GA Conference 2010: THURSDAY

A chance to meet up with the Geography Collective - more later....


Marston's Brewery tour (and Marmite source...)

Thursday 8th April

A slow journey across country from Norfolk to Derby. Over to the university campus to see the GA stand taking shape.
A few colleagues were helping out and setting up the committee stands, with Bob Lang and Helen Martin among the early arrivals. The stands were set out as masking tape outlines, and ready for their occupiers. The GA stand had been built, and was being stocked. The sun was shining into the atrium and giving a sense of how the temperature might develop...

Went back into Derby for my first encounter with the road-works, and found the Hallmark Hotel. Too early to check-in, so down to the suite where the Association at Work meeting was.

The day was led by Alan Kinder, and was a long and involved one. There was plenty to digest, and discussion ranged over much of the activity of the GA, and looked in particularly at the strategic plan for 2009-14

There were also sessions on the various journals, and a long discussion on some of the various activity that the GA is involved with - lots of discussions and ideas on publications in particular, and the first chance for many to see the new GCSE TOOLKIT books.

After a session lasting almost 4 hours, it was time for the AGM and associated reports and some voting on motions related to the GA's status.

After a quick shower and change in my room, it was back down to the hotel's public rooms for the Public lecture(s). There was a full house, and nice to see sun streaming into the room.

Down for the public lecture from Richard Waite of ESRI. He was very clear about the value of tools such as Google Earth in visualising data, but that they are not true GIS, and have restrictions beyond basic point data. He talked about the value of GIS, and the skills that are required to use them, and the importance of geography in driving forward an appreciation of proper GIS. The closer link between ESRI and the GA will be part of this movement I hope.

This was followed by the GA AWARDS 2010, and some very deserving winners.
Particularly pleased by the awards that went to Paula Cooper and Paul Baker, and also the GOLD AWARD for "Living Geography" by Chris Kington publishing.

This was followed by the wine reception, which included a few words from David Lambert about the wonderful work that Judy Mansell of the RGS has done over the years.

After a snatched glass of wine, it was over to the bar to catch up once again with Richard Allaway, and David Rogers. Also finally met Lesley Allen, who I have been e-mailing for probably ten years now, and who lives in Singapore.

Paula Richardson then started "Operation Marstons" and we boarded the coach to Burton on Trent. Had good chat with Tom B, David R and Rich A on the way - even got to sit on the back seat... In for the brewery tour which started in the bottling plant (which was bottling Adnams Gun Hill) and eventually got to sample the Pedigree and EPA and also some bangers and mash and apple pie and custard.
A late night... though not as late as some...

A later post will contain links to more images and resources from the GA Conference - keen to get this posted now...

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