Committee approved minutes from the last meeting with some minor corrections.

JA's GA fieldtrip scheduled for 19-25 July and ES2k reception. It was thought best to plan a reception for fieldtrip attendees and ES2k members for 18 July 2004 in Belfast.

Reinstatement of Geology Department at QUB - BA, PD and JA to form a subgroup to forward this cause. Other suggestions for this group included Ben Kennedy (UCD), Tony Harris (Geological Society), Donny Hutton (Birmingham) and Bernard Leake. PD proposed that now was a good time to act on this particular issue as there is currently a lot happening geologically in Northern Ireland, plus the new Vice Chancellor is scheduled to take up his post in July.

Giant's Causeway: PD relayed sequence of events leading up to the management plan of this World Heritage site. A draft document will be available for consultation by key stakeholders and the public between September and November, with a view to its being authorised in December. PD is currently preparing papers, in advance of being formally consulted, and he believed that ES2k must state its interest prior to such consultation. PD, PL and JA volunteered to form a working group to achieve such aims. IE to provide list of steering committee members; PD suggested that the committee's members be sent the next ES2k magazine, in which he plans to focus on the Causeway in the Chairman's column. PL suggested that Bryan Gregory of KMM be invited to join ES2k's working group; PL to approach BG in regard to this.

" Membership has increased from 268 to 284, an increase of 16.

" Education and Library boards have been approached regarding their agreement to distribute ES2k magazines among secondary school teachers. Awaiting outcome.

" Two documents received from GA regarding risk assessment for field trips and safety in the field. Available as and when needed.

" Regarding fieldtrip insurance in the Republic of Ireland, we are not covered.

" Six 'snippets' and a serial article have been submitted to TB for inclusion in issue 9 of ES2k magazine.

" MC to provide updated documents to PC for inclusion on the website.

JMcK submitted an email account of her report:

Account balance is £3500, including cheque from Cardiff University for advertisement. Invoice has been sent to GSI as requested by TB. JMcK is in the process of submitting an application to the Curry Fund for display stands, totalling £1500 (including cartographer's time). No word received yet from EHS regarding grant aid. IE said that the application would be considered in April.

MC to send letter of thanks to Heritage Council for their grant aid of 4000 Euro.

TB detailed a comprehensive list of articles due to appear in issue 9 of ES2k magazine. He will be proof reading at the printers on Monday, with BA, with view to printing 4000 copies in April. TB needs Belfast Geologists' Society's summer programme for inclusion. TB suggested that BH, MF and MP take a bulk delivery of magazines to distribute in the Republic, to museums, schools, etc. DK will send copies to press list with a covering letter on this first occasion; thereafter the Secretary will include press list on her postal run. TB's drops include Monaghan Museum, MAGNI, GSNI, among others. PD commended TB on his tremendous work for the magazine.

PC and SP will have the new version of the website uploaded soon. As the IGRM was promoted and managed via this site, there was tremendous usage. Next year's IGRM is planed for TCD; MP to make contact and suggest that ES2k website is used for the third year running to manage this meeting. TB noted that the web address is on the front page of the magazine. AR will also speak to Ian Sanders regarding next year's IGRM and the ES2k website. PD recorded thanks to PC and SP for all their hard work on the new website design and maintenance.

Articles on ES2k have been submitted by DK to Geoscience, the magazine of the Geologists Association, and Science Spin.

MP showed committee the poster display that he and SP had put together about ES2k for the IGRM in February.

IE will be printing off 600 A5 fliers this week, plus sending letter to Pierce Brosnan regarding his patronage.

The way ahead? Working sub-group? All-island approach? Alternative sources of funding? In the light of our recent unsuccessful attempt to secure funding from EHS on this issue, a working subgroup will be formed to further the matter - MP, IE, PC and one other from Belfast Geologists' Society (BA to invite volunteer from BGS).

TB has secured a half-page advertisement from an engineering company, Keller Ground Engineering. On average TB has had to generate 16 letters to achieve this 1 advertisement; he needs help from other editors to secure advertisements from within their respective areas. PD advised committee to think of potential advertisers that may be affiliated to committee members. TB emphasised that ES2k needs to bring its magazine to the attention of MLA's, District Council members and the like.

PC briefed the committee on a series of 8 BBC TV programmes about the 'Natural History of the Britain', scheduled for the autumn of 2004. Alan Titchmarsh will be the presenter. The programmes include The Birth of Britain, Ice Age Britain, Britain Tamed, Industrial Britain and Britain Today. Regional 'add-ins' of 10-minutes duration will finish each programme, including Northern Ireland. The BBC is also interested in helping to promote any events in the autumn that relate to the series; e.g. the Landscapes Tamed lecture series devised by MAGNI. A meeting tomorrow at 2pm in the Open University's Belfast office will give interested groups an opportunity to discuss the series further with BBC staff and see clips. The OU are sponsors of the regional add-ins. PD verified that c. 5 committee members from ES2k would attend this meeting. The series will include some localities in the Republic, e.g. the Burren in Co. Clare.

TB informed committee that the 50th anniversary of the Belfast Geologists' Society will be marked by the unveiling of a plaque at the Colin Glen Centre, possibly by environmental correspondent Brian Black (nephew of BGS founder Herbert Black).

PD endorsed The Regional Geology Guide for Northern Ireland edited by Ian Mitchell of GSNI, available at £10.

4.00pm Thursday 20 May 2004, at Queen's Common Room (College Gardens)

The meeting closed at 6.00pm

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