[ASA] EPOC Update: Membership and Steering Committee Elections

[John O'Byrne]

Dear ASA Members,

I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the ASA's Education and Public Outreach Chapter (EPOC). 

1. Media and Outreach Coordinator

On behalf of the EPOC Steering Committee and Chapter members, I would like to congratulate Michael Brown on his appointment into the role of Media and Outreach Coordinator.  The Steering Committee looks forward to working closely with Michael in this new role, as he will take on the ex-officio position of ASA Council Representative on the Steering Committee.  In doing so, Michael will replace John O'Byrne as the Committee's Council Representative (after a transition period).  
2. Membership
If you are not already a member of EPOC, I would like to invite you to consider joining.  All it takes is an e-mail to
asaepoc at gmail.com 
Membership in EPOC is open to all current ASA members.  If you think you are a member, you probably are! But it doesn't hurt to update your membership if you are not certain.  As a member, you might then consider taking part in the... 
3. Steering Committee Election 

It is election time for the EPOC Steering Committee, with five positions option to ASA members for nominations.

EPOC's mission is:

To advance the level of public awareness of the excitement of astronomy and of the international importance of Australian astronomy, while promoting the teaching of astronomy to students and the public.

On behalf of the Steering Committee, I would like to thank Helen Sim, Rob Hollow, Jonathan Nally and Courtney Jones (student representative) for their valuable contributions as members of the EPOC Steering Committee.  I have decided to stand down from the position of Chair of the Steering Committee, and will not be seeking to renominate for this role. 
EPOC is now calling for nominations from amongst its members for:

- One 2-year position (open to all categories of ASA membership except student members) as Chair 
- Three 2-year positions (open to all categories of ASA membership except student members)
- One 1-year position for a student representative 
Individual EPOC members are welcome to nominate for both the Chair and the standard 2-year positions.
Nominations will close on Monday 24 March at 9am AEST, to be followed immediately by a two-week voting period.
 
To nominate, please send an e-mail to asaepoc at gmail.com with: 
A. Your name.
B. Position you are nominating for (Chair, 2-year position or student position).
C. An appropriate photograph (head-shot) plus a brief biographical statement summarising your main interests or involvement in education and public outreach, which will be presented to ASA members during the voting period.
 

4. Decadal Plan

In the last few months, many of us have been involved in discussions about the importance of education and outreach as part of the Decadal Plan process (working group WG3.2: Education, Training and Careers).  EPOC has an important role to play in this process, and I would encourage all members to get involved in the Town Hall meetings or contact the chairs with your ideas (Amanda Bauer and John O'Byrne).
5. Annular/partial Solar Eclipse - Tuesday, 29 April: 

There will be an annular/partial solar eclipse visible from Australian and Antarctica on Tuesday 29 April.  Please check the ASA Fact Sheets link in the next few weeks or more information (thanks to Nick Lomb):  http://astronomy.org.au/factsheets.  You may like to think about running an event to coincide with this eclipse.

Thanks for your attention,
 
Chris Fluke
Chair, Steering Committee
ASA Education & Public Outreach Chapter
 
 
 
 

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