Thanks to Jonathan Bradshaw for running the meetings in September and preparing a President's Report. For those of you at the September OGM, you may have noticed my slightly jet-lagged state, however, I was happy to be among AAQ and other amateur astronomer friends. Unfortunately, I could not stay for the supper, but I noticed the tea room was once again full of people enjoying the good company. OGM & BFN, 16th October 2010 The October Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) will be held in Room 222 in the Parnell Building, St Lucia campus, UQ. The Main Item will be Dr Tamara Davis, UQ Astrophysics, presenting the last half of her ‘Dark Energy' talk from 2009. Some people may recall that her talk was so popular that the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium theatrette was dangerously over-crowded. Tamara was constantly interrupted with questions with the consequence that the talk was only half-way finished when we had to stop the presentation.....there was a Brisbane Field Night (BFN) observing session after the meeting. Fortunately, Tamara kindly consented to continuing the same talk in 2010. I have no doubt there will be another large attendance, including many friends from other societies, so come and enjoy the talk.

Nice photograph of my head as I watch David O'Driscoll's Main Item talk at the September OGM

The BFN observing session after the October meeting is an all-weather social observing event graciously hosted by Tim and Georgie Napier-Munn. Food and drink is provided. Should the sky be clear, then during the meeting, Tony Dutton will provide a summary of observing targets; experienced and inexperienced members & guests will be catered for.

The normal cuppa/supper after the OGM will be replaced by the social BFN at Bellbowrie Observatory, which is in the Brisbane suburb of Bellbowrie. 
Parking is free on Saturday afternoon/evening, but please avoid using specific sites that require a permit; see the campus map on the website for suggested parking sites.

Membership

Our numbers continue to grow, so much so that we now have 122 members after the September Meetings. Congratulations to all who have helped welcome new members in to the AAQ. Our latest ratified members are:
Bruce Hands, Bradley Keioskie, Kerry Flynn, Robert Scalia, Damien Igoe, Robert Lipsys, Teresa Gemellaro and Andrew Gerrard.

For Members - changes to Page 2 of the October Newsletter

Note the addition of Rob Black as the Section Director of the North Queensland Section of the AAQ. In addition, please note my personal email is no longer with Westnet, but is with Bigpond.