Welcome from PD, the new chair and brief introductions from everyone present. PD stated his desire for an informal basis for committee meetings

Given above.

These were not available to check. Therefore minutes from last meeting will need to be checked at the next committee meeting.

In relation to organising business of meeting, PD referred to the lengthy agenda and stated his intention to keep to time. Therefore up to agenda item 11 would be addressed at this meeting and the remainder will be moved to next meeting.

Reference was made by PD to possibility of optional pre committee meeting dining event similar to that previously organised by outgoing chair JA. No decision was taken.

Membership was noted to have increased by 6 since the AGM. The proposal that the minutes of committee meetings should be posted on the web page to reduce postage costs to committee members was agreed in principle. PC stressed the requirement to approve the minutes before posting on the web site.

BA raised the issue of publication of information about ES2k in other magazines. In particular, the magazine Geoscientist would be willing to include an article or contribution from ES2k. DK agreed to write article for Geoscientist. MP agreed to prepare an article for Irish Association of Economic Geologists to raise awareness of the work of ES2k. TB reported that the magazine Science Spin was willing to carry a half page article for ES2k but this has been put off until spring 2004.

JA has been asked to run a fieldtrip for the GA in July 2004, in collaboration with Roger Dickson and others. PC mentioned the idea of a reception offered by ES2k for this event. PC suggested that a reception could be offered by ES2k and hosted by MAGNI or both run and hosted by MAGNI. This was timetabled for future agenda item for next committee meeting.

JMK reported that invoices have been sent to EHS, GSNI, GSI and Geoscapes for advertisements in ES2k magazine issue 8. Bank balance was £3353.35 as detailed by last bank statement (10.10.2003). Outstanding expenditure amounts to £2085. Total income from advertising amounts to £520. Estimated balance will be £1788.55.

JM reported that GSI was open to sponsorship of ES2k in principle - 4000-5000 Euro figure suggested, but the GSI director was not in a position to confirm this yet. TB reported that Ian Enlander and Garth Earls had both said that funding should be available from EHS and GSNI respectively. No overall sum was mentioned. JM asked about the possibility of opening a Euro account. JMK agreed to look into the possibility. The issue of asking for voluntary contributions was raised by DK. TB said this could not be justified at present. JA noted that GSNI required such requests to be related to a defined project rather than a general request. MP reported that the Heritage Council required information about levels of funding from other organisations (provided in AGM meeting minutes) as Michael Staratt, CE of Heritage Council, would be prepared to match funding of 4000 Euro. IE added that, since the current grant aid from EHS ends in March 2004, a new application will need to be submitted soon.

TB wished to record thanks to all the contributors to the latest ES2k magazine. TB reported the encouraging news regarding the number of articles already submitted for the next issue (and indeed that issue 8's 20 pages could have been enlarged to 24). Several establishments have booked advertisements in next issue, including Cardiff University (which is going to advertise for 1 year).

The issue of an enlarged magazine was discussed and the increased cost involved. Check with TB on figures (£6100 for 2 magazines per year for 1600-2000 copies). Up to date figures for expenditure are required by potential sponsors. TB expressed his thanks for the list of names to represent all of Ireland. Material for a 'Geology in the News' section on the website was discussed. DK to get in touch with MC concerning this.

The issue of a corporate colour for the magazine and letterhead for correspondence was discussed. The current thinking is that the colour should be burgundy, as used on issue 8, and that the NI logo will be replaced with one for all Ireland. Ideas were requested for the design of the next magazine front cover. JM suggested that the Ireland logo could be blocked out into 4 colours for the 4 provinces.

TB reported plans to form an editorial board at some stage in the future. Presently TB has asked BA to become Deputy Editor.

JA requested a vote of thanks to be recorded for TB for issue 8 of the ES2k magazine.

PC reported that ES2k's website on HabitasOnline had been kept up to date with events - including 10 events in the Belfast area alone.

At the 2003 AGM, SP had agreed to look at the website design. She has produced a draft 'new look' for the website that is more in keeping with the overall look of MAGNI's website. The committee were shown the draft website and asked to give feedback on it. The proposed 'burgundy' corporate colour has been used on the website. SP stressed that she had tried to focus on the functional aspect of the website.

Reactions from the committee:

PD described the website as neater and considered it to be more intuitive than the previous design, and thus easier to update.

JM stressed the importance of including images and making it 'graphic rich' and suggested this would make the website more accessible to non-geologists. MP and TB suggested that more graphics on the website homepage would capture the attention of interested people and suggested that a map of Ireland might be included. PC said that there was plenty of room for images on the homepage.

The possibility of including graphics that could be downloaded as images for screensavers or presentations etc was suggested. It was agreed that a database of good quality images relating to Ireland would be a valuable resource for ES2k to provide. JM suggested that images could be made available to use if their source (ES2k) was acknowledged. No direct action point was agreed from this discussion. The need to monitor usage of the site was agreed.

PD proposed a vote of thanks to SP for her work on the website.

TB has ordered new burgundy coloured letter headed paper. PC said that it could be converted to electronic format and downloaded as required.

DK enquired if the ES2k title was due to be changed. TB said there were no plans at present and this issue was left for another committee meeting.

JM informed committee about EU funded projects (€800,000 budget) to encourage geologists to provide public outreach programmes. GSI and GSNI have applied for €30,000.

Proposed activity includes setting up network of contacts for the provision of guided tours from retired geologists, postgraduates, etc., and to provide a suite of teaching aid packs.

The role of ES2k was queried by JA and PD. JM stressed that this was a flag waving opportunity for ES2k and also for ES2k to promote and inform readers of the public outreach activities in different parts of Ireland. JM reported that an electronic copy of proposals could be sent to any interested committee members.

PC reported that Elaine Tilson (UK RIGS Development Officer) would be visiting Ireland in late November/early December. Her role is to make contact with all RIGS groups for advice and support. She is keem to meet with anyone who is interested in RIGS. There is an opportunity to meet Elaine Tilson on the 1 December at 10.30am in the Ulster Museum (MAGNI) for a general discussion about RIGS in Ireland.

In response to a request by PD, PC explained what RIGS involves (for the benefit of members of the committee not familiar with RIGS).

It was suggested that ES2k might be an appropriate organisation to take the initiative and to push RIGS into action. MP suggested taking RIGS on a project-by-project basis. PC agreed that RIGS was a project that ES2k could do. TB mentioned Belshaw's Quarry as a possible site to commence with. DK stressed importance of involvement of local councils. North Quarry, Scrabo, was also mentioned as a potential site.

PD suggested that there will be issues requiring the formation of small working groups (subcommittees). The issue of RIGS would benefit from such an arrangement.

JA said that it was unclear where ES2k fitted in since familiarisation fieldtrips for schools were now included in with Surveys' work. TB reminded committee of contact with Chris Keele and stressed issue was validation for teachers and the need for teachers to be released from teaching (INSET funding). Initial GSI study (JM/MP) is proposed for Waterford in association with Cork University. (Related to Geoparks and Europarks linked to Waterford and Marble Arch). It was agreed that this should be a theme for the next issue and discussed more fully next committee meeting. JM suggested it could be another strand of publicity that could be trumpeted by ES2k.

PD suggested tha committee meetings should be held every 2 months and that the location of meetings should be varied, with some meetings in the Republic of Ireland.

It was proposed by MP and agreed by committee that Betty Higgs (Cork) and Martin Feely (Galway) be co-opted as members.

BA informed committee of the BGS's 50th Anniversary Commemorative Lectures, when teachers and students will be welcomed as guests with no fee for membership.

JM informed committee of the Council of Europe's Landscape Conference in Strasbourg. JM promised to report back to committee.

The Brieffne Mountains project will be launched in March or April 2004 at the Slieve Russell hotel in Cavan.

TB raised the issue of funding for travel costs from the south of Ireland, for attendance at committee meetings.

Wednesday 14 January 2004 at 4.00pm, venue to be decided.

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