Astronomy, French, Modern Jive and MOTO

ASTRONOMY
The first group meeting of the year was held after the last Wednesday Lecture in the Grove Theatre. Just under 20 members stayed behind. The group make good use of the Internet and projector (by virtue of the http://openphoto.net/download/index.html?image_id=18352venue they can log in via the university wireless network). Anyone interested in this group should have a look at some of their key sites starting of course with:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space

Maggie Collins, a keen member who earlier had given the group a superb talk on The Big Bang, has compiled a comprehensive list of web sites of interest and maybe could be persuaded to talk at an appropriate time in the future about the current project at CERN. Other suggestions were to investigate the history of astronomy, or follow a course set by say NASA or the Open University.

Nick Hill, who has led the group since its inauguration three years ago is now the Treasurer of Swansea U3A and needs someone else to take over as coordinator of his group, and as I noted in the latest Conveners newsletter he is finding a lack of volunteers. Sooner or later current members have got to step up to responsibility for running (convening) these groups or they will founder and the U3A will lose rather than build up variety. He saw the next meeting Wednesday 12 November as pivotal, for it would be used to draw up the years program. This will be an ideal time for new members to have their views canvassed.

Some keener members are also members of the Swansea Astronomical Society. As with Geology, it seems that those with sufficient the interest belong to two organisations. The Astro Society have lectures twice a month, are responsible for running the observatory in the Marina on behalf of The Council and assist in the provision of University courses. Very good cooperation exists between the two organisations. More details can be obtained from their website:-

http://www.classroominspace.org.uk

It also appears that there is an argument for trying to draw new members into the group and to an extent repeating some of the more successful topics of the past three years, or perhaps even founding an additional Beginners Astronomy Group to provide continuity. The lesson for all groups is grow, develop and seek new members or wither away. In the modern world it is impossible to stay still, companies and organisations either expand or die.

All that being said there were plenty of interesting embryo projects, non more fascinating than Roly Govier's proposal to hire a time slot to control the international Foulkes electron-telescopes (Hawaii and Australia) in order to carry out our own observations. He has already gained membership of that organisation for Swansea U3A, in which we are now classified like say schools as educators. The link below will give a feel for the possibilities:-

http://www.faulkes-telescope.com

Eric Broadbent is proposing a visit to the Spaceguard Centre at Knighton an observatory which welcomes visitors. The proposal was to get there by free tickets on the Central Wales Line from Swansea Station.

http://www.spaceguarduk.com

FRENCH CONVERSATION
We are exceedingly lucky to find another two new members who are keen to take over the failing French Conversation Group, they are Steve Johnson and his partner Susan Hodge (Tel 429683, mobile 07770 941396, or email on suehodge@hotmail.co.uk
We have booked the Craft and Hobbies Room at Hazel Court for 10.30am for the inaugural meeting of this new group on Thursday 6 November, the day chosen is the same as that of the previous group, but is not necessarily set in stone. I have an option on the room for all four Thur day mornings in November and will be amazed given the numbers interested if it doesn't warrant a regular slot. We need volunteers to provide continuity when Steve and Sue are away.

An important objective for that first meeting is to fit the sessions to requirements and a questionnaire has been designed to that end. Please attend the first meeting if you are interested in helping formulate a French group.

LEARN MODERN JIVE
A new group convened by new member Gerwyn Thomas (Tel 817229, gerwyn@gmail.com). What a way to keep fit! Although only a few people have yet expressed interest they are all keen to get started. Gerwyn is to visit Hazel Court to confirm that the Exercise Room is the ideal, as seems likely. It can be hired for just £10 a half day. The suggestion is that we have a trial afternoon session which could span 1.30pm to 5pm.

MOTO (Members On Their Own)
A new group also run by Gerwyn Thomas (Tel 817229) because quite a few have also expressed interest in learning Modern Jive the groups will probably start in parallel, though soon they will be run as quite separate groups.

COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG
In a discussion with Anthony Hughes, who runs the highly successful Digital Media Group, I realise that this column is run as a continuous newsletter rather than an interactive blog. That said I would encourage others to leave Comments about their own group, either event dates and times or particularly items of discussion. The instructions for leaving Comments are given in the very first posting INTRODUCTION - START HERE, such comments are probably best left to be shown on the latest blog, so everyone sees them easily, otherwise you have to click on 'comments' to see them.

So far there are only four comments, three are trivial trials from me to make sure the facility worked but just one real, very complimentary comment, on that very first posting from Don Mason. Wonderfully reassuring though it was in the early days, I am not looking for further congratulatory messages but ones that add to the interest or information in this blog/newsletter. Feel free to try.
.