Meetings

It has become practice to have three meetings of the Council a year. The first is usually held in late February, prior to the start of undergraduate teaching in the universities. The second is held mid-year and the final one late in the year in conjunction with the Annual General Meeting.

From time-to-time the Council has held Forums or Symposia. When this has happened a normal meeting of the Council has also been held on an adjacent day. Meetings are usually held in Melbourne.

Minutes, with an action sheet, are circulated as soon as practical after a meeting. The Executive meets, usually by phone hook-up, as required but always prior to a meeting so that the agenda can be prepared. Members are given notice of Executive meetings so they can suggest agenda items and provide relevant papers to the secretary for circulation.

The members of the Council are a diverse group often having to consider matters with which they are not particularly familiar. It is important adequate documentation be circulated prior to meetings so that informed debate can occur. Distribution can be arranged through the Secretary or by requesting a set of mailing labels. In general there should be little reason for any debate to occur without prior briefing papers and there should be very little to discuss under `other business' on the agenda. All members have access to e-mail which has greatly facilitated the exchange of information between members, their societies and FASTS.