[chbot] Thanks for all the fish

[Andrew Errington]

Hi all,

Well, some of you know this, but to others it will be news.  I am leaving 
New Zealand to teach English in Japan for a while.  This is a fantastic 
opportunity for me, and I'm very much looking forward to it.  I must 
apologise as submitting the application, studying Japanese, and preparing 
the house for sale has eaten into my robot-building time.  I leave at the 
end of July.

I have been giving some thought to the future of the club/society/whatever 
we call ourselves, and it is clear to me that the majority of you would 
want it to continue in some form or other.  As I see it, there are two 
facets of the group.  The first is the mailing list.  Although it is fairly 
low-traffic I think the quality of discussion is very high.  People are 
talking about their projects, asking questions and getting answers.  The 
mailing list is hosted by Jim Cheetham and administered by Nick Rout (thank 
you both).  There is no problem with the continued existence of the list in 
its current form.

The second aspect is the real-life meetings.  I'd like to thank all of you 
who have become 'regulars', and I hope that the meetings have been 
interesting and useful for you.  I'd like to thank everyone else who has 
showed up from time-to-time.  I know it's difficult to schedule free time 
to come along, but your attendance is appreciated.  I cannot say what the 
future of these meetings will be, but before I leave there will be one 
further meeting on 20 June.

I would like to hear from anyone who would be prepared to take over the 
'running' of the group.  This is not imperative: the mailing list will 
continue without a person in this position, but the meetings will not.  
Running the group is not an onerous task, but you do need some committment 
(otherwise rooms won't get booked, people won't show up, mailing lists 
won't get unclogged etc. etc.).  Unfortunately my arrangement with Science 
Alive! will not automatically be conferred onto my successor.  It might be 
possible to renegotiate, or my successor might have to find a new venue.  
Of course, I have done this in the past, and I have been helped by you all, 
so the new incumbent will not be completely alone and without resources.

I'd like to thank everybody who has been associated with this group for 
your interest and support, it's been fun, which is what it's all about.

Best wishes,

Andrew