The Association for the Centre of the Universe
Annual General Meeting of the ACU 1999
At the Great Fountain, Café Chabot, Aiguèze

  1. Present: All full members
     
  2. The meeting was called to order with even more difficulty than last year because of the amount of Official Drink already imbibed.
     
  3. Officers Reports:
    • The President reported that the Official Web Site continued to receive world-wide acclaim. There was Much Applause and Drinking Of The Official Drink (MAADOOD), Vin Rosé.
       
    • Mme. la Vice Presidente announced that she had nothing to report. (MAADOOD)
       
    • The Minister Without Portfolio was also without comment. This was very well received since it allowed more time for drinking wine.
       
    • M. le Chef des Boules, who had just finished dining, announced that he was already drunk.  (MAADOOD)
       
    • Mme la Secretaire proposed that the ACU mark the Millennium by meeting at Aiguèze over the New Year holiday period. She suggested that everyone meet at the most central point, namely, the house of the Chef des Boules in Nancy and that he then drove everyone to Aiguèze in his Ambulance. At this outrageous suggestion the Chef des Boules suddenly became sober, crying "Non! Non! Non!" in a state of sheer panic.  (MAADOOD).
       
    • Mme l'Ambassadrice reported that International Relations were flourishing. The Swiss Contingent (Buettler) had already visited the British Contingent (Brandon) and a reciprocal visit was planned for September 1999. (MAADOOD)
       
  4. The President proposed the new Committee position of Technical Director in view of the fact that such a highly technical learned scientific society as the ACU needs someone designated to oversee its' research and development programme. The proposal was unanimously accepted.
     
  5. The Minister without Portfolio proposed the new grade of Apprentice Membership.  This was adopted by unanimous vote (except for the Mascot, which, being dead, abstained).
          
  6. Election of Officers:
    • The President was unanimously voted to continue into the New Millennium
    • The Vice President, Secretary, Minister Without Portfolio, Ambassador and Chef des Boules decided to keep their old positions.
    • There being no full members available to fill the new position of Technical Director the President proposed (seconded by Robert Buettler) that Felix Schenker be upgraded to Full Member despite not fulfilling the tenure requirement.  This was unanimously adopted.
    • Felix was subsequently nominated (Robert Buettler) and seconded (Amei Buettler) as Technical Director.
       
      The new Technical Director gave a lengthy acceptance speech of great eloquence in which he said "Last year, as The Presidential Party were witnessing the annual Bastille Day Feu d'Artifice (Fireworks Display) at Pont St.Martin D'Ardeche the Minister Without Portfolio expressed, at the conclusion of the spectacle, his opinion that 'Next year we wish to see the letters ACU in the sky'." Felix then outlined his plans for his maiden (=initial) project, which was aimed at making this dream a reality.
              
  7. New Full Members:
    The President proposed that a German couple, Renate und Theo Wenten (extreme left and right on photo) of Nauenweg, who are to be seen in Auigèze every July, sitting always at the same table at the bar while reading books and drinking beer and wine, be admitted as Full Members. They fulfill all the tenure requirements with ease and have visited Aiguèze every year for 17 years.  They were elected unanimously.
      
  8. New Apprentice Members:
    • The Vice President proposed that Laurent, a Serveur at the Café Chabot, be installed as Apprentice Member for his unstinting service to the ACU. After being unanimously accepted, Laurent then bought a litre of the Official Drink, as required by the Rules (more applause and drinking of wine). After being presented with his Official ACU T-Shirt Laurent showed his suitability by performing the highest-order chant, the Ceremonial Salute (photo, right).
        
    • The President proposed Professor Ralph Nelson, of the Stanford University Linear Accelerator Centre (SLAC), California, as an Apprentice Member. This was in recognition of his part in the analysis of results from the Assymetric Beta Factory, designed to study the Origins of the Universe. This is clearly being carried out on behalf of the ACU.
      Also Prof. Nelson has officially endorsed this web site and is a Bluegrass Musician.

      Both of the above were accepted unanimously.
       
  9. International Relations:
    • The whole Committee expressed satisfaction at he expansion of the ACU membership internationally - it is hoped that this will lead to even better and more frequent vacations for everyone.
    • The Chef des Boules gave advance notice that his wife Jaqueline and himself plan to visit the English Section (Brandon) sometime in the new millennium, en route to his friend in Aberdeen, Scotland. However, he expressed concern at the prospect of driving in Britain on the "wrong" (i.e., right) side of the road. The Ministre sans Portefeuille calmed his fears when he explained that so long as he drove his Ambulance with the siren/klaxon sounding he would be safe because everyone would give him a clear passage.
        
  10. Public Relations:
    The whole Committee expressed satisfaction at the amount of disturbance caused to the unsuspecting tourists at the Café Chabot by our frequent performance of the Official Chant
     
  11. The proceedings were unofficially witnessed by a multitude of diners and drinkers (who had great difficulty in understanding what was happening) and by Felix' wife Barbara, who looked suitably embarrassed.
     
  12. After each member had drunk at least 1 litre of the Official Drink the meeting disintegrated in the traditional very unruly manner.

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    Updated 24th October 1999