<div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-915e7c50-7fff-239e-f5bd-a36f9c7d9b92"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000" style="">Dear ASA Members,</font></span></p><font color="#000000"><div><br></div></font><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Inclusion, Diversity and Equity in Astronomy (IDEA) Chapter of the ASA (<a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/yBvcCBNqjlC7WB0EnH6Zv-N?domain=asa-idea.org">asa-idea.org</a>) aims to promote and assist the career development of underrepresented groups working in astronomy in Australia, raise awareness of issues faced by these groups and undertake to establish best practice guidelines for supporting the inclusion of these groups in our community. The IDEA Chapter has been active for over a decade (initially as the Women in Astronomy Chapter) and has driven activities that have been beneficial to the diversity of people working in astronomy. ASA members are welcome to join the Chapter by registering at the ASA’s membership site (</span><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/jvrjCANpgjCNp2B7RCG7end?domain=asa.wildapricot.org/" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://asa.wildapricot.org</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - click on the CHAPTERS tab to do this).</span></font></p><font color="#000000"><div><br></div></font><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The IDEA Chapter is run by a steering committee that plays a leading role in devising and implementing initiatives to fulfil the Chapter’s goals. The nominal composition of the committee wit<span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">h</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> filled and open positions indicated</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> is as follows:</span></font></p><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">Chair: Katie Jameson (female, Level A/B, CSIRO), term ending in 2022</font></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">Deputy Chair: Devika Kamath (female, Level C, Macquarie), term ending in 2022</font></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">ASA Council representative: Michael Brown (male, Level D, Monash), term ending in 2022</font></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">General Committee Member: Dan Zucker (male, Level D, Macquarie), term ending in 2022</font></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><font color="#000000" style=""><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Secretary/Webmaster: OPEN</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span class="gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre">        </span></span></font></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">ASA ECR Chapter representative: OPEN </font></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">Student representative: OPEN</font></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt" role="presentation"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000" style="">2-3 general committee members: OPEN</font></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">We aim to have a diverse steering committee with broad representation of Australian astronomy organisations, seniority, gender identities, and lived experience. The terms for new regular members will be two years, while the student representative will be one year.</font></span></p><font color="#000000"><br></font><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">Keeping this in mind, we seek nominations for the following OPEN positions :</font></span></p><font color="#000000"><br></font><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">Secretary/Webmaster:</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">We are seeking nominations from any academic level to help with budgeting and updating the website (does not require experience with website development).</font></span></p><font color="#000000"><br></font><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">ASA ECR Chapter representative:</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">We are seeking nominations from level A or level B academics.</font></span></p><font color="#000000"><br></font><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">Student representative:</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">We encourage nominations from the entire student community</font></span></p><font color="#000000"><br></font><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font color="#000000">2-3 general committee members:</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We are seeking nominations from</span><span style="font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> level C and E academics</span><span style="font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> with the need for at least one Level C, and one Level E. Senior members bring a unique, critical perspective that is needed to effectively promote equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the Australian astronomy community. If you know someone at these levels you think would be good, please encourage them to nominate themselves. </span></font></p><div><span><br></span></div><div><span><br></span></div><b>What will being a member of the IDEA Chapter steering committee entail?</b><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We expect each steering committee member to attend monthly hour-long meetings and be able to devote ~5 hours/month to IDEA Chapter work. We plan for the IDEA Chapter Steering Committee to regularly meet with representatives from the equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) committees from all Australian astronomical organisations. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><b>2022 - 2023 IDEA Chapter Plan</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">2022: the steering committee’s focus will be on overseeing the organisation of a workshop (mid-2022), creating documentation on best practices, updating demographic statistics, reviewing the Pleiades Awards criteria and documentation, and holding the 2022 IDEA Chapter Townhall and Rainbow Dinner(s) at the ASA ASM 2022. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">From August 2022 to March 2023: the steering committee will focus on organising and holding the 2023 Pleiades Awards and the committee members should anticipate a heavier workload with the review of award applications. </span></li></ul><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><b><br></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><b>We are now inviting nominations for the 4-5 open positions, with a deadline of Monday, 1 November 2021.</b> Given the representation of the sitting steering committee members, we highly encourage nominations of people at Level E (or equivalent). If there are more nominations than positions (taking the above diversity considerations in account) we will then ask the chapter members to vote online in due course.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The nomination / election schedule is:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">deadline for nominations: 1 Nov 2021</span></li><li>election period (if required): 8 Nov – 22 Nov 2021</li><li>results announced, and new positions commence: 1 Dec 2021 </li></ul><p></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><b><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Please email your nomination to the ASA Officer for this election (Debra Gooley: </span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="mailto:debra.gooley@sydney.edu.au">debra.gooley@sydney.edu.au</a></span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><b>). </b>Each nomination must 1) indicate the position you are seeking and 2) include a brief paragraph summarising your interest in the position and how you envisage contributing to the broad goals of the Chapter. Please note that this information will be made available to voters in the event of an election.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Best regards,</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Katie Jameson (Chair)</span></p></span><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><b><font color="#0b5394">The IDEA Chapter Steering Committee</font></b></div><div><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&amp;id=1iE0EH8qaHMYn7yDsUfD8P7Kgbuc7yU48&amp;revid=0B-eyL-_Nmin4VDNMaFp3MnFRNTV5TjhyQXVzbHkwcGw4UUdNPQ" width="96" height="32"></div><div><font color="#f1c232"><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/yBvcCBNqjlC7WB0EnH6Zv-N?domain=asa-idea.org" target="_blank">asa-idea.org</a></font></div></div></div></div></div>