[sac-forum] Re: SAC 30 Year Anniversary Banquet

Hi Jeff,
I like your suggestion. This is what I had in mind, except I would extend the pre-dinner socializing to 1 hour, and leave the post presentation socializing to indefinitely, no later than 11 or 12. Like you, I eat around 5 and so 7 is already late enough without pushing it out even further with a speaker. I agree that no matter how famous our speaker is, as you said "First, the speaker talks when we tell him to. The talk is for the benefit of the club members not the speaker. After-dinner talks are the way it works. In fact it would disservice the speaker to know everyone was wishing him to finish so they could eat. People will be able to listen better on a full stomach. The speaker talks AFTER dinner." Also, we need an open bar, like you said! 
Stan
p.s., tomorrow morning I leave for my NM lot and will be there for some time. I will not be able to partake in this stimulating discussion after I leave. 


Jeff Hopkins wrote:
I as well as some others have tried to find out more detail about the banquet, with little luck.
I don't know who is on the Banquet committee or exactly what is planned, but here are my ideas. I'd like to see what other members think. 

This is a celebration. There is much to do.
First, the speaker talks when we tell him to. The talk is for the benefit of the club members not the speaker. After-dinner talks are the way it works. In fact it would disservice the speaker to know everyone was wishing him to finish so they could eat. People will be able to listen better on a full stomach. The speaker talks AFTER dinner.
There should be awards to outstanding members. There should be tickets and ticket stubs used for door prizes. Astronomy related companies and stores should be contacted for donation of prizes. There should be decorations and something for everyone to take home (small gift).
There should be a table set up with pictures from the past in scrap books and/or on poster boards.
This is a celebration. There must be an open bar. Without it there will be no celebration.
It is important to have a written program. This can be simple. A colored 8 1/2 X 11" sheet folded to make 4 pages. 

Cover - Page 1
Function information - title, place, date, time

SAC 30th Anniversary Dinner
Challenger Center
Saturday, 29 September 2007
07:00 PM to 10:30 PM
21170 North 83rd Ave
Peoria, Arizona 85382

Page 2 (inside cover)
A write up on the history of SAC, Gene Lucas and other long time members could contribute. 

Page 3
Agenda
7:00 - 7:30 PM Socializing with open bar
7:30 - 8:15 PM Dinner
8:15 - 8:30 PM Awards, Door Prizes and Introductions
8:30 - 9:30 PM Talk by Dr, Paul Davies "Building a Time Machine."
9:30 - 10:00 PM Socializing with open bar

Menu
Farmers Market Tossed Garden Salad
Carved Roast Sirloin of Beef
accompanied by sautéed mushrooms and cabernet demi glace
Tarragon Chicken
boneless, skinless chicken breast in tarragon chardonnay sauce
Seasonal Sautéed Vegetables
Oven Roasted Baby Peruvian and Fingerling Potatoes with Fresh Herbs
Iced Tea, Fresh Brewed Regular or Decaffeinated Coffee

Back Cover Page 4
Davies' biography
Closing Comments
This is a celebration. There must be an open bar. Without it there will be no celebration. 

This is a once in a life time even. Let's make it special.

************************************
On a side note, in the early 1970's I attended a banquet of the American Association of Physics Teachers in upstate New York. Isaac Asimov (scientist/science fiction writer) gave a talk on time travel. What I remember is he made the point of if we travel back in time say 10 minutes, 10 minutes ago we were not where we are now and depending on the time of day could end up being deep within the Earth or in outer space. This bring up an interesting question, how do we define where we were in the Universe 10 minutes ago? The Earth is rotating and orbiting the Sun. The Sun is zipping around the Milky Way Galaxy. The Milky Way is zipping around with a local group. And probably many other such motions. And time travel should really be called spacetime travel. 

Jeff

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