President’s Letter

by Ann Byrne, President

N ovember brings with it the onset of Christmas decorations in the stores, jingle bells being constantly piped through the muzak systems and a feeling of impending doom that once again I am woefully unprepared for it all.

With the AGM and the official opening of the Centre behind us, the new Committee on board I am sure that the group is headed for yet another year moving forward. Look for the improving facilities for members.

Elsewhere in the magazine (see a statement from the Committee) you will read a reply to queries made about our 1995/96 accounts by Peter Watney and Basil Chupin at the AGM.

Unfortunately this report has to be written before our opening at Belconnen so at this stage I just have to keep my fingers crossed that a lot of you joined us and enjoyed yourselves.

Only a week after the AGM and already the new Committee is coming up with some great ideas. Emil Joseph has suggested we have a specific Committee meeting on a Saturday afternoon once a month. You are invited to attend the meeting with your ideas, complaints, brick-bats or bouquets, anything you might like to bring to the Committee members in attendance attention. So please call in and have a chat. At this point we have chosen the last Saturday in the month to be the designated time. The location will be the Centre and the time frame will be from 2-4pm. So starting in November its your turn to have your say.

Ken Livingston has agreed to take over the ‘Meetings, Venues and Publicity’ portfolio from Lis Shelley and is eager to hear from members about what they would like to see and hear about at our monthly meetings.

Matters arising from the August minutes:

Items discussed included:

• The Chairperson introduced Russell Hunt, Frank Faber, and Pramod Adhikari to the meeting. Russell spoke on what the Strategic Review Team hoped to achieve in addressing the issue of voluntarism within the PCUG. Hugh Bambrick, Iain Gould, Rod Farr and Ken Livingston agreed to be part of this group. A final report will be presented to the committee by the middle of October.
• Discussion took place on the requirements for new computers at the new Centre.
• The formation of the ACT Internet Association was greeted with approval from the Committee. Craig Gibson is President of the new Association.
• Fitout costs for t h e new centre were approved
• The Annual Bring and Buy will take place in November.
• ISDN lines had been ordered for the centre
• New printer purchased for editorial and the centre