Solent Amateur Astronomers Society - Meetings and Membership

MEETINGS
and
MEMBERSHIP

Updated 13th March 2012

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Meetings
Meeting Dates
Membership
Membership Fees
Membership Application

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MEETINGS
Guest speakers from all over the country have visited Solent to give lectures about astronomy to the Society. Solent Amateur Astronomers have met in several different places including: Millbrook School; Southampton University; The Friends Meeting House; and from 1985 to July 2010 The Oaklands Centre, Lords Hill (which was renamed Oasis Academy, Lords Hill). For a while we held our meetings at the Oasis Academy, Millbrook (Green Lane, formerly Millbrook Secondary School), and the for a few months at The Mountbatten public house function room.

From January 2012 meetings will be held in: The Wagtail Room, The Eastpoint Centre, Bursledon Road, Southampton, SO19 8BR. This new venue for Solent has excellent facilities in The Wagtail Room itself as well as a coffee lounge and licenced bar. There is also ample parking on site. Our monthly meetings start at 7.30pm and usually end at 10pm.

If you require a map of the area and meeting venue please follow the link below...

Link to Google Maps, The Eastpoint Centre, Bursledon Road, Southampton.

The meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings start at 7.30pm and finish at 10.00pm. Visitors are always welcome to attend any of these meetings and subject to availability will be given a newsletter.

This is also a chance to meet Society members on an informal basis. It is at these meetings where many visitors encounter the Society for the first time. The meetings do have an agenda but the atmosphere is generally relaxed and informal. A programme of the meetings is listed below but on odd occasions the subject is liable to change at short notice and visitors are advised to check nearer the date.

THE EASTPOINT CENTRE - MEETINGS PROGRAMME 2012

DATES - 2012	SUBJECT	SPEAKER
17th January 2012	Observing Meteoroids on the Moon	Graham Bryant Hampshire Astronomy Group
21st February 2012	Radio astronomy	Paul Hyde Chairman, BAA Radio astronomy Group
20th March 2012	The Moon - a biography	David Whitehouse
17th April 2012	The Transit of Venus 2012	Robin Gorman
15th May 2012	Stars and Galaxies	Dr Claudia Maraston University of Portsmouth
19th June 2012	Space - What has it done for us?	Dr Stuart Clark
17th July 2012	Mars Express	Jerry Workman
21st August 2012	Astrophotography Light	Damian Peach James Fradgley
18th September 2012	Astronomy and the Ancients	Bob Mizon Wessex AS, CfDS
16th October 2012	Annual General Meeting	The Committee (Meeting open to anyone)
20th November 2012	TBA	Sadie Jones Southampton University
18th December 2012	Making and optimising a Newtonan telescope	Mark Radice Salisbury Plain Astronomers

If you require a map of the area and meeting venue please follow the link below...

Link to Google Maps, The Eastpoint Centre, Bursledon Road, Southampton.

If you have any questions relating to coming to one of our meetings, the FAQ section on the About the Society page may be of help to you.

MEMBERSHIP
As with all clubs, membership varies but currently averages about 40 to 50 memberships, of which there are several types. The most common membership type is 'Adult Single' but the Society offers a concessionary membership rate, 'Reduced Single' as well as 'Family' and 'Life' rates. The 'Reduced Single' rate applies to: under 18's, students or those in full time education, over 65's, disabled, or those on benefit, income support and so on.

The Society's membership year runs from September to August and membership fees are divided into 4 quarters so that those joining mid-session pay a pro rata rate. Details of annual and pro rata membership fees are listed further down this page.

The Society has its own monthly newsletter which is usually given out at the monthly meeting. If members do not attend, their newsletter is sent to them. The newsletter details club news and events and features articles that members have written.

Solent also boasts an extensive library of books, tapes and videos, all of which can be hired by members. Other benefits of membership include the use of the observatory (once you have been trained) as well as unlimited free attendance at public viewing sessions. As well as this, members can benefit from the assistance of other members, for example, advice on buying a telescope... There are many ways that membership of Solent can benefit those interested in astronomy.

Full definitions of different membership types can be seen further down this page. Membership types and other information relating to membership and the Society as a whole may be found by going to the Constitution page.

If you are interested in joining the Society below is a membership application form. To apply for membership simply fill in the form fields and press the 'Send' button. This will generate an e-mail which will be sent to the Membership Secretary.

Alternatively, you will find a printable Application Form by following this link. Print the page, fill in the form and post it using the instructions on the page.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES ARE CURRENTLY...

MEMBERSHIP TYPE	FEE
Life	£280.00
Family	£35.00
Adult Single	£28.00
Reduced Single	£14.00

PRO RATA MEMBERSHIP FEES ARE...

MEMBERSHIP TYPE	SEP. - NOV.	DEC. - FEB.	MAR. - MAY	JUN. - AUG.
Family	£35.00	£26.25	£17.50	£8.75
Adult Single	£28.00	£21.00	£14.00	£7.00
Reduced Single	£14.00	£10.50	£7.00	£3.50

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

MEMBERSHIP TYPES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
There are several categories and conditions of membership of Solent Amateur Astronomers, the list below describes them:

(a) Life Honorary: where a member becomes a member to the end of his or her life or until the dissolution of the Society, whichever occurs the sooner, without the need to pay fees. This membership may be granted or awarded by the Committee once per year to a member who has had 25 or more years membership and who has given exceptional, consistent and long term work beneficial to the Society.
(b) Honorary: where membership without the need to pay fees is granted or awarded by the Committee for the current term. This award may be given for exceptional, consistent and long term work beneficial to the Society.
(c) Affiliated: where another group or body acquire access to Society facilities and meetings for the current term by arrangement with the Committee.
(d) Life: where a person or member becomes a member to the end of his or her life or until the dissolution of the Society, whichever occurs sooner, for (with the exception of the Honorary Life President) ten times the prevailing annual Single fees without further payments.
(e) Family: where a group or family at the same address become members for the current term.
(f) Single: where a single person becomes a member for the current term.
(g) Reduced Single: where a single person either under 18 years of age, or over state pension age, or registered as unemployed, or a full-time student on the date of application or renewal for membership becomes a member for the current term for a reduced fee.

The current subscription fees as instituted at the 2004 AGM are as follows:

(a) Life Honorary - No fees payable.
(b) Honorary - No fees payable.
(c) Affiliated - by arrangement.
(d) Life - £280.
(e) Family - £35 per year.
(f) Single - £28 per year.
(g) Reduced single - £14 per year.

Membership is subject to Committee approval, payment of the prevailing fees and assent to the Society's Constitution. All types of membership receive a free monthly newsletter except Family members who receive one copy only. Membership runs from the 1st September of one year to 31st August of the following year, fees payable are for that period.

The membership year is divided into four quarters: (1) September to November, (2) December to February, (3) March to May, and (4) June to August. New membership applications received during the first quarter require payment of 100%, the second quarter 75%, the third quarter 50%, and the last quarter 25%, of the appropriate annual fee. Renewal of membership must take place before the AGM, usually held in the third week of October, or else membership will be deemed to have lapsed.

Alternatively, you will find a printable Application Form by following this link. Print the page, fill in the form and post it using the instructions on the page.

HOW TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY
The form below enables you to make selections and make you application. When you press the 'Send' button the completed form will be e-mailed and you will then be contacted to confirm receipt of you application.

To make an application fill in the first part of the form (name, address etc.). If you are applying for a Family membership use the additional 'Name 2, 3, 4, 5' lines as required. Please make sure that you enter a valid e-mail address so that you can be contacted by return e-mail. If you do not wish to leave your e-mail address please make sure other contact details are entered so that there is a way to contact you.

Check that all the entries you've made are correct and then press the 'Send' button.

If you wish to clear all the entries in the form because you've made a mistake press the 'Reset' button, or correct the form where necessary if you only wish to amend a small part of the form.

SOLENT AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS
FORM A - MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Group Name (Affiliation only):
Number (Family only):
Surname 1:	Forename 1:
Surname 2:	Forename 2:
Surname 3:	Forename 3:
Surname 4:	Forename 4:
Surname 5:	Forename 5:
Address:
Area/District:
Town/City:
Postcode:
Phone number:
Mobile number:
E-mail address:

Please select the membership type you are applying for.

I/We, the undersigned, apply for membership. I/We do hereby agree that as a member/as members of Solent Amateur Astronomers, I/We will be governed by their Constitution as it is now formed or as it hereafter be altered; provided that I/We will indicate in writing to the Committee that I/We wish to withdraw from membership, I/We will be free of this obligation.

Please indicate your agreement to the above statement by selecting "Yes, I agree".

Please enter any comments, questions or notes you want to append to this form in the space below.

Please make sure that ALL of your entries in the form are correctly entered before you press the 'Send' button.

If you are NOT happy with your entry(s) or have made an error edit the form as required.
(Alternatively press the Reset and clear this form button below and start again.)

If you have completed the form and want to go ahead and apply for membership press the SEND THIS FORM button below and your application will be sent.

! ! ! Please make sure your contact details are correctly entered before sending this form. ! ! !

If you are interested in joining the Society or would like further information, please send an e-mail to The Webmaster.

Alternatively, you will find a printable Application Form by following this link. Print the page, fill in the form and post it using the instructions on this page.

If you have any questions relating to joining the Society, the FAQ section on the About the Society page may be of help to you. Some further questions may be answered by looking at the Society's Constitution which outlines how the Society is governed and structured. This may be seen at the Solent Amateur Astronomers Society Constitution page.

Feedback about this site and suggestions for additional information and pages are welcome, please send an e-mail to The Webmaster.

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