The series of Zoom lectures that began in September as our safest and only permissible response to the Covid situation have provided some excellent presentations. One advantage of using Zoom is that the PowerPoint presentations can be seen with amazing clarity. One lecture suffered to a degree by an inadequate microphone on the presenter’s PC. The Committee have decided to provide a mic and headset to future speakers if they feel that they need some additional microphone capability.
Even without the stimulus of a live audience, some speakers gave bravura performances. The Q&A sessions have delighted the speakers with the range and different perspectives that our membership has displayed. Our most recent speaker declared it to be very stimulating. To those who missed Professor Sporh’s remarkable insights into the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the slaughter in Tiananmen Square, you missed an exceptional presentation.
Please look out for the advanced warning link from Matthew our membership Secretary that allows a single click on your PC to join the presentation. The full programme is available on the branch website www.historicalassociationsurrey.com or simply type West Surrey Branch Programme into your search engine.
We have six remaining presentations in the 2020-21 programme. Two will look at tensions in the Tudor dynasty, February 23rd and March 16th. Two will provide expert assessment of England’s villain kings- Richard III and King John in successive presentations on May 18th and June 15th. On April 20th we consider ‘When does an Empire truly end?’ with a case study on post-independence India. Finally on July 13th Professor Andrew Blick returns to present his reasoned understanding of the Brexit deal.
I hope those who have enjoyed the programme so far will continue to support us and those who have not sampled the delights of Zoom will take this opportunity to re-engage.
Whilst the 2021-22 programme is under discussion in the committee, as yet we have no clear understanding as to whether it will be live or for at least part of that period by Zoom. The roll out of vaccines gives a sense of hope but as yet nothing is certain.
What would be helpful would be if you could email in your experience of the Zoom lecture format, whether if it is legally permitted you would attend live meetings in the autumn and what topics you would like to hear about and any ideas you may have about how we can communicate with the membership. Your views are valuable, after all it is the members’ society! membershipwsha@yahoo.co.uk or crookshank@starkmann.co.uk
I hope you attend and enjoy the remainder of the 2020-21 programme.
Best Regards.
Chris Mitchinson – Chair