to overhauled.
Due to the Telescope Making one of the 200l drums has
leaked oil onto the Sir Herbert Baker Building floor and
it should be repaired.
Proposed: M Chitters Seconded: T Hilton
8. Increase of Fees
It was put to a vote that the Joining fee should be increased
to R50,00 and that the yearly subscription remain at R75,00.
The outcome were as follows: 17 For increase
02 Against increase
02 Did not vote.
Proposed: C Stewart Seconded: J Maher
9. Election of Committee
There were 11 members elected to serve on the Committee for
1997/1998. They are:
Mr. E Finlay, Mr. B Fraser, Mrs. V Fraser, Mr. G
Gorbett, Mr. J Maher, Mr. C Penberthy, Mr. C Stewart,
Mrs. M Chitters, Dr. B Payne, Mr. C Volschenk and Mr. E
Dembskey
Proposed: T Budge Seconded: T Hilton
10. Other Business
Mr. Brian Fraser thanked Mr. Trevor Gould on be half of the
Committee and members of the Centre for his services that he
renderd to the Centre.
11. Closure
The meeting was adjourned at 21:04 and all present were
invited to coffee and tea.
_________________ __________________
CHAIRMAN .............SECRETARY
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