Extragalactic group meeting		19/2/2008

Presents: M. West, V. Ivanov, J. Scharwaechter, M. Dumke, E. Pompei

General points:

It is felt by all presents that the group should aim at more than just organizing a journal club and general discussion. Formal involvement in common projects was desired.
The following general conclusions are summarized below:

a) group goals: common research projects, symposia organization, journal club,
web pages, official mailing list, one-day informal workshop once or twice a year

b) meeting schedule
- monthly meeting to discuss common projects and general issues: SECOND WEDNESDAY of each month at 10:00-11:00 am (chilean time).

- monthly journal club: FOURTH WEDNESDAY of each month, 10:00 am (chilean time)

External parties from Garching, ALMA, other Observatories, chilean universities are welcome to attend.

c) Official contact person for the group: M. Dumke (with power of delegation)

d) Web pages responsible: E. Pompei

e) It was mentioned that at yesterday's Faculty meeting there was discussion about the possibility of creating more formal research groups at ESO that could compete for internal and/or external funding as well as hiring of fellows in specific research areas to enhance collaborative projects by different groups.  No agreement or decisions were reached on this subject.

Specific goals within short term (next three months):

a) proposal for a 2009 symposium in Chile: DEADLINE APRIL 15, 2008

b) creation of e-mail list for group members: M. West will contact T. Oulevey about this. Suggested name: etxragal@eso.org

c) Next meeting: FEBRUARY 27, 2008, 10:00 am. V. Ivanov will be the contact person for this meeting (WATCH OUT: FORS merging PDR meeting will book Paranal residencia and one of the Vitacura VL starting at 11:00 am chilean time).
Main points to be addressed: 
- presentation of the group goals
- present suggestions for conference proposal (one more proposal will be submitted from  Chile for the 20 years of NTT operations and 30 of 3.6m, to be held
in La Silla).
- at least one paper
- potential speaker: M. Arnaboldi
- contact other potential interested participants (B. Miller, R. Carrasco (GEMINI); R. de Propris (TOLOLO); R. Hills, A. Peck (ALMA))

d) send an e-mail to all extragalactic astronomers (or all ESO staff?) to inform them about the meeting and give opportunity to join the group: M. DUMKE (should be at least three days before the meeting).