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J. Brit. Astron. Assoc., 110, 3, 2000, p.111
We live in a rapidly changing world. Communications have become slick, affordable, global and international. Telephone networks, faxes, and of course the rise of the Internet mean that we can exchange ideas and information with astonishing ease. It is a very different world from that in which the British Astronomical Association celebrated its centenary a mere decade ago.
We are all affected by these changes in our daily lives, in the ways we conduct our business, our banking, shopping or our leisure activities. We appear to absorb the changes with surprising ease. There is also a wealth of information readily available to us. Computer power has made the storage of huge databases of material simple; the data can be processed rapidly and reliably; graphics make this data attractively presentable. Astronomy has benefited from this as much as any discipline, and the days of laborious number-crunching with the use of a set of log tables are gone. The facility with which the modern amateur astronomer can find material to suit his or her needs is extraordinary, and shows no sign of being exhausted. Books, atlases, magazines, CD-ROMs, computer programs, Internet forums and chat groups are widespread and affordable, and the pursuit of many aspects of amateur astronomy has never been easier.
So how should the British Astronomical Association respond to these changes? The Association does have a reputation for a conservative approach and changes in style have not always come easily. Many members will not be unhappy about this, as our traditions of observational excellence have been maintained in part by diligent adherence to sound principles that still apply. This has yielded continuity of observation for over 110 years, which is still maintained. The archival material held by Section directors and the librarian are second to none in the annals of amateur astronomy. Much of the best of this material continues to be presented to the membership through the production of the Journal of the Association, which remains a quality record of the Association's activities.
If the image is conservative, the reality is that there are significant numbers of members who are pioneers of amateur observing, adapting modern technology and resources to their requirements. These experts feed on other contacts within the BAA for such development, and are happy to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with others. Thus within the Sections, we have a body of experience and help in all aspects of astronomical observation and history which can be tapped by the membership. These are some of the strengths of the Association and a major reason why people continue to join, along with the less definable reasons such as the enjoyment to be derived from belonging to a group of fellow enthusiasts and of course the close friendships that follow.
However, there is always a need to review the rôle of any organisation and the ways in which it serves the needs of its members. Despite the undoubted strengths of the Association, there is no complacency within Council, and the Millennium has been a catalyst to examine how the BAA should adapt and develop over the next decade and beyond. To this end, Council has formed a committee to look at all aspects of the Association's activities and advise on ways that may enhance the benefits to our members. The committee is to be chaired by Owen Brazell, our new Meetings Secretary, and views from members are invited on all aspects of the Association's activities. Ideas and feedback from the membership are valued and important. However, the membership is almost 3000 strong and it is impossible to cater for all the various potential viewpoints that might arise; there will, of necessity, be compromise in many areas. Please do contact Owen or myself to express your views and wishes (see inside the front cover for e-mail and postal addresses).
The BAA intends to continue to coordinate amateur observation of all astronomical phenomena for the next 110 years and beyond. We have the expertise within the Sections to continue to give a personal response to queries and encourage both serious amateur astronomical science and recreational observation. We wish to involve the extraordinary numbers of enthusiasts who own large telescopes by the standards of our forebears, and additional technology including CCDs, spectroscopes, photometers, astrometric capability and so forth, in coordinated programmes of observation, and encourage those making observations to share their successes and failures for the common good. We have such power now available that we need to harness it, and the BAA must adapt to enable this to occur even more effectively, while maintaining all that is best in the undoubtededly valuable traditions of the past.
Nick Hewitt
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