Dear all,

The annual call for nominations to the Council of the Royal
Astronomical Society has just come out, and we are
looking for BGA members willing to stand for election.

This year is exceptional because, besides the regular
vacancies for "G" (geophysics) vice-president and ordinary
members of Council (up to three "G" members), there are
vacancies for Treasurer and "G" Secretary.

The RAS is particularly anxious to fill these posts with
the best people, so please do pass this on to anyone
you think might be interested - in the case of treasurer,
whether they are a geophysicist or an astronomer. Treasurer
is a seriously big job, with a stipend attached.

The BGA would like to get more solid-earth geophysicists
on to RAS Council (we have only one at present, Christine
Peirce, "G" Vice-president). The deadline for nominations
is short - *27th November 2015* - so please contact me
right away if you are interested or would like to nominate
or suggest someone else for any of these posts. There is
a nomination form, which I can send you.

"G" Secretary is a five-year post at present held by Lyndsay
Fletcher of Glasgow University. The RAS describes the
post as:

The position of Secretary (Geophysics) will become vacant on the
13th May 2016. The term of this Office is five years with the
possibility to be re-elected for a second five year term.
This is a senior position and requires significant commitment in
terms of time and intellect. Council delegates the creation of the
programme of the scientific meetings of the Society and numerous
additional tasks to the Secretaries.

In addition to the creation of the scientific programme the Secretaries
are required to participate in the grants and awards committees and
attend various other meetings and committees of the Society.
The position requires a time commitment of two to three days a month
(that will include attendance at all Council and Officers meetings,
attendance at other committee meetings and significant email
engagement with RAS staff and other committees.

Relevant phrase from Byelaw 59:
The duties of the Secretaries shall include the creation of the
programme of the scientific meetings of the Society and such
other responsibilities as are determined by the Council.

Treasurer is a five-year post at present held by Mike Cruise of
Birmingham University. The letter describes the post as:

The position of Treasurer will become vacant on the 13th May
2016. The term of this Office is five years with the possibility to
be re-elected for a second five year term.
This is a senior position and requires significant commitment in
terms of time and intellect. A small annual stipend is provided.
Council delegates management and oversight of the Societies
financial matters to the Treasurer. The relevant extract from the
Byelaws (revised 2015), copied below sets out the role.

Ideally the incumbent should:
 Have experience of managing budgets and providing strategic
assessment of organisations finances to the management board
and of developing future strategic financial plans.
 Have significant general management experience (at Head of
Department level minimum)
The position requires a time commitment of at least two full working
days per week plus significant (almost daily) email engagement
with RAS staff, publishers, other committees (e.g. RAS 200 Steering
group, Fellowship panel etc.)
In addition the Treasurer chairs the Finance Committee, Grants
panels and the Publication Management Committee and attends
many other meetings.

The relevant Byelaws are in full below:
54. The Treasurer shall cause to be made records and accounts of
all sums of money due to the Society and paid by the Society, and
shall present annual summary accounts, through Council, to the
Annual General Meeting for approval, and then to the Government
as required by law.
55. The Treasurer shall present prospective budgets for the financial
affairs of the Society, including for the financial management of the
publications, and report at each meeting of the Council on financial
matters.
56. The Council may set a limit on sums of money which may be
authorised by the Treasurer and the Executive Director for specific
items above the agreed budgets without express approval by the
Council. No sums of money in excess of such limit shall be paid
without a resolution of the Council, recorded in the minutes.
Notwithstanding the limit, the Council may delegate the Treasurer
to agree with the Society’s publisher for expenditure necessary for
the in-year management of the publications, for example to
maintain short publication times, provided the Treasurer reports
on these financial matters to Council as provided in Byelaw 55.
57. The accounts of the Society shall be inspected annually by
professional auditors.
58. A Treasurer whom the Council has deemed to have grossly
neglected or misconducted their duties shall be removed from the post.