Minutes, December 10 2008 meeting
In attendance:
The meeting was opened shortly after 7 p.m. by President Scott Busby.
Scott reviewed the election results from our November meeting.
Treasurer Tim Plunkett presented his report. Only 5 members have paid dues for 2009 so far. Tim intents to send ALCOR quarterly member roster updates.
The last two star parties were clouded out.
Mike reported that the Web site for the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009)'s Galileoscope now says orders can be placed in January.
John Raymond donated a pair of slow motion knobs to repair our Orion GEM.
Glenn talked with King George Parks and Recreation about their desire for astronomy events. They will advertise our January star party as part of their Winter Nature series. They would also like us to help with solar observing for their Earth Day event.
Mike offered to send our 2009 schedule to Ranger Sam at Caledon. He has already sent it to Tim Smith at King George Parks and Recreation.
Scott described the new grouplets at our club Yahoo group.
Scott offered to take club flyers to Ritz Camera, which during last year's Christmas season requested them to accompany telescopes they sell.
Glenn passed around a DVD from Astronomy magazine, the first in a series they are producing.
Mike is producing a club year-end report.
Tim has the club library. Scott and Mike discussed posting a catalog on the Web site.
Myron brought and showed a Criterion Dynascope 6 inch reflector from 1963, which he is donating for use as a club telescope.
Myron has agreed to support star parties for Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation at Motts Run in January, February, and March.
Scott has just finished a paper for a class on light pollution, and is starting a local effort to address the problem in his own neighborhood.
Myron suggested a program on the lesser known deep sky objects, in particular the ARP galaxies.
Myron suggested a program on measuring the twinkling of stars. He described color variations in images of star trails.
Scott would like to do another telescope workshop. There was some discussion of the best place and venue for this. Myron suggested a clinic at a store that sells telescopes.
Tom suggested a program with images that depict what astronomical targets look like to the observer.
The next meeting is scheduled for January 14 2009, 7:00 pm, at Central Rappahannock Regional Library Headquarters, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Submitted by Glenn Holliday, Secretary