Newsletter of the North Shore
Amateur Astronomy Club

 

 

Links: Prior Issue  /  Next Issue  /  Download Page  /  Archives /  Home

 

From the President

With last month’s newsletter having been published a week late, it seems like I just wrote a President’s letter. It is actually May 8^th as I write this as we have almost a week between deadline day and publishing day.

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, the Young Astronomer Program (YAP) was both a success and a failure, as it was last year. The success was that we achieved our goal of placing equipment into the hands of someone who is genuinely interested in astronomy. The young women who attended had passed up a chance to go to the circus with her friends to do so. Our mistake this year was having it on school vacation week, but the big problem with the YAP program is holding it as a single event on a specific date. We are attempting to reach a select few kids that are interested in astronomy, and bringing them all together at one time and place is logistically flawed.

I think the solution may be to alter the program from being a single annual event, into an ongoing program for youths interested in astronomy to possibly acquire equipment from us. I have not worked out the parameters of the program and would like to hear feedback from anyone with ideas. What I have in mind is letting the kids know that the program is available via our website and the schools. They would then approach us and fulfill some sort of criteria. We would then select them to receive a piece of equipment and provide them with a personal training session on its use. We could also incorporate the YAP program somehow into our star parties.

The Late Fee is now history. Any member who paid the late fee this year may either request a refund from the Treasurer, or just leave it as a general donation to the club.

We will leave the list server reply function as it is. If you hit reply to a list server message it will be addressed to the entire list, not to the original sender. Most members felt that this system works in the best interest of all.

We have formed a Star Party Committee to do the job previously handled by Jim Foy. John Hobbs will head the committee and handle the organizational aspects. He will be the contact point person and will do the scheduling while other committee members will do the presentations. We will also be purchasing canned programs for the presentations so those who are not comfortable speaking will have very little to say or do other than run the program. The Star Party Committee at this time consists of John Hobbs, Fred Sammartino, Jim Koerth, and myself. If I’ve missed anybody who volunteered please bring it to my attention. We would like to have a few more on the committee so that we are well covered. Please consider helping out.

The long term weather forecast looks favorable for our first Starport event of the year on May 18^th! There is no email at Starport. Cell phones generally do not work. All that is there is a house, a field, a large dark sky, and a very large mirror with a bad case of Photon Fever!

Kevin Ackert.
President

 

Fred Sammartino, Marty Camp (VMP), Kevin Ackert, Paul Roy, Tom Rauschenbach, and Bob Peters at VMP Workday on May 12.

 

The attic of the cottage at VMP. We stripped off and salvaged boards that were nailed to the rafters and walls.

 

 

Minutes of the NSAAC Business Meeting, May 4th, 2007

President Ackert called the May Business Meeting of the NSAAC to order at 8:15 PM. There were no new members or guests present. There were 8 members present plus 5 Board members.  There was an official quorum. 

Secretary:  The minutes of the April business meeting were accepted by acclamation.

Treasurer:

No Treasurer report. The finances are in good order. The Board is waiting for the FY 2006 Annual Report from the treasurer.

Membership:

There have been no new members since the last Business Meeting. 

Early Meeting Announcements:

None

Committee Reports:

Young Astronomers Program:

The YAP program was a success and a failure.  We had only one young participant, however, she gave up a trip to the circus to attend.  We seem to be doing something wrong.  Kevin decided that trying to hold a single event to attract kids interested in astronomy was the wrong approach.  The YAP program is looking for only a small number of kids really interested in astronomy and a special meeting for the program is the wrong way to do it.  The better way to do the program is to put together a program that works with the schools and funnels only the kids who were really interested in astronomy to our website or our events.  Could run in conjunction with star parties where the kids submit an essay or answer some questions and then the club selects or has a drawing for the scopes.   Therefore, we will not do a single large program once a year.  We will prepare a handout advertising the YAP to be given out to schools and star parties and directing the students to the club website.

Merrimack College:

The observatory was opened one day last month.  Jeff mentioned that the eyepieces are dirty and need cleaning.  The scope has been fixed and is on target.

Salem State:

Dennis Gudzevich reported that because of poor coordination of keys, the observatory was closed the last few weeks.  Dick Collins and his son have made contact with Dennis Gudzevich, but have not yet gotten together.

Entertainment Report:

Alan Peters will do a future Constellation Conversation.

Star Parties:

The star party for the IRWS was a success with about 50 people there, but clouds prevented observing. 

News, Correspondence and Upcoming Activities:

Gary Meehan thanked the club for their participation in the IRWS star party.

The Astrophotography workshop held at VMP at on Friday, April 27 was a great success with 13 members attending.  There is a plan to do an evening with observing at the scope to go over the webcam acquisition setup.

Barrie Sawyer is planning a star party for club members at Starport the weekend of May 18 & 19.  Let Barrie know if you plan to attend.

International Sidewalk Astronomy Day is Saturday May 19^th.

The club picnic will be a pool party July 28 at Kevin Ackert’s house in Billerica.  No Booze.  Bring anything special that you want to eat or drink.

Old Business:

Ron Sampson has sent a letter and a proposal to the owners of Long Hill Farm regarding using their site for observing.  We have not heard back form them.

Member John Tulik has made contact with the officials at Bradley Palmer State Park and they would like to meet with President Ackert to discuss using the park as an observing venue.  Kevin has not yet been able to schedule a meeting.

Since the upcoming departure of Star Party Coordinator, we will form a committee for this function.  Kevin Ackert, Jim Koerth, and John Hobbs will be on the committee.  John Hobbs has volunteered to be the point of contact.

President Ackert made a motion to rescind the late fee.  Motion was seconded and approved by a unanimous vote.

A motion was made and seconded to increase the YAP budget by $300 to cover the expenses of the program.  Motion passed by unanimous vote.

The hat purchase is on hold until we get a new logo or decide to keep the old one.

There seems to be a consensus to keep the single list server as it is.

New Business:

VMP work weekend.  May 12 is the first date.  We have 3 people now, but need 6 to get our work hours.  Contact Kevin Ackert if you can help out.

Board Meeting will be Tuesday May 15th at 8:00 PM at VMP.

Meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.

Respectively submitted,
John Hobbs, Secretary NSAAC

 

NSAAC Annual Picnic

The 2007 Annual Club Picnic will be held a Kevin Ackert’s house in Billerica on Saturday, July 28. Bring towel and bathing trunks if you want to jump in the pool. We’ll have burgers, hot dogs, salads and non-alcohol drinks.  Feel free to bring something if you’d like. Solar observing from the driveway and games in the back yard. I’ll need a head count to estimate how much food and drink should be purchased, so please let me know as soon as you if you’re coming.

Kevin Ackert

 

Entertainment for June

The entertainment for the June meeting will be a demonstration of the software program Seeker by Bisque Software, or the night sky outside, whichever you prefer.

If you have a suggestion for an entertainment idea please submit it to us with no obligation to do it yourself.

 

 
Help Wanted

Below is a list of positions which need to be filled in our club. Please consider volunteering for one of these positions if you have the means. Please contact any Board member with questions about these positions

Long Term Positions:

Merrimack College Observatory: We currently have a staff of four which is the minimum. Bill Drown has volunteered to be trained as the fifth Wednesday back-up person. Additional staff people are always welcomed. Please speak to Kevin Ackert if you would like to join us. Operating this observatory with its twenty inch R/C is a rewarding experience.

Star Party Committee: We have a Star Party Coordinator now and three people on the committee. We will be purchasing presentation software so that very little speaking will be required of the presenter. We would like to have one or two more on the committee.

 

Getting to Veasey Memorial Park

From Interstate 95 north, take the Route 133 west (54B) exit, and follow it into Georgetown Center.  Go straight through the light, now on Route 97N.  Go about 1.5 miles and take a left onto Salem Street (Tea Garden Restaurant at this intersection).  Stay on Salem Street and turn left onto Washington Street. VMP is down a bit on the right.

Directions to all of the NSAAC observing sites are available on our web site's “About” page at:

        http://www.nsaac.org/about.htm

 

Contact Information

For more information about the club and its activities, contact Jim Koerth,  Membership Director, email: membership at nsaac.org or contact Kevin Ackert, President, e-mail at president at nsaac.org.  If you have no email access, you may phone Kevin Ackert at (978) 663-5305

Our club web site is: http://www.nsaac.org.

The Celestial Observer is edited by Leor Zolman. Feedback, and member contributions are welcome. Contact: newsletter at nsaac.org.

New development on the NSAAC web site is currently being coordinated and implemented by Mike Deneen. Suggestions regarding the content of the NSAAC web site are always welcome; Please email webmaster at nsaac.org with your ideas.