Australian Institute of Physics, SA branch

Minutes of the 2000 Annual General meeting, held at 6:30pm in the
SIT Bistro at Adelaide Institute of TAFE.

Present: Derek Leinweber, Anthony Williams, John Pilbrow, 
         Peter Bouwknegt, Rod Crewther, Kathryn Hanton, Susan Cockshell,
         Peter Veitch, John Prescott, Mike Roach, David French,
         Laurence Campbell, Maurie Hooper, Shane Canney, Waseem Kamleh,
         Mike Ford, Michael Brunger, Doug Sweet, John Hisco, 
         John Pattison, Judith Pollard, Olivia Samardzic, 
         Boris Blankleider, Alex Kalloniatis, Peter Szekeres, and
         Ray Protheroe.

Apologies: Donna Riordan, David Wiltshire, Bob Vincent, John Patterson,
           Peter Teubner, Gillian Robertson, Stewart Wright.

Visitors:  Helen Dorsett, Odetta Gwizda, Mrs. Prescott.

Welcome: Members were welcomed by the Chair, Derek Leinweber. Derek
         then extended a welcome to the AIP President Prof. John Pilbrow.

Minutes of the last meeting:
        No corrections were suggested. The minutes were accepted, this
being proposed by Rod Crewther, seconded by John Prescott and passed 
by those present.

Chair's report:
	Derek Leinweber listed the SA branch committee and asked members
to identify themselves. He reported that the committee had been
very active. He thanked the previous Chair Ray Protheroe for preparing
the committee well and thanked those members who had stayed on.
Derek listed the subcommittees which carried out various functions
of the committee. He made reference to the "Meetings and Publicity"
subcommittee, noting that John Patterson has worked hard over 2 years 
and been largely responsible for the public lecture series. He said that
Stewart Wright has worked hard on the web page, noting that most of
the night's slides are on the Web.
	Derek reviewed recent and current events, starting with the
Medical Physics tour (thanks to A/Prof. Tim Van Doorn), of Nuclear Medicine
and Radiotherapy at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Next was the talk by 
Robert Zubrin on "Mars Direct", a very exciting event held jointly
with the Institute for Biomedical Engineering and the Astronomical
Society of SA which attracted 800 people. In National Science Week
Brian Schmidt spoke on "Measuring the Universe with the Hubble Space
Telescope". Derek identified this as his favourite public lecture and
will recommend Brian as a speaker to other branches. 
	Derek reported that AIP student members held an event at Adelaide 
University, with Melanie Johnston-Hollitt making it happen. He said that 
the AIP hopes that having student members on the committee will extend
the success of student activities at Flinders to Adelaide University.
Another public lecture had been give by Prof. Anthony Thomas on the
"Origin of Mass". Derek noted that the public lectures had been well
attended, with 800, 400 and 200 people, in contrast to members'
lectures. For example, Prof. Peter Teubner had given a good talk but
the attendance was poor, hence the committee needs to find out what
members want.
	Derek described highlights of the Space School, put on by
members of the SA branch with support from the AIP and CASE (the
Centre for Space Education), which was attended by 36 year-10 students.
For future years sponsorship is being sought, including from the AIP
and DSTO. Two of the students are sent to the National Space School.
Activities this year included visits to the RAAF, DSTO, Adelaide and
Flinders Universities, plus a rocket-building session.
	Derek reported on the Student Night, which the students enjoy
and which brings people out. Talks were presented by Andrew Lahiff
from Flinders, Daniel Badger from Adelaide and Michael Moody from the
University of SA. The Silver Bragg medals (to Greg Fee of
Flinders and Ross Young of Adelaide) were awarded. Derek noted that
we may get the student speakers to look at the advice for speakers
which is on the "Public Lecture Hints" page on the Web.
	Out of the normal run of events, a general meeting had been
held at the request of some younger members of the committee who wanted
to look at big questions. Not may members had attended, but those who
did were keen and brought good ideas, including that the AIP should
branch out to cover areas where Physics overlapped with Biology and
Engineering.
        For the 2nd year the AIP had held a Quiz Night, which aims
to bring in as many High-School students as possible. Questions are
asked and a score is calculated. The branch has been successful in
getting sponsors for the event. For the 2nd year in a row
St. Peters' College had won. We now have a perpetual plaque for
display. Derek said that next year he hopes to hold the event during
the day and to make it a major event, with Physics departments
having the opportunity to set up a show case, and sponsors giving
some nice prizes.
	The Education subcommittee had also been very busy with 
teacher training (such as a session held in conjunction with SASTA
in September, which 70 teachers had attended for 2.5 hours). Its purpose
was to help teachers learn new material for the "Applications" section
of the curriculum, such as radioactive dating and the Davisson-Germer
experiment. The subcommittee had also held an "exam wrap-up" (for the
year-12 exam), with the AIP providing the venue for the event, in
conjunction with SASTA, which 40 teachers attended.
 	Derek thanked Judith Pollard for bringing in an outstanding
speaker for the Women-in-Physics lecture tour. Dr Michelle Simmons spoke
on Nanotechnology to an audience that filled Union Hall. The Claire
Corani prizes were awarded at this lecture.
	The last meeting had been on "A Wider Range for Career 
Opportunities for Physicists", which was addressed by two Physicists
who have gone on to other things, in the tax office and in British
Aerospace. This had been a very interesting evening.
	Derek gave some details of the upcoming AIP 2000 Congress, noting
that the organiser, Tony Williams, would appreciate registration and
was available to field questions. Derek gave some details of the
organising committee and referred members to the web site of the
Congress. He noted that it included a public lecture by Prof. Paul Davies,
which would be free with registration at the Congress, but would
otherwise require a booking with BASS.
	Derek referred to the branch's work in scanning of the AIP
mailouts of job adverts. He noted that the site received 200 "hits"
per month, and that while there are other employment sites, ours gives
all the details.
	Derek invited discussion, but none emerged. Olivia Samardzic
proposed that the Chair's report be accepted, seconded by Susan
Cockshell and carried by those present.

TREASURER'S REPORT:
	David French presented two versions, one more detailed than the
other, with a bank reconciliation. He offered to provide yet more detail
upon request. He reported that:
- the balance has fallen from $4300 to $2250, which cannot continue.
- We have spent $8240 this year.
- We have generated more income ($1100) to defray the cost of public 
  lectures, and more of this is required.
- This year's grant of $6000 will fall to $5000 next year, so the 
  incoming committee has a task ahead.
- The books balance, and are to be audited in the near future.
- This is the second year in a row that we have overspent (by the same
  amount).
- Meeting costs and public lectures are the major cost, with Union Hall
  costing $200/meeting and publicity in the Advertiser costing $100-$200
  per time. Approximately 70% of the total spending is on members' 
  meetings and public lectures.
- Student travel grants have fallen to $194 from $1300. This is a sad
  relection on what is happening and we need to look at this.
- Postage, stationery and donations have been steady (except donations
  were higher last year for the Space School).
- Cheque by cheque details are available.
- Our income will not increase.
	Dr Alex Kallionatis asked if this was the result of the AIP-SA
making a greater effort to have a high profile. David replied that
the cost of meetings was up, student travel was down, and that our 
income has gone down. He said that we need to address public lectures,
student support, and our declining membership to which the grant is linked.
Derek opposed suggesting that public lectures be stopped, pointing out
that the public has expressed frustration at gaps in events, and said
that he wants to find sponsorship. Prof. John Pilbrow asked about
charging admission. Derek replied that it has been considered, but not
done, noting that it is inexpensive (at $2) to sell tickets through
BASS. Prof Pilbrow suggested approaching trusts for educational 
purposes, especially specific events. Dr Peter Szekeres suggested it
is easy, to make it a voluntary contribution at the door. Olivia
Samardzic countered that we are trying to encourage people to come.
Derek suggested that the problem be left to next year's committee.
	Prof. John Prescott repeated what he said at the general
meeting, that from the point of view of the profession, supervisors
should impress on students the benefits of belonging to the AIP, and
also on their colleagues. Derek agreed, but asked what these are, noting
that it has been a problem to quantify the benefits in putting them on the
Web page. John Pockett asked why membership is going down - due to a
reduction in the number of Physicists, or to retirements? Derek said
that it was due to the removal of non-financial members from the 
branch lists, and that we are waiting for a membership list to come
on-line. Prof. Pilbrow reported that this was late but will come soon.
He said it was 18 months behind because it was beyond the person who
was doing it, but it should be ready early next year. He said he
was embarrassed by this delay.
	John Pockett said he had looked at which meetings people came
to and that Laurence Campbell did something on this. He suggested
finding which meetings attracted people. Derek noted that it is
a challenge for committee members.
	Dr Rod Crewther moved that the Treasurer's report by accepted,
seconded by Olivia Samardzic, with all present in favour.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
	Alex Kallionatis expressed discontent with the lack of 
opportunity to give a talk at the AIP2000 Congress. This was supported
by Derek, who said that there were not enough parallel sessions, given
the cost of registration.
	Anthony Williams, who is organising the Congress, replied
that there are 11 conferences, with each being responsible for their
own programs. He suggested that the matter should be raised with the
particular conference involved.
	Prof. John Pilbrow congratulated the branch on such an 
outstanding program. He described it as the most significant of the
3 branches which are engaging people from the community, summarising with
"Well Done". 
	Derek thanked the 2000 committee for their work.

ELECTION OF 2001 committee.

	The nomination list for the 2001 committee was displayed, being:

Chair:        Dr Peter Bouwknegt      
Vice-chair:   Dr Peter Veitch        
Secretary:    Dr Laurence Campbell  
Treasurer:    Mr David French      
Members:
              Dr Derek Leinweber  
              Dr Olivia Samardzic 
              Dr Boris Blankleider 
              Dr Michael Ford      
              Ms Susan Cockshell   
              Dr David Wiltshire   
              Dr Alex Kalloniatis  
              Mr Waseem Kamleh     
              Dr Shane Canney      
              Ms Joanne Harrison                                  

	The secretary suggested that, as there were no contested 
positions and as a committee of 14 was barely enough, the proposed
committee should be elected. This was moved by Rod Crewther,
seconded by JP, and passed without objection by those present. 
	Rod Crewther then moved a motion to adjourn, seconded by 
Alex Kallionatis and passed without objection.

					Laurence Campbell,  27-2-01