[sac-forum] Member presentations

  • From: "Jennifer Polakis" <m24@xxxxxxx>
  • To: <sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 00:26:05 -0700

I don't feel there's a problem.

Very occasionally things do get rushed. Once in a while we have long winded announcements, eight show and tells, nominations for officers, a short break, then a long lecture and we're out of there at 10:00ish.

Sometimes we have long winded announcements, two show and tells, an extra long break, a short lecture and are out of there at 9:30.

But usually it's just about right.

Early on Mike tried his best to have folks pre-arrange their show and tells with him for a different reason--but it didn't work. And, not too long ago, another club tried to micro manage every aspect of their members' presentations to preserve time for a Presidential monolog; and it was very off-putting and discouraging --some folks quit going for a while.

To me, the announcements are often way too long. Individual announcements should be < 2 minutes--if you think it has to be longer, get in line for a show and tell.

Of course we have to have a cut-off time for members' presentations so we can hear the lecturer--we would've had to bunt one more presenter at the last meeting into the next and maybe should've taken one less--but it's so rare a problem and such a great problem to have. I loved Jimmy's talk; and I think it would be great if we always had too many show and tells.

Some people leave before the speaker, some people talk while the speaker is. To me, these are the real problems--but admittedly (and obviously) only personal problems--nothing worth tasking the club to solve.

Jennifer Polakis, VP


-----Original Message----- From: Jimmy Ray
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 6:27 PM
To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Great meeting

To Richard's point, I was one of those "Walk Ups" and had I known it would have been disruptive or put us so far behind, I would have been more than happy to hold off.

Thank you,

Jimmy Ray

-----Original Message-----
From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Richard Harshaw
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 3:06 PM
To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Great meeting

When I was at the helm, I asked people to try to let me know as early in the week as possible if they wanted time, and then how much and on what topic. I always gave THOSE folks top billing. If we had a full show-and-tell block, and latecomers came to me with their flash drives, I would tell them (and this only happened once), "Our block is full right now. Can we use your stuff next month?" And the person graciously agreed.

As for have a light docket because few people asked the prez for air time before the meeting, if someone came in with a USB flash drive presentation, I'd ask them what it was on and how long it would take, and try to work them in if the time allowed.

But sometimes, the Prez has to tell late comers that we just cannot accommodate them on this particular night due to time constraints. I think most adult astronomers here would understand that.





Richard Harshaw
The Arizona Star Splitter


-----Original Message-----
From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of stevecoe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 2:50 PM
To: SMTP
Subject: [sac-forum] Great meeting

Howdy all;

I enjoyed the fact that the room was full and that we had so many people willing to make some great presentations. I have said-and will repeat myself-we have the best astronomy club in this arm of the galaxy.
A big "thanks" to all who participated.

During the presentations, Jack Jones turned to me and said "feast or famine" in relation to the number of presentations. This got me to thinking about how to manage the number of presentations in any particular meeting?

Maybe a list made up on Wednesday or Thursday of people who have contacted the President in advance. This would involve saying "no" to people who just show up at the meeting with a memory stick and something to share. That sounds great, but what if there are few presentations and now someone is sitting in the audience with a presentation in their pocket. I can't come up with a way to even out the number of presentors.

There is also the discussion of information that is timely. If someone had a photo or drawing of Comet ISON or an upcoming event in the solar system, then putting that off until next month would effect the usefullness to club members.

So, if someone has a great idea, please let the board know and, again, thanks to all the great people in SAC.

Clear skies to us all;
Steve Coe




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