Minutes, November 12 2008 meeting
Location: Pizza Hut, Powhatan Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia
In attendance:
The meeting was opened shortly after 7 p.m. by President Scott Busby.
Treasurer Tim Plunkett presented his report. He has sent the check to reimburse Scott for Club picnic expenses. Dues for the 2009 can be presented to Tim at any time.
Recent events at Caledon and Westmoreland State Park suffered cloudy weather. The next star party is the club's regular monthly public star party at Caledon on November 22.
Mike reported that the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) is still not orders for the Galileoscope. He has heard this will be available at some time in the future.
The Great Star Count occurred in late October. This is a good activity to promote for the International Year of Astronomy.
The Web site 365 Days of Astronomy, which has presented daily guides for some years, plans for the International Year of Astronomy to solicit daily contributions from professional astronomers for each day of 2009.
The club discussed the current disposition of instruments in the club library. Tim will forward Vernice Gilkey's contact information to Glenn to discuss the Dobsonian telescope. The club's Orion GEM mount's slow-motion controls are still missing.
Tim Smith of King George Parks and Recreation would like to include astronomy in a nature program. Glenn offered to follow up with him.
The club calendar for 2009 is set and ready for publication on our Web site and Yahoo group. Dates are on the calendar for International Year of Astronomy events at Borders Books, but the club has not yet discussed these events with Borders. Members are welcome to suggest viewing events for the calendar.
The slate of nominees for tonight's election for our 2009 club officers is:
None were presented.
Jon expects to prepare a presentation on solar flares.
Scott reported that our club Yahoo group now has grouplets, which he is setting up.
Scott offered to take club flyers to Ritz Camera, which during last year's Christmas season requested them to accompany telescopes they sell.
Several members moved and seconded that the slate of nominees for club officers be elected. The slate was accepted by almost-unanimous vote.
Scott plans to use our December meeting to plan the programs for our 2009 meetings.
Socializing over pizza
The next meeting is scheduled for December 10 2008, 7:00 pm, at Central Rappahannock Regional Library Headquarters, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Submitted by Glenn Holliday, Secretary