Local Group Talks : Recommending good speakers

[Maggi Young]

We've had the excellent suggestion to open an area to discuss the Talks we've had at our local SRGC  or AGS Meetings ..... so here it is.....let's hear who has visited your group lately and what did you learn?  

[J.B.Wyllie]

Thanks  Maggi for starting this.

Last night Our group (Stirling) had Gerben Tjeersma as our speaker. His talk on 'Flora of the Kurds' was excellent. A mixture of plants, terrain, close habitat ,and the history of the Kurdish areas was very thought provoking. He also told us about the desire to start a Botanical Garden to display the flora of the region. A talk well worth considering for other groups.

Over to you Liz to explain what Gerben does In Gothenburg!!

[mark smyth]

Digital or slides?

[J.B.Wyllie]

Digital, though some were scanned slides

[Darren]

I hope you don't mind my saying so, but this thread may need a careful editorial eye as there is a risk of potential speakers being discouraged by the slightest possibility of unconstructive feedback in public, and I do wonder if it should be in the members only area? I've overheard some unkind comments about lectures at our group and i'd hate to see those remarks on this forum. I'm sure we can trust forumists but I'd counsel " if you can't say anything nice then say nowt".

[Maggi Young]

I'm sure we can trust forumists but I'd counsel " if you can't say anything nice then say nowt".

A wise counsel, Darren. Yes, I think that object of this thread is specifically to highlight talks which have been particularly informative, inspiring or entertaining..... so, yes, positive posts only, please!

[ranunculus]

I'm sure we can trust forumists but I'd counsel " if you can't say anything nice then say nowt".

... object of this thread is specifically to highlight talks which have been particularly informative, inspiring or entertaining..... so, yes, positive posts only, please!

I'm positive that Tony Willis presented a very informative and entertaining lecture entitled; 'Two weeks in Chile' to the East Lancashire group of the AGS quite recently!

[shelagh]

I second that Cliff, most enjoyable.

[JohnnyD]

Couldn't agree more guys - and wouldn't it be great if every speaker finished in under an hour!

J.

[Heather Smith]

As one who books speakers for my local AGS group, I think this idea is super!!!

[mark smyth]

Johnny no matter how hard I try I cant. No complaints so far

[Tony Willis]

Johnny no matter how hard I try I cant. No complaints so far

Thanks for the remarks on my talk at East Lancs,it was a bit nerve wracking as it was my first attempt at digital but the welcome Lesley and I received made it easier.

Mark you say 'thats the end' and just stop talking.If you are asked for an hour then an hour it is.

[tonyg]

And the thread may be doing its job .. I have already added one new name to my list of possible speakers for next year.

For the record the last three speakers at the Norfolk AGS Group have been forum members.
Cliff (aka Buttercup) filled in quite magnificently at short notice in June. 
Art took us on a whirlwind tour of Iran in September with many amusing anecdotes.
In October several forumists contributed pictures and thoughts via this place to a lecture.  Huge thanks to those who helped, it was well received ... and one person professed themselves as "off to burn the midnight oil on the forum - I had no idea it was so good".  Others commented on the quality of the pictures.
This month (Wed Nov 18th) we have David Rankin from Edinburgh .... an SRGC member but not seen here as far as I know!

[shelagh]

Probably too busy propagating Tony.

[ranunculus]

Many thanks for the compliment, Tony ... the cheque is in the post!