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CFAS Monthly Board Meeting Minutes

CFAS Monthly Board Meeting Minutes

January 2, 2008

Attendees:

Paul Kronenwetter

Frank Gutowski

Walt Hamler

Francisco Gonzales

Tony Urzi

Alan Hoffberg

Larry Lurie

David Tidwell

Guests: None.

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

The meeting was called to order at 6:59pm.

  1. Secretary's Report

Paul requested the board to approve the meeting minutes as sent by Beeler. Alan made a motion to approve the minutes as distributed by email. Frank seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.

  1. Treasurer's Report

Alan briefly discussed the treasurer's report. Paul motioned to accept the report. Walt seconded. The treasurer's report was accepted unanimously.

  1. Agenda Items

    1. Astrofest 3/7-3/9.

      1. Sonny's Barbecue will be used for catering.

      2. Tom Chitty wants a volunteer to handle coordination of presentations.

      3. Tony will contact Todd Parker to see if he'll be willing to present his beginner course.

      4. Tony discussed having commemorative pins available to paying attendees.

      5. The attendance fee was discussed balanced with the availability of door prizes. The fee will remain at $25 per member family. Fee for non-member, sponsored guests will be $35 per person.

      6. Frank suggests that we should emphasize that the gate will be closed at 6:00pm on March 7th on the registration page .

      7. Alan recommended that a small excess of pins be purchased and made available to members to purchase after Astrofest.

  1. Committee Reports

    1. Membership -

      1. No new members joined since the last board meeting.

    1. Programs

      1. Tony supplied the board with a list of possible programs for the general meetings. Frank will determine programs for other meeting dates.

      2. January – Movie night – Seeing in the Dark

      3. February – Shadows and Silhouettes – Lunar eclipse late in the month.

      4. June – History of Solar Exploration

      5. October – NASA's Great Observatory

    1. DSAC/Library

      1. No update provided.

    1. Publicity

      1. Dave Tidwell has volunteered to take over publicity. Alan moved to accept Dave's offer, Larry seconded. The board unanimously accepted Dave into his new position.

    1. Orlando Science Center

      1. The Orlando Science Center will need to charge us for the use of computers, so we must take this into consideration for future meetings.

    1. Board Members at Large

      1. No update provided.

    1. Observing

      1. 1/15 Palmetto Elementary

      2. 1/17 Citrus Elementary

      3. 2/22 English Estates Elementary

    1. Education and Outreach

      1. Alan suggested that CFAS actively promote our outreach capabilities to schools and other organizations. We should also clearly explain the minimal requirements for presenters.

      2. Wiregrass Prairie Preserve will be hosting a star party, Dr. Ward from Sebring High school is sponsoring this event, starting at 5:30pm.

      3. February 24th is the second annual Saturn Observation night. Tony will ask if Derek will be doing anything for this event.

      4. April 12th will probably be the annual Harmony Dark Sky Festival.

      5. Astronomy day will be May 10th.

    1. Robinson

      1. No update provided.

    1. Astrolog Editor

      1. No update provided.

    1. Scientific Committee

      1. Tom Dazey will remain the Scientific Committee chairman.

    1. NASA Night Sky Network

      1. Tony will assemble an inventory of NNSN kits available to members to make the presentations.

      2. Walt suggested we consolidate information on the NNSN presentations given by scientists and educators and place that information on the CFAS website. Paul will start to investigate and collect the information for the website.

      3. NASA Night Sky Network award pins were distributed to NNSN presenters during the holiday party.

    1. Webmaster

      1. Paul emphasized the availability and recommended the use of the board “reflector” email address.

      2. Paul reminded the board that the gallery application is available for use and should be advertised at future meetings.

  1. Old Business

    1. Frank brought the red flashlights we ordered previously and will be sold for $10/ea. Paul will add this item to the website Paypal page once Walt sends an image.

  1. New Business

    1. Tony is now a Solar System ambassador. The board congratulates Tony on being chosen for this position.

    2. Changes to the By-laws and Board Rules.

      1. The board reviewed suggested several changes to the by-laws and standing rules. Paul will make the agreed changes to the documentation and bring to the general meeting for membership approval.

      2. Alan suggested the Robinson Observatory Committee section be reworded to be more flexible to allow for the committee to be re-established when an agreement with UCF is re-established without a vote from the board.

    3. Tony and Frank will work to renew the permit for observing at Ocala.

  1. Motion to Adjourn

    1. Frank motioned to adjourn the meeting, Francisco seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:21pm.

/s/ Paul Kronenwetter – CFAS Secretary