GEO Resources moved to the main GA website - along with the GA Blog

The GEO project: Geography Education Online is ending and the resources that were created for it - including some that I was pleased to work on - are all being added to the GA website for members to access.

Details in the image below - shared earlier by Steve Brace.

Use the filters here to find them.

Update

The GA's Blog is now also on the GA's main website.

10 000 members

Yesterday, a piece that I had written went up on the GA website to celebrate the fact that we had broken through the 10 000 member mark for the first time in quite some time after decades of slow decline in GA membership. 

This is really encouraging and also a challenge for the Association to continue to provide the quality of support and services that members expect and deserve, and also to retain members. It's important for the work that the GA does that we are speaking on behalf of so many people when it comes to consultations and policy work. Thanks to everyone who has joined us and continues to support the Geographical Association.

Past Presidents' reception

For some time, there was a tradition of Past Presidents and Long standing members' receptions to be held at the GA Conference. I have been present at one of these some years ago, well before the idea for this blog came about.

While down in the GA archives at 160 Solly Street, I came across a photo album. There were several pictures from the 1993 Centenary conference meeting in there. Here are a few of them.

Frances Soar gave me some further information on the context.

"This is a Past Presidents' reception at Sheffield in 1993, I think, as Simon Catling was President at the time. It could be the first time we had run a special reception for Past Presidents.  We introduced it in response to comments that Past Presidents (and other long serving members) would welcome a chance for a get together with their contemporaries rather than have to try and find them amongst all the other attendees, given that the 'sessions' were no longer their main aim in coming to Conference."

In the top image, Julia Legg - a GA administrator - is far left.

Frances also told me that: 

"Long serving GA staff member Margaret Vickers (standing, centre). Margaret used to do all the conference booking administration. She retired when we moved to Solly Street."

 

On the bottom images, Simon Catling on the far right is chatting to the guests.

Julia Legg is just behind Simon.

I can see Bill Mead in the background chatting to someone who may be Molly Long.

Thanks to Julia Legg, via Frances Soar for providing further details of the lady in the blue dress in both photos:

The person in the corner, full face, is Mary Ellis, who was Assistant Editor ( I think that was her job title) for 'Geography' for many years and came into Fulwood Road regularly. I think her husband was Ronald Ellis and he may too have been someone involved with geography and possibly the GA - maybe Hon. Secretary?

Mary Ellis later received Honorary Membership from former President Wendy Morgan.

If anyone can identify any other people, please let me know.

GA Badges for long serving members

People who are long-standing personal members of the GA have been receiving special badges over the last few weeks. I have been a group or personal member since the 1980s, when I completed my PGCE in Geography. 

Good to see a picture of long-standing member John Morris. He has supported GA Branch activity for many years.

Lovely to see so many people receiving their GA member badges! Here's John Morris with his 50 year badge! #geographyteacher #NeverBeenAMoreImportantTime pic.twitter.com/ughBk3xkSw

— Geographical Assoc (@The_GA) October 26, 2020

He appeared in the photo of Pat Cleverley in a recent post.

GA Member Benefits

Members of the GA can access a number of benefits currently. These change from time to time and have fluctuated over the years. One early benefit was reduced prices on Ordnance Survey maps, at a time when they were expensive to purchase.

In 1926, they also started to appear in the GA's journals, with an example shown opposite, taken from 'Geography' at the time.

There are many reasons to become a member of the GA, which are outlined on the GA website. Discounts on CPD events and publications are important benefits.

In addition to this, GA members can access a whole range of discounts on different items, including flowers, clothing (from companies such as Cotswold Outdoors, Snow and Rock and Paramo), cottage holidays from several companies, maps from Cosmographics, a few months free trial access to Discovery Education, and discounts on SplashMaps. The full list is available on the GA website.

Membership of the GA provides:

access to member-only practical teaching resources
termly journals packed with practical teaching ideas and professional advice - view free journal samples here
the latest news about geography and geography teaching in GA Magazine
expert advice and guidance to raise achievement in geography in your school
discounts on GA training courses, conferences, publications and consultancy services
opportunities to collaborate and share the latest teaching ideas with others by joining a GA curriculum project, presenting at Conference or writing for our journals, GA Magazine or website.
recognition of your achievements through the Geography Quality Mark and GA Awards 
funding opportunities from the GA for fieldwork, Study Tours and international linking.

Download a member benefits leaflet here (PDF)

Join here.
Source:
“Front Matter.” Geography, vol. 14, no. 1, 1927. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40557855.