bruce Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 I am not sure that we need a theme for the Conference, just top line speakers. There are so many areas that I know nothing about, and in which I would find interest. Although we had a speaker on the air war, the Navy didn't get a mention last weekend. I would like to hear about Italy, Salonika, Mespot, Palestine, East Africa, for instance. Then there is the whole area of the war at home. All of our speakers were male....how about a female voice? Civilians under German occupation? Nursing? Advances in surgery? The role of the Americans? Russia, both before Brest Litovsk and afterwards. The list goes on and on. Personally, I will be at the next Conference, come Hell or high water, whoever the speakers are, and on whatever topics, but I feel that it is the quality of speaker that is the draw, rather more than the subject. The company of the Pals last Saturday was such that I will stay for two nights next year, so as to enjoy a Friday evening there too. I just totally enjoyed the last one,and am looking forward to the next. Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 Well said Bruce, I think you speak for the majority of us when you say that attendance at any event that may be organised next year is a given. The overall message is that quality speakers are always the main driver and attraction. As regards the balance sheet and attendance, I would hope that attendance might grow at any future conference and be used to continue to attract speakers of quality - but of course, we should always go for real quality rather than celebrity for its own sake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 With Bruce & Ian on this one its the quality not the content that matters. Will also attempt to stay over on Friday evening next year. I quite like the idea of getting rodent bottomed with fellow GWF members Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 I laughed out loud at that! First time I have seen "rodent bottomed" on screen!!! Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burlington Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 When the next event is arranged, could it please not be on 'Super Saturday' for the Rugby 6 Nations! Thanks Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pighills Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 What do rodent's do with their bottoms which is so special then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Evans Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 What do rodent's do with their bottoms which is so special then? I'm looking forward to the answer to this one! Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pighills Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 So am I! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 I will keep it simple in future; rat arsed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 I shot myself in the foot a little by leaving myself a 20 minute drive away from my hotel - but then again I was up bright eyed and bushy tailed on Sunday morning having managed only a swift aditional nightcap before the hotel bar closed at midnight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanCurragh Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 When the next event is arranged, could it please not be on 'Super Saturday' for the Rugby 6 Nations! Thanks Martin Martin - this is a fair point - but when are the dates actually announced? I can't find them on the web In general, I think the best date is a Saturday round about the end of March, but not coinciding with the Easter holidays. That suggests either 26th March or 2nd April. I know it sounds silly to be thinking about dates so soon, but these things do get booked up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithmroberts Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 It looks as if these are the dates 2011 Six Nations 5-6 February 12-13 February 25-26 February 12-13 March 19 March Cheers keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanCurragh Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 Thanks Keith - 26th March and 2nd April look reasonable then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 What do rodent's do with their bottoms which is so special then? Now, now you lot. Behave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanCurragh Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 ...and can we leave out the references to rodent bottoms please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn_Hammond Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 c.If a pointing device is to be used check that it is working and provide a spare. I agree with your points - but a battle without maps would be even harder. Solution is probably (costly) handouts. Regarding the particular criticism above. It was a freebie, given to me by a kind WFA member. It worked before the talk and after. I rather thought it served to add weight to my point that technology is unreliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn_Hammond Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 d.Worth reminding speakers (if it isn’t teaching how to suck eggs) that complex maps don’t work in this environment This is, of course, the origin of the expression 'Going for the Gee in Gap' (see Cambrai 1917 - a very good popular history, I'm told). Bryn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn_Hammond Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 That's a very good point, Kate - we could hear that up at the front toward the tail end of Bryn's talk. I would imagine the answer would be to have tea and coffee set up in the room where lunch was served. Never mind the crockery! I was rattled!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn_Hammond Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 If we wanted different speakers there are enough of us with WFA responsibilities to know who are Premier League. Two spring to mind - our very own Chris Baker and, for a Peter Hart type spot, John Bourne. I feel like I've just been relegated! I know my away form's been erratic but I didn't think I'd go down so easily. The concept of the 'Peter Hart (memorial?) slot' and John Bourne filling it is very amusing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn_Hammond Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 I feel like I've just been relegated! I know my away form's been erratic but I didn't think I'd go down so easily. The concept of the 'Peter Hart (memorial?) slot' and John Bourne filling it is very amusing! Only joking, Alan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn_Hammond Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 Is there a record for most number of sequential posts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanCurragh Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 I feel like I've just been relegated! Bryn, You have to remember that the Premier League encompasses both Man U in their pomp and Portsmouth having a very bad day and Wayne Rooney knows knack all about any of the battles of 1917. Horses for courses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 23 March , 2010 Author Share Posted 23 March , 2010 Bryn - re maps - I wasn't having a cheap pop at you - its just that any complicated diagram doesn't work well in front of an audience. The number of times I've sat through a presentation where the speaker has a slide of a seismic trace of the geophysics of an oil field (difficult to understand even when printed on a four metre long sheet) and spends the entire session peering at it because its so condensed even he can't read it (and doesn't hear the thump of members of his audience falling sideways off their chairs in a coma). Your presentation worked fine even without maps but I think that very simplified ones would have been better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted 23 March , 2010 Share Posted 23 March , 2010 That seems to have decided the after dinner spot.. "Advances in the use of tethered balloons in artillery spotting, 1914-18......the German South-West African Experience" given by Wayne Rooney. (Who? Ayesha) Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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