CFAS Monthly Board Meeting Minutes
CFAS Monthly Board Meeting Minutes
June 16th, 2004
Board members present:
Ray Jones
Frank Sperl
Frank Gutowski
Paul Kronenwetter
David Furrow
Alan Hoffberg
Laurence Lurie
Pat Weeks
Walt Hamler
Guests present:
None.
Ray Jones called the June meeting to order at 7:04 PM at Dan’s Family restaurant.
Old business:
Ray Jones stated that the efforts to support the Venus transit went well and that the Orlando Science Center had been a very popular place for viewers.
Alan Hoffberg asked that Ray Jones update the GuideStar database of Nonprofit Organizations. Ray agreed that he would do so.
Paul Kronenwetter stated that the NASA Night Sky Network (NNSN) was sending CFAS 5 new training modules for the group to beta test. Paul added that we could use another sect of the material provided by the NNSN to use at OSC.
Frank Gutowski proposed that we start providing refreshments at the general meeting again. Path Weeks agreed and said she would get the tradition started again at the next general meeting.
New business:
Frank Sperl volunteered to do an internet search for available scientific research grants that the group might be qualified for. Frank also proposed that CFAS consider working with SCC to build a robotic observatory located on the SCC campus. Frank Sperl and Frank Gutowski agreed to work on this project.
Secretary:
Frank Gutowski made a motion to approve both the April and May 2004 board meeting minutes with changes. Pat Weeks seconded the motion and the motion was unanimously approved by the board.
Treasurer:
Alan Hoffberg presented the Treasurers report for May. Paul Kronenwetter made a motion to accept the report, which was seconded by Pat Weeks, and unanimously approved by the board.
Alan Hoffberg made a motion to allow the Treasurer, at his discretion, to invest up to $5,000.00 dollars in a suitable investment for the group. David Furrow seconded the motion and the board unanimously approved the motion.
Ray Jones proposed that Alan Hoffberg provide a monthly budget report to the web master to be put on the CFAS website. Alan agreed to the proposal.
Membership:
No new members were presented for approval.
Programs:
Pat Weeks stated that Forrest Egan would do a presentation on astrophotography at the July meeting. She added that for August Laurent Pellerin would give a presentation on the Cassini/Huygens mission, at that the September presentation would be on astrophysics and given by Eric Dick, a physicist at UCF.
Publicity:
Ray asked the board members at large to canvass the group for new publicity chairman.
Orlando Science Center:
Larry Lurie stated that volunteers at the OSC would begin helping with the NNSN presentations given there.
BMAL:
Ray Jones asked that the BMAL’s assist with NASA Night Sky presentations whenever possible.
Observing:
Walt Hamler announced that he would be giving a presentation to a group of girl scouts on July 26th and that he could use some volunteers for help.
Ray Jones asked Frank Sperl about the status of a astrophotography class. Frank stated that he was working with Bob Reim to present a class at the Fall picnic.
Ray stated that the mounting rings for the TEC 140 telescope are on the way from the manufacturer.
Ray asked the board for their thoughts on purchasing a mount for the TEC 140 to enable general members of the group to use the telescope on CFAS dark sky viewing nights. He proposed that qualified CFAS members would take to the scope to the site and set it up for other members to use. Ray asked the observing committee to prepare a white paper about guidelines on who and how the group could use the scope. The board agreed that if a suitable mount was found an email vote could be used to approve the purchase.
Ray mentioned that he had sent out a email to the board members concerning the lunar transit search project. He stated that he would bring it up at the next general meeting to see if there was anyone interested in participating in the project.
Ray stated that he and Walt Hamler had not yet had the opportunity to go to the Three Lakes wilderness area to check it’s suitability for a viewing site.
Education/Outreach:
No education activities are planned for the next few months.
DSAC:
No report from DSAC.
Science Committee:
The science committee chair remains open.
Astrolog Committee:
No report from the Astrolog committee chair.
Librarian:
No report from the librarian.
A motion to adjourn was made at 8:37pm, it was seconded, and the meeting adjourned