posted 01-16-2011 12:18 PM               

Do any of you have any suggestions that could be added and hopefully improve and extend the society's image?

posted 01-17-2011 02:52 AM               

I believe BIS has to come up with a fully functional website, where members can find up to date information on lectures (well in advance), discuss matters in a forum, cast their vote, linked with the FaceBook group, etc.

posted 01-17-2011 04:21 PM            

It should be renamed the London Interplanetary Society because it doesn't really cater for members outwith the SE of England.

posted 02-16-2011 12:33 PM               

If the Society abandons the idea of Members and Fellows and lets everyone have equal voting rights, what motivation does anyone have for becoming a Fellow of the Society?"

posted 02-19-2011 01:24 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by RPF09:
I was invited to become a fellow simply because I had paid my subscription for 5 years.

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posted 02-19-2011 03:20 AM               

So, historically speaking, it's very appropriate for people with a University degree and it's a way for the BIS to retain academic credibility.

The idea of (re-)introducing an AFBIS grade of membership (Associate Fellow) seems to be a good idea.

Becoming a Fellow of the BIS can be done by either:

• Five years of continuous membership and a relevant University degree (5 years professional experience) or 10 years relevant experience.
  
• Contributing to the work of the Society or to Astronautics, viewed by the BIS Council as adequate grounds for Fellow election.

posted 02-20-2011 05:27 PM            

I live in Manchester, so going down to London to attend the lectures wasn't practical, so all I was getting out of it was the monthly Spaceflight. A decent publication, but I eventually decided it wasn't enough to merit the membership fee.

posted 03-14-2011 11:28 AM               

In order to encourage overseas (and extra London members) I can advise that BIS now has a Facebook page.

posted 03-14-2011 05:44 PM               

The comments by Iain were not as they seemed trying to just get members in London as the BIS membership demographic as people know spreads wide and far but that it was rather pointing out that the BIS now had a forum on Facebook where people can talk about the BIS. We also have twitter and more will follow once the NEW web site is up and running in the next few weeks. Richard Osborne has been working tirelessly, between dealing with real rockets at Reaction Engines (yes he really is a rocket scientist) for weeks now on making it a much better web experience. We know it needed changing, we have done that, and it will be live very soon.

If anyone is worried about how the BIS is doing thing then: 1) can I suggest they attend the meeting at BIS HQ on the 26th of March to air their views and ideas. We really do want to hear them. Or 2) If anyone else for that matter has a view, comment or idea about the BIS in general, its current status etc they can contact me "off forum" and pass their comments etc. You can get my email from Rick. I am very happy to listen to anyone who has posted in that message thread as I am part of the BIS "Focus Group" (picture in this month's Spaceflight) as well as new "Membership Group Chair" and would look forward to all ideas and thoughts.

I want people to realise they have to come to the BIS directly if they have anything to say, ideas, comments good or bad rather than post messages on forums that may never be seen by some at the BIS.

The whole idea for the future BIS is for us to be more inclusive, not exclusive, open and transparent and we need the membership to help us with that by communicating to us directly what they want.

Also, if people want out of town meetings contact me and we will see what we can set up, without the membership's input we can't do much at all. Especially in forums that not everyone involved in the BIS reads. They should come to us in the first instance.