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CFAS Monthly Board Meeting Minutes

CFAS Monthly Board Meeting Minutes

March 16, 2005


Attendees:

Paul Kronenwetter

Frank Gutowski

Walt Hamler

Ray Jones

Francisco Gonzalez

Tony Urzi

Larry Lurie

David Furrow

Tom Chitty

Alan Hoffberg


Guests: (None)


  1. President's Call to order. Welcoming remarks.

The meeting was called to order at 6:59pm


  1. Secretary's Report

A request was made for comments and changes to the February board meeting minutes. Several updates were processed via email before the final version was reviewed. Ray made a motion to approve the minutes as amended via email. Larry seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.


  1. Treasurer's Report

Alan explained the treasurer's status and budget variance report. Alan noted that we're under budget for membership, by about 13 patron members.

Frank motioned to approve the treasurer's report. Francisco seconded. The report was accepted unanimously.


  1. Agenda Items

    1. Women in Technology

      1. Walt asked the board to start thinking about

        1. Promoting women in astronomy

        2. In what areas can be be proactive where we can help engage women in the club and astronomy?

      2. Alan noted that active participation by women members making presentations and participating in outreach programs would help as well.

    2. Dark Sky Event at Harmony

      1. April 22, 2006

      2. Question was raised - Will CFAS support this event?

        1. One membership was gained from participating in last year's event.

        2. Should a facility be put in place in the future, current participation could help CFAS gain input and access.

    3. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve Observing Site

      1. This facility was identified by one of our members and appears to have a great deal of potential.

      2. Walt suggested we hold an overnight evaluation stay of about four or five members. April 22nd was proposed as a date to evaluate this site. Tom will contact the rangers and make arrangements with them.

    4. Astrofest Final Plans

      1. Very few members have registered so far.


  1. Committee Reports

    1. Membership -

      1. New Members for February:

        1. Jean Marc & Damien Denis

        2. Ken Tussing

        3. Gregory Dowers

        4. Tony DeLuca

        5. Christopher Straut

        6. James Leiter

        7. Scott Sturgeon

        Ray moved to accept these membership applications, Tony seconded this motion. The board voted to accept the membership applications from the above families.


    1. Programs

      1. April – OSC

        1. Dr. Dan Britt – Hunting for Meteorites

      2. May - SCC

        1. How telescopes have changed our view of the universe.

      3. June - OSC

        1. Richard Wright – The Sky and Starry Night Pro demonstrations and a preview of The Sky 7

      4. July - SCC

        1. New Planetarium program

      5. August - OSC

        1. Ocala National Forest Ranger

      6. September - SCC

        1. Dr. Yan Fernandez (UCF)

      7. October - OSC

        1. Dr. Michelle Montgomery

      8. November - SCC

        1. Dr. Humberto Campins

      9. December – Robinson?

        1. Holiday Party


    1. DSAC/Library

      1. No report


    1. Publicity

      1. Nothing new.



    1. Orlando Science Center

      1. Gee Whizdom

        1. Larry requested the coordinator make a presentation once their materials are ready.

      2. The new OSC volunteer was unaware of CFAS. She requested that when ever CFAS has a speaker OSC receive information so that advertising can be arranged.


    1. Board Members at Large

      1. CFAS Ocala Site was the winner of the name the site poll.


    1. Observing

      1. New observing plans

      2. April School Events (Odyssey Middle School / Highlands Elementary) – April 4th.

      3. Princeton elementary event is covered.

      4. Someone contacted Tom regarding a Boy Scout event at Harmony. Tom requested additional information about the request.


    1. Education and Outreach

      1. Harmony Site

        1. Tom suggested CFAS consider our long-term viewing schedule plans with the removal of our observing area. He recommended we not establish a viewing schedule.

        2. Ray suggested CFAS not promote Harmony as an official observing site and remove such references from the website.

      2. Ray asked if there was something we can do to increase our outreach activities by using the new solar telescope.

        1. A suggestion was made to bring it to a mall and bring our brochures and make an impromptu event out of it.


    1. Robinson

      1. Rob Pickman sent Ray a rough disassembly procedure for the Tinsley.

      2. Ray will notify the membership when the date is set to remove the glass from the telescope.

      3. Ray sent the Friends of Robinson pamphlet to Dr. Britt to help the University's fund raising efforts.


    1. Astrolog Editor

      1. Tom is still waiting for input, though the deadline was March 10th.

      2. Tom also asked about how many copies are really needed. Tom will investigate the actual cost per copy. If the incremental cost from 100 to 150 is around $5 then the extra copies can be distributed to libraries, schools, etc...


    1. Scientific Committee

      1. Inactive


    1. NASA Night Sky Network

      1. The next teleconference is on the Stardust mission and the Stardust@home project.


    1. Webmaster

      1. Dave suggested that the Yahoo stuff further down on the page.

      2. The most important items are meetings and viewing times.

      3. Paul wants input in plain text but the most important thing is to send content people want on the website.


  1. Old Business

    1. Ray requested all the dark weekend nights for Ocala observing site for the remainder of the year and we were granted permission to use them.

      1. The terms of the permit must be followed at all times. Since a port-a-potty must be present during these events, Ray suggested events be coordinated through the Yahoo to avoid the problem.

      2. Tom expressed serious concerns over losing our privileges by not following the terms of the permit.

      3. Ray suggested a policy be drafted outlining the terms and consequences of the use of the site. Tom will draft this policy.


  1. New Business

    1. A number of Sky & Telescope magazines are populating Walt's back room. Walt would like to know what the board wants to do with them.

      1. Tom motioned that Walt will offer them to the membership via the Yahoo group. Failing that, they will be put onto Astromart for sale. Walt seconded. The motion passed unanimously.


  1. Motion to Adjourn

    1. Ray motioned to adjourn the meeting, Frank seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:33pm.


/s/ Paul Kronenwetter – CFAS Secretary