Differences

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--- public:vag [2020/07/07 07:35] – uppermill
+++ public:vag [2021/02/04 19:32] – 2021 facelift Acemason
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 <WRAP info round>
 \\
-Allan Geekie\\
+Dave Mason, who is a retired chartered engineer with relevant experience in electronics and control system software, but little experience with railways, model or otherwise. Dave is a member of the South Hants Area Group and  piloted the first virtual Special Interest Group exploring "analogue/DC" systems.
+("Acemason" on the Forum. Website: www.townace.plus.com)\\
 </WRAP>
@@ Line 67: / Line 69: @@
 </WRAP>
 <WRAP info round>
-The Virtual Area Group uses a Zoom video call to meet every Tuesday for an hour or more.\\
+The Virtual Area Group (VAG) is for MERG members only and was started primarily for those too distant from their nearest Area Group. It only meets using Zoom.
-\\
-The times vary to try and make the calls work for different time zones. We regularly welcome members from: -\\
-\\
+During the first two years of the VAG we regularly welcomed members from Australia, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, UK, USA etc and varied weekly meeting times to try to make the calls work for different time zones.
-  * Australia\\
-  * Canada\\
-  * Iceland\\
+Many Area Groups have switched to using Zoom during Covid and so, temporarily we hope, created many other options for joining in.
-  * Ireland\\
-  * UK\\
-  * USA.\\
+At the start of 2021, after a break in the programme and with those other MERG Zoom options which are accessible to members in the western hemisphere, the plan is to resume VAG meeting only once a month on a Tuesday at 10am UK time which suits members in Europe and the Australian times zones.
+Meetings are nominally for an hour but typically Zoom will open 15mins before and for 30 mins afterwards for informal chat.
-Calls are recorded and made available to all members through MERG TV; presentation materials are also available.
+Calls may be recorded and made available all MERG members.
 </WRAP>