IRISH SCIENCE CENTRES AWARENESS NETWORK

Minutes of the AGM - Saturday, 7 May 2005

Present: Dr Ian Elliott (Chair), Mr Leo Enright (Vice-Chair), Dr Bill Davis (Hon. Treas.), Mr Eoin Gill, Dr Eilish McLaughlin, Mr Peter Lynch, Mr Paul Nugent, Mr Michael Grehan.

Apologies: Ms Margaret Franklin, Mr Nigel Monaghan.

1. Minutes
   Leo Enright apologised for not forwarding his apologies prior to the last AGM.
   
   
2. Matters arising
   It was reported that the Arthouse in Temple Bar was still unoccupied and it was agreed to monitor the situation. It was also noted that the Children's Museum in Galway had to close down on a temporary basis; hopefully this would not become a permanent situation. Leo Enright provided a brief update on the Exploration Station. There had been some progress and there might be an announcement in the near future in relation to leadership for this particular project.
   
   
3. Chairman's report
   The Spring Meeting in 2004 had been held in Collins Barracks on the theme 'Starting Young'. The keynote speaker was Mr Jerome Krause, formerly of the Ontario science Centre who spoke on 'Growing up with Science' - an account of a lifetime spent designing exhibits for science centres. The other speakers were Michael Grehan, Paul Nugent, Sheila Donegan, Christine Domegan, Sally Montgomery and Michael John Gorman.
   
   The Autumn Meeting in 2004 had been held in the Visitor Centre of the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin and had been held jointly with the Irish Mathematics Teachers Association on the topic 'Maths for All'. The keynote speaker was Rob Eastaway, author and lecturer who spoke on 'How not to be Avoided at Parties'. Other speakers were George Humphrey, Siddhartha Sen, Philip Boland and Alan Hibbert. The meeting aroused a lot of interest and was well attended.
   
   Two newsletters had been produced during the year and there had been a steady trickle of requests to be added to the mailing list for the weekly electronic bulletin.
   
   Leo Enright stressed the value of the bulletins as a useful source of information about forthcoming events. Paul Nugent, on behalf the Irish Mathematics Teachers Association, expressed the satisfaction of the Association with outcome of the joint meeting, 'Maths for All'.
   
   
4. Hon. Treasurer's report
   The accounts showed a total credit balance of €1914.44 at 30 December 2004 with expenditure exceeding income by €119.41. The Treasurer recommended the annual subscriptions should remain unchanged for the coming year. A new auditor would need to be appointed and he would look into this matter. Michael Grehan proposed the adoption of the accounts as presented; Eoin Gill seconded, and the accounts were accepted. It was decided to leave the annual subscription rates unaltered.
   
   
5. Elections
   

   Name	Position	Proposed	Seconded
   Dr Ian Elliott	Chair	Bill Davis	Eoin Gill
   Mr Leo Enright	Vice- Chair	Bill Davis	Eoin Gill
   Dr Ciaran Byrne	Hon Sec.	Bill Davis	Eoin Gill
   Dr W.J. Davis	Hon Treas.	Leo Enright	Eoin Gill
   Dr Eilish McLaughlin	Committee	Robert Hill	Leo Enright
   Dr Christine Domegan	Committee	Robert Hill	Leo Enright
   Mr Eoin Gill	Committee	Peter Lynch	Leo Enright
   Mr Ml. Grehan	Committee	Peter Lynch	Leo Enright
   Mr Mark Leslie	Committee	Peter Lynch	Leo Enright
   Dr Tom Mason	Committee	Peter Lynch	Leo Enright
   Mr N. Monaghan	Committee	Peter Lynch	Leo Enright
   Dr S. Montgomery	Committee	Peter Lynch	Leo Enright
   Ms Andrina Moore	Committee	Peter Lynch	Leo Enright
   Mr Paul Nugent	Committee	Peter Lynch	Leo Enright
   Mr Robert Hill	Committee	Ml Grehan	Leo Enright

   
   
6. A.O.B.
   None discussed.