text: 2008 - Astronomical Association of Northern California
  24 Feb 20 Apr 22 Jun 17 Aug 12 Oct 14 Dec
  Agenda -B-
  nominees -C-
  MDAS -D-
  SFAA -E-
  Hercules -F-
  LHS -G-
  A. AANC Board Meeting 2008 February 22 Agenda
  2. Roll call -- Alan
  Alan Gould, Barbara Arrighi, Dave Harris, Doug Brown, Liede Marie Haitsma, Ken Frank, Len Nelson, Mike Portuesi, Rich Neuschaefer, Richard Ozer, Vivian White, Walt Heiges.
  3. Approve minutes http://aanc-astronomy.org/AANCminutes/AANCminutes.html - Walt: comma missing in board member list. Richard moved, Ken second to approve minutes. Passed.
  4. Treasurer's report - Richard.
  Checking $3152.14
  Franklin Templeton $5106.26
  Astronomical Society of the Pacific 2008
  College of Marin 2008
  FPOA 2008
  Lawrence Hall of Science 2008
  MDAS 2008
  MDOA 2008
  San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers 2008
  SCAS 2008
  SFAA 2008
  SFSU (San Fran State Univ) 2008
  SJAA 2008
  SVAS 2008
  TVS 2007.
  Carol Fenner applied for membership as individual. Consensus is to not accept individual memberships. Richard will write letter encouraging her to join SFAA and can make donation to AANC.
  Membership Renewal Headway — [report in Treasurer's report] Thanks to Michael Kran and Richard O for their efforts.
  Question about Carter...Richard reports that he is receiving visitors.
  Night Sky Network/ASP (Project Astro Calendar) - Vivian/Marni
  Lots of activity with GLOBE program---25 clubs with sky quality meter. Starts tomorrow. http://www.globe.gov/gan -- look at Orion and match with magnitude chart. 2008 Feb 25 - Mar 8. Project Astro calendar has Bay area events astronomy-wise. If you would like for your organizations' stuff in that calendar, contact Vivian.
  Ken: perhaps we should centralize this calendar mailing function.
  Perhaps we should not use the AANC editors list in this regard. Stick to AANC Contacts.
  AANC Calendar also has event.
  A. Grants -
  Chabot Telescope Makers' Workshop http://www.aanc-astronomy.org/AANCMinutes/Issues.html#H
  FPOA Star B Q http://www.aanc-astronomy.org/AANCMinutes/Issues.html#I
  Liede Marie moves that AANC grants TMW $300 for 2008. Dave seconded. Motion passed.
  FPOA request (item I). Doug Brown moves AANC reimburse FPOA $371.36. Ken seconded. Motion passed. Michael P noted that the amount seems excessive. Richard: it would be nice if AANC could take advantage iof the event better--more than jsut an awards ceremony event. If we are really co-sponsoring we can be more active. Number of attendees is normally 300-400.
  Walt announces resurrection of Davis Star Show. Could do AstroCon in Davis eventually. Mini starshow might be end of Aug or early Sep sometime.
  B. Upcoming Astronomy Events Calendar for 2008. Please submit your club calendar to Alan
  Messier Marathon March 8 secondary date of March 29
  SJAA Auction & possible AANC Meeting location April 20
  Astronomy Day May 10 http://aanc-astronomy.org/AstroDay.html
  RTMC Riverside Telescope Maker's Conference Friday May 25-Monday May 28th 23-26????? www.rtmcastronomyexpo.org
  GCSP Grand Canyon Star Party, June 9-16 www.tucsonastronomy.org/gcsp.html
  GSSP Golden State Star Party July 2-5 http://www.goldenstatestarparty.org/
  Yosemite Glacier Point Summer Weekends (NPS has mailed out forms) TBA http://aanc-astronomy.org/yosemite.html
  Fremont Peak Star-B-Q, August 2nd FPOA 2008 calendar has been posted to fpoa.net
  OSP Oregon Star Party, August 16-19 www.oregonstarparty.org
  SJAA CalStar September 25-27 http://www.sjaa.net/calstar/
  Fall Astronomy Day - October 4th http://aanc-astronomy.org/AstroDay.html
  SJAA Fall Swap Meet November 9th
  C. Proposed California State Parks cutbacks and what to do about it.
  Rich N's comments: http://www.planitarium.net/aanc/board/rich-n_sjaa.txt
  Doug B's comments: http://www.planitarium.net/aanc/board/doug-b_fpoa.txt
  Denni M's comments: http://www.planitarium.net/aanc/board/denni_fpoa.txt
  Walt's comments: http://www.planitarium.net/aanc/board/walt_etal.txt
  One other possible idea from Barbara A: http://www.calparks.org/act-now/2008-budget-proposal.html
  Walt volunteers to lead AANC effort to oppose park closings.
  There is concern about role of 501c3 organizations taking postions.
  Richard O said that law is mostly about political campaigns and support for candidates, not social or political issues in general. Michael P says we should put info about the issue on our websites. There was some questions this AM about 501-c3 non-profit limits on political activity. This web site clarifies the matter quite well
  http://www.nonprofitlawblog.com/home/2006/02/irs_investigati.html
  D. AANC Awards nominations for next meeting: http://www.aanc-astronomy.org/AANCMinutes/Issues.html#B
  Send nominations to Alan G. See Andy's example below for ideas on substantiating the nomination.
  7. Club reports and website updates—please send to: Alan Gould <adgould@comcast.net>
  GSSP....
  Kepler (Alan): Kepler will be having a "Speakers Bureau" request form online very soon at http://kepler.nasa.gov; There will also be a "Put your Name on the Kepler Spacecraft" form in the next few months.
  Richard O: There is request form WAA for memberships. Richard moved that AANC join--allocate $20. Viv seconded. Motion passed.
  Ken: International Sidewalk Astronomy night is Apr 12. Go to sidewalkastronomynight.com to get pin(s).
  9. Adjourn Next meeting date: April 20th, Location Chabot, unless otherwise amended (ie Hogue Park)
  Adjourned 11:25.
  B. AANC Award Nominations
  [7-25-07 From: Liede-Marie Haitsma/MDAS]
  Jim Head, Outreach Representative
  Andy Fraknoi would like to nominate Suzanne Gurton (formerly Suzanne Chippendale) for the AANC Professional Award. See reasons below.
  Reasons for nominating Suzanne Gurton (nomination from Andy Fraknoi):
  After serving in positions at the Griffith Observatory, Fiske Planetarium, and Hayden Planetarium, Suzy became Director on the Planetarium at the Santa Fe Community College, where she completely revitalized the planetarium as a community resource.
  However, the main reason is that since 2000, she has been the dynamic and extremely effective Education Manager at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and has spearheaded several major national and international educational initiatives that benefit the amateur and educational communities in astronomy tremendously.
  Among these is Family ASTRO, a project to create family astronomy activities, kits, and games, to help families enjoy doing hands-on astronomy together. Family Astronomy trainings and workshops are now offered from Hawaii to Boston. Suzy created most of the activities, supervised the training, and trained most of the trainers now doing Family ASTRO around the U.S. and in Latin America. She also supervised the translation of some of the kits she wrote into Spanish. Amateurs and their clubs have been on the forefront of offering such family events.
  To see some of her activities, go to: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/activities/handson.html and scroll down to the Family ASTRO section.
  Another important project she heads is Astronomy from the Ground Up, a major NSF-sponsored effort to train education staff at small planetaria, museums, nature centers, and environmental education centers to do more and better astronomy as part of their programs. Again, Suzy helped create and adapt hands-on activities and oversees the training of all the participants, in person and on-line. Astronomy education and outreach programs are springing up in the most unlikely places as a result of this program.
  Perhaps most importantly, Suzy also heads the ASP's Night Sky Network project (done in cooperation with JPL and several NASA missions), in which members of over 200 astronomy clubs around North America are being supplied with education and outreach kits and being trained on how to do school and public events with them. NASA has recognized this project as one of its most successful educational initiatives and continues to support and expand it. This is one of the most exciting new programs using the often undervalued and underutilized talents and energies of the amateur community in the U.S.
  A new project, which Suzy also heads, called Sharing the Universe, will undertake research on the factors that allow amateur clubs to be successful at outreach and the factors that hold clubs back.
  She has been a key liaison between the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and the amateur and education communities, attending and doing workshops at regional and national meetings and providing information on these and other programs for the entire astronomical community through her list serve activities, articles, and conference papers. Since Suzy arrived at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, the networking between the ASP and the amateur and educational communities has increased and improved enormously.
  She has also been an ambassador from the astronomical community to a variety of community organizations, including the National School Boards Association, the Girl Scouts, the National Science Teachers Association, and the Association of Science and Technology Centers.
  Suzy brings to all her work (but particularly to her development of novel and effective hands-on activities) a level of creativity and responsible science that I have seen few people duplicate. Her materials and her ability to train others to use them are exemplary. She is a marvelous asset to astronomy education and well deserving of the AANC's highest award.
  415-337-1100 x 110
  email: sgurton@astrosociety.org
  A proud AANC Award Winner (long ago)
  Alan Gould, Barbara Arrighi, Dave Harris, Ed Pieret, Liede Marie Haitsma, John Dillon, Ken Frank, Len Nelson, Michael Kran, Mike Koop, Mike Portuesi, Rich Neuschaefer, Richard Ozer, Walt Heiges.
  Joe Dische award was won by Richard Ozer at the December 2007 Club meeting.
  MDOA:
  The Board discussed the work still needed to be done on the Warming Room (generator, fuel and lighting); to make the Warming Room usable for the start of Public Night in March a portable generator will be used.
  MDAS OUTREACH:
  Jim Head has Outreach programs scheduled till the end of May with more signing up; the weather is a larger factor at this moment. Liede-Marie Haitsma has Outreach Tabling events, so far, scheduled for March, April and June; library displays are also being set-up almost each month this year. Marni Berendsen is active with the Night Sky Network and is scheduling Workshops, and is also active with Jim Head and the school programs. The MDAS Public Programs will begin in March.
  The MDAS Imaging group is going strong; there are approximately ten die-hards who gather each month to discuss what they've tried-right now the group has selected one or two objects for imaging, and remote viewing is popular especially using the New Mexico and Australia sites; one of the ten, Chris Ford, is explaining the use of Adobe Photoshop for astro-imaging. He is also showing his "pet-project" of implementing 3D technology using the Maya application for Astronomy.
  D. SFAA
  SFAA Club Report for Sunday February 24, 2008 CSP (City Star Party) goers at the Randall Museum on Wednesday, February 20th were not disappointed with the salmon pink Moon rising in the East Bay hills. The Moon was in and out of visibility during the eclipse. Barbara and Michael Arrighi brought goodies to stoke the public, mostly families that packed the theatre for both John Dillon and Michael Portuesi's excellent and compelling lectures on their specific takes of "Moonology". Charles Messier will make his apparition on Saturday, March 8th to inaugurate the Marathon. We are still plugging away to take up our quest to open up the West Peak on Mt. Tam for observing. We have a new President Dirk Lammerts as Ken Frank instituted a self imposed one year term limit. VP is Stephanie Ulrey former treasurer and secretary. Treasurer Vivian White is continuing in her post. Barbara Arrighi of John Dobson's telescope making class has volunteered for Secretary and lots more. Welcome Barbara! Our Awards Ceremony was held at Delancy Street with a gorgeous view of the Bay and the bridge. "Above the Fog" our online rag has been spiffed up and full of cool stuff:
  http://www.sfaa-astronomy.org/newsletter/pdfs/2008-02.pdf
  Mt. Tam Special Use permit observing program is slated for every months New Moon Saturday. The SFAA speaker schedule for the year so far: http://www.sfaa-astronomy.org/lectures/
  Monthly the SFAA in conjunction with the SFSA http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/index.php?page=telescope-clinics hold clinics for telescope instruction. Our loaner telescopes are getting tune-ups and Bob Fies http://www.alcoat.net/ is recoating one of our most used scopes. We will have nine new volunteers for our Mt. Tam program after State Park VIP training same day as our Messier Marathon. John Dobson is off to Battle Ground Washington, then Macedon Ranges Observatory Skytopia Down Under and on to the Philippines in March. Submitted by Ken Frank
  E. HERCULES STARGAZERS
  February 20, 2008 -- The Total Lunar Eclipse Gaze was a great success at Foxboro Park. Set-up began at 5:30 p.m. The weather was mostly very thin clouds with convenient gaps and sucker holes until leaving around 9:30 p.m. We had to wait until 8:00 p.m. to turn out the interior building lights, but with the exterior lights off there was no interference. We had five scopes and three binoculars set up and in constant use during the event. The scopes ranged in size from a 70mm spotting scope to 8" and 10" Dobs, and the binoculars included one mounted Swift 15x60, one IS 10x30, and one 15x80. We had six astronomy regulars and several visitors, some from previous Stargazes.
  At approximately 5:55 p.m., Mark was the first to spot the rising partially-eclipsed moon over some distant hills to the East. It
  appeared a yellow-orange, with a definite very dark umbral shadow on the lower left edge. Within the next 30 minutes or so, we spotted Regulus above and Saturn below the disappearing moon. We watched the umbral shadow creep across the moon, and just past 6:30 p.m. could see a bright white/silver/yellow color to the right edge, a narrow band of dark gray down the middle, and a faint red-orange area which faded to dark toward the left edge. With the start of totality at 7:00 p.m., the moon was very dark at left edge, with gradual brightening in dull red/orange/yellow toward the right edge. As totality progressed, the darkest area shifted upward and the brighter area shifted downward, and it was easy to tell the direction to the central area of the ubral shadow as the moon grazed its edge.
  From 7:00 p.m. to end of totality we turned our attention to viewing other objects which were visible despite the thin cloud cover, such as Saturn and its moon Triton, The Orion Nebula (brought out well with the Olll filter), Mars, The Pleiades, the Perseus Double Cluster, and the Andromeda Galaxy. At 7:52 p.m. totality ended and a whitish edge was again seen on the lower right edge of the moon. We continued to watch the umbra appear to move to the left and up, revealing more of the bright moon. The colors changed and became more subtle, until the moon left the umbra at 9:05 p.m. Timo took a few photos of the eclipse through his 70 mm. We were all satisfied with a great eclipse from our location. We packed up and left by 9:30 p.m.
  The 2008 Hercules Stargazers Schedule: April 5, May 10 and 31,
  June 28, July 26, August 23, September 27, October 25, and November 22. The Stargazes start at 7:30 p.m. or dusk, whichever is later, and go until 11:00 p.m. or later. Our location is on the basketball courts behind Foxboro Park, at 1025 Canterbury Drive, Hercules. A cloud cover of greater than 50 % by an hour before cancels the Stargaze. We may be hosting a school program on May 10, Astronomy Day, with the 6th grade at Adams Middle School in Richmond.
  Holt Planetarium http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/planetarium/
  As of March 2008, we are decommisioning our venerable Goto Mercury star projector and installing a SkySkan definiti Fulldome video system.
  December 22, 2007 - February 24, 2008
  Saturday and Sunday, plus Holidays (Jan. 21, Feb. 18).
  2:15 p.m. - Red Planet Mars (6 yrs and up)
  March 15 - June 15, 2008
  Saturday and Sunday, plus Holidays (May 26).
  2:15 p.m. - Moons of the Solar System (6 yrs and up)
  Also daily shows 3/24/2008-4/04/2008.
  Photos from Striking Sparks telescope presentations, 2008: http://www.planitarium.net/aanc/strikingsparks08/
  From: llmccuneATcomcast.net
  Subject: STRIKING SPARKS
  Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:58:21 +0000
  This is the 23rd year of the Sonoma County Astronomical Society's (SCAS) annual "Striking Sparks" telescope program. The purpose of the program is to promote science education and interest in astronomy. Our goal is to strike sparks of interest with students in Sonoma County. This year we will be awarding the contest winners easy to use, new 6-inch reflecting Dobsonian mount telescopes to students that have been nominated by their teachers or by SCAS members. Applicants must attend one or more SCAS Young Astronomers meetings or the Robert Ferguson Observatory and write an essay about their interest in astronomy.
  I have discussed AANC's participation with Kenneth and request that AANC sponsor a telescope again this year. We were able to purchase 6 telescopes at a discounted price and can hold the sponsor fee to $200. We plan to award the telescopes to the Striking Sparks winners on February 8, 2008 in Sebastopol and would like to have AANC's participation in the program. Please sponsor a telescope and send a check to:
  Larry McCune, SCAS Treasurer
  544 Thyme Place
  H. 2/15/08
  From: Richard Ozer
  To: AANC Board
  Request for AANC grant
  Dear AANC board members,
  For decades, the Chabot Telescope Makers' Workshop has provided a free venue for learning optics, telescope making, and observing techniques. As one of the last remaining public Telescope Makers' Workshops in the country, the Chabot TMW is a truly unique program.
  In order to continue our activities, we rely on public donations and grants. Our money is used for basic supplies such as grit and polishing compound, as well as other types of basic equipment such as tools, sponges, paper towels, and simple electronics.
  This year we are in need of greater support. Paul Zurakowski, our long time director, is taking a leave of absense to focus on personal matters. This requires that TMW rebuild its mirror testing regime with a new tester and new methodology. Our budget this year will include parts for a new testing rig and possibly x/y stage assembly.
  We are deeply appreciative of AANC's support over the years, and welcome all AANC member organizations to participate in our program. We thank the AANC board for any support deemed appropriate.
  To: kennethfrank, Richard Ozer, Walt Heiges, Alan Gould
  Subject: Motion for Next AANC Meeting - Star-B-Que
  From: Doug_Brown
  The cost of the 2007 Star-B-Que, net of raffle prizes, was $742.67. I'd like to request approval at the next meeting for AANC to reimburse FPOA $371.36.
  By the way, our unofficial 2008 schedule is now posted on fpoa.net. The 2008 SBQ is planned for August 2.
  President, FPOA
  A. Agenda - AANC Board Meeting 2008 Apr 20
  1. Call to order 10:09 am Walt/Ken
  2. Roll call - Ed Pieret, Ken Frank, Len Nelson, Michael Kran, Mike Portuesi, Richard Ozer, Walt Heiges, Alan Gould, Dirk Lammerts, Vivian White.
  3. Approve minutes: http://aanc-astronomy.org/AANCMinutes/AANCminutes.html
  Richard O moved Doug B seconded to approve minutes. Passed.
  4. Treasurer's report - Richard - see 200804treasRptAANC.pdf
  SFSU (San Fran State Univ)
  We have issue with Franchise Tax Board and may need to pay $200 penalty/fine for lapse of requirement.
  AANC Awards nominations - Walt - award presentation will be at Fremont Peak Star-B-Q. Nominations listed in item B
  Membership Renewal Headway - Walt, Richard - list above in Treasurer's report indicates we have most traditional members up to date. Need to get CSM on board as members. Other potential members: Discovery Museum Challenger Learning Ctr. Alan G moved, Mike P seconded that we make Scope City honorary AANC member for this year.
  Astronomy Day May 10 - Ken http://aanc-astronomy.org/AstroDay.html
  Yosemite Glacier Point Summer Weekends are posted - Ken http://aanc-astronomy.org/yosemite.html
  State Parks situation - Walt, Doug, anyone else - Letter about parks was on computer that fried. Walt will send draft letter to aanc-contacts list.
  a. Night Sky Network/Project Astro/IYA2008/ASP - Vivian/Marni/Ken - Congratulations to Ken for new job at ASP. NSN is busy preparing for IYA- International Year of Astronomy. Plan to have telecon once per month. Telecon coming up on May 7 Dr. Lynn Cominsky from Sonoma State U. in conjunction with upcoming Supernova toolkit release.
  b. FPOA Star B Q (Aug 2) and AANC involvement - Doug
  AANC wanted to be more involved.
  How much time will we need to cover what topics during the program in the amphitheater?
  Awards takes about 15 min
  Astronomical Trivia quiz is really good
  Have we any suggestions for an engaging speaker?
  AANC (Ken, ...) may be able to suggest good speakers
  Can we offer names of people to help with: raffle, setup, organizing activities for kids, photography, running the astronomical-gastronomical contest, cleanup or other assistance?
  Ken will help with gastronomical contest.
  AANC can help with promotional messages to member clubs. Richard O is willing to be point of contact for that function
  Door prizes seem pretty well taken care of in terms of coordination
  Activities for kids--if there is anyone good at that, it would be great. Walt: get Galileo telescopes from Learning Technologies and have kids put them together and take home.
  Ken: could AANC supply event photographer? Paul Hoy?
  Is there anything else you would like to do in the way of outreach?
  c. Discuss Steven Nelson's possible donation of:
  SBIG Seeing Monitor CCD box assembly, pier style 3 leg mount (biggest piece), minimal laptop, 12 V DC lead acid storage battery (in case) Please submit comments on this issue to Alan so they can hopefully be posted prior to the meeting.
  Tim Brothers wrote:
  We at SF State would be interested in the equipment. Especially, since we intend on building a remote observatory. Has anyone used one of these before, likes/dislikes?
  Richard Ozer wrote
  That may be the perfect solution. SF State would be a very worthy recipient and perhaps you could also make the equipment to other bay area clubs and institutions who wish to gather data. We'll discuss this further.
  If SFSU is willing to coordinate loaning to AANC groups interested in borrowing, then this would be great idea.
  Some clubs have telescope loaner programs. If inquiry from someone to doanate a telescope comes up, they can be referred to local club that has loaner program.
  d. Discuss possible meeting location other than Chabot. No other candidate host came forth.
  e. Club Insurance - see item H message from Rich Neuschaefer. Richard and Walt offered to make inquiryabout current possibilities for aggregate group insurance. Doug B: there is NIAC in Santa Cruz. Hartford serves FPOA. SCAC-Chris Angelo. Risk pool as museum, nonprofit building coverage is not right kind of insurance. Directors and officers have deeper pockets than the clubs themselves, in case of lawsuits. Getting some deal that was $300-$500/year per club.
  f. Kepler Exoplanet Star Wheel - http://kepler.nasa.gov/ed/starwheel/ - part of Uncle Al's Star Wheels.
  7. Club reports and website updates Please send to: adgould@comcast.net
  Dirk: Lunar Eclipse event at Randall Museum, coinciding with SFAA general membership meeting. A large crowd of SFAA members and the general public enjoyed live views of the lunar eclipse. A crew from KQED's QUEST science program filmed the event, which will be aired on KQED Channel 9 on Tuesday, April 29th at 7:30pm. This was followed by two talks on "Moonology" given by SFAA members John Dillon and Michael Portuesi
  Mt Tam program starts up in May.
  9. Adjourn 11:30. Next meeting date: June 22nd, Location Chabot, unless otherwise amended.
  President, SFA submits the following nominations for the AANC Awards on behalf of the SFAA:
  - We would like to nominate Richard Ozer for the Special Award for his work with the Telescope Maker Workshop at the Chabot Space & Science Center. The TMW at Chabot started in 1967 and is one of just a handful of regularly scheduled telescope making classes in the country - organized by volunteers - that enables people without special expertise to grind, polish, and finish their owns mirrors
  - We would also like to endorse Andy Fraknoi's recommendation of Suzie Gurton for the Professional Awards
  HansWeiste - 1800destiny Curved Spiders (Company in Pleasanton)
  Alan Gould, Barbara Arrighi, Dave Harris, Dirk Lammerts, Ed Pieret, Liede Marie Haitsma, John Dillon, Ken Frank, Len Nelson, Mike Koop, Mike Portuesi, Rich Neuschaefer, Richard Ozer, Vivian White, Walt Heiges.
  MDAS- Outreach/Jim Head is going strong each month; library display/Liede-Marie Haitsma has been set-up in Brentwood; tabling was take place on April 19th at Mitchell Canyon on Mount Diablo; and June 14th at Borges Ranch on the Mount Diablo foothills of off Castle Rock Park.
  MDOA- Work continues on the Warming Room.
  SFAA Recent and Upcoming events - Dirk Lammerts
  - Annual Awards Dinner at Delancey Street Restaurant (across the street from the Giant's ballpark). Awards handed out in the categories: astrophotography, writing, and astronomy art
  - Public City Star Party at Land's End/San Francisco
  - Lunar Eclipse event at Randall Museum, coinciding with SFAA general membership meeting. A large crowd of SFAA members and the general public enjoyed live views of the lunar eclipse. A crew from KQED's QUEST science program filmed the event, which will be aired on KQED Channel 9 on Tuesday, April 29th at 7:30pm. This was followed by two talks on "Moonology" given by SFAA members John Dillon and Michael Portuesi
  - Members only viewing night on Mt. Tamalpais
  - General Membership meeting at the Randall Museum with lecture given by Dan Machholz on "Celebration of the Messier Marathon"
  - Messier Marathon at members only viewing night on Mt. Tamalpais
  - Public City Star Party with highly interactive and entertaining lecture by Vivian White on "Exploring the Solar System" at the Randall Museum
  - SFAA Newsletter features the first article by SFAA member Jim Cottle ("Looking 40 Years Back Toward the Moon") in a series of articles celebrating the journey to the Moon 40 years ago. Additional articles over the next 15 months will chronicle the steps of the Apollo missions leading up the Moon landing July 20th, 1969
  - General Membership meeting at the Randall Museum with a lecture given by Nick Kanas on "Star Maps: History, Artistry and Cartography"
  - General membership meeting at the Randall Museum, with Andrew Westphal speaking about "Stardust: The First Solid Sample Return Mission from Beyond the Moon"
  - Members only viewing nights to be held at Mt. Tamalpais twice this month - one at the beginning of the month, the other at the end of the month, officially counting as the June Mt. Tam event
  - Public City Star Party to be held at Land's End/San Francisco
  - First 2008 Mt. Tamalpais Public City star party to be held. Lecture by Philip Duffy on "Climate Change: Observational Evidence, the Role of Humans and Societal Impacts"
  - General membership meeting at the Randall Museum, with Janet Luhmann speaking about "Space Weather"
  - SFAA night at Fremont Peak on June 6th/7th
  - Public City Star Party and lecture to be held during the daytime at the Randall Museum, solar observing, sundial making and celebration of the summer solstice
  - Mt. Tamalpais Public City Star Party to be held. Lecture by Lynda William on "Space Ecology: The Final Frontier of Environmentalism"
  Subject: Hercules Stargazers Report
  Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:33:11
  Stargaze April 5, 2008 -- Since the sky was a thin overcast with small clearings, only Mark and Dave showed up at first, around 8 p.m. However, with two 10" Dobs and a 10x30 IS binocular we managed to view Saturn and Titan, the Orion Nebula (great through the OIII filter), Mars, the Pleiades, the Hyades, plus several bright stars including Sirius, Capella and Betelgeuse. Around 9 p.m., a first-time visitor, Mike from Hercules arrived, and we all then re-viewed the above objects plus the Winter Hexagon, M37, M81 and M82, and the Big Dipper and Leo. We realized the sky would not allow us to see any further objects, so we packed up the scopes around 10 p.m., but before leaving Mark and Dave made suggestions to Mike about his 5" Newtonian, and discussed eyepieces, finders, and aperture. Mike took our latest recycled program flyer, light pollution hand-out, and a "Getting Started in Astronomy" brochure from Sky and Telescope, and then we all left around 10:40 p.m.
  Next Stargaze -- May 10, Astronomy Day, possibly with a school group.
  After that -- May 31, June 28, July 26.
  To AANC Board-
  Recognizing AANC's desire for greater involvement in co-sponsoring this year's Star-B-Que--as discussed in the last AANC board meeting--the FPOA Board would like to start coordinating this year's event with you. We'd like to know what outreach activities you'd like to include in the agenda and how AANC might contribute to putting on the event. Let's add this as an agenda topic for the next AANC board meeting. Meanwhile, I'll propose/ask the following.
  As usual, FPOA will coordinate the program; arrange for meat, drinks, coolers, condiments, and grills; provide and set up the PA system and AV system; put on the observing program; and clean up. Some of the areas we'd like to jointly plan or request AANC assistance with include:
  1. How much time will you need to cover what topics during the program in the amphitheater?
  2. Have you any suggestions for an engaging speaker?
  3. Can you offer names of people to help with: raffle, setup, organizing activities for kids, photography, running the astronomical-gastronomical contest, cleanup or other assistance?
  4. Is there anything else you would like to do in the way of outreach?
  From: "Rich Neuschaefer"
  To: aanc-board
  Subject: Insurance for AANC member clubs
  Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:39:55
  Dear AANC Board:
  Rob Hawley, SJAA President, and I were talking about the AANC a few days ago. He asked if the AANC would be interested in trying to get club liability insurance as a group (AANC member clubs)?
  Currently, the SJAA is buying club liability insurance as an individual club.
  Even though we have an excellent safety record, finding a carrier can be difficult and the cost is quite high because we are just one club.
  Rob was thinking that if we were buying insurance as a part of a group of clubs that it may reduce the cost of the premium as well as making it easier to find a carrier.
  I think this would be a real a real benefit of belonging to the AANC.
  If it's not too late maybe this issue can be put on the April meeting agenda?
  Richard Neuschaefer
  Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:05:38
  Could we at least get a show of hands at our April meeting to see many of the AANC member clubs would be interested in buying insurance as a group?
  >Christopher's question
  Given the litigious state we live in I would strongly recommend that any organization that deals with the public have a general liability policy. If you have title to land I double that recommendation. Unless you have employees I would skip the director's insurance the agent will also push. That only covers you when dealing with your non-existent employees.
  >Regarding the idea of mine that Rich is passing along
  SJAA has a general liability policy and we are very happy with the carrier. It provides reasonable coverage for all of the activities of the club. The policy is well written. I have used the policy to allay the fears of some schools we deal with.
  Our business is so small that the policy always contains an "other charges" to bring it up to the minimum policy cost. A larger group can generally get a better rate. We would need to do that in a manner that did not turn AANC into an insurance reseller or turn us all into Lloyd's "names" for our sister clubs.
  There is a large element of brainstorming to this. This entire idea may not be workable. However, if we can save all of the clubs a couple of hundred dollars and not burden AANC it seems worthy of a phone call.
  Rob Hawley President SJAA
  It can kind of work that way. Basically, there are two types of insurance... general liability policies for group events, and property insurance to protect club assets. The latter tends to be quite expensive and is well beyond the scope of anything the AANC can do.
  General liability is used to insure the individuals participating in a group event, any claim against those individuals, and any action by those individuals that results in the destruction of property.
  In order for the owners of an observing site to be covered, they merely need to be named as "additional insured" under the policy. This is standard procedure with any type of "special event" or club insurance.
  The FPOA Business Liability policy categorizes us into the risk class, ""MUSEUM: NON PROFIT, WITH BUILDING COVERAGE". So, we're definitely not lumped in with the bicycle, ski and wind surfing clubs.
  Someone raised the topic of Directors and Officers insurance. I'll point out that while employment coverage is usually included, a D&O policy covers more than just that. You need D&O because claims will be made against the company, AND against the directors of the company. Since a director can be held personally responsible for acts of the company, many directors and officers (I'm a case in point) will demand to be protected rather than put their personal assets at stake. Keep in mind that for a typical astronomy 501(c)(3) corporation any of our directors and officers probably have deeper pockets than the corporation.
  Another common insurance type is Errors and Omissions Liability. It covers you if your client holds you responsible for errors, or the failure of your work to perform as promised in a contract. This would probably not apply to most of us.
  FPOA has been using Truex Insurance as our agent for at least a decade. 2291 W. March Ln., PO Box 7276, Stockton, CA 95267-0276 (209) 478-5023. We get our insurance--both Liability and D&O--through The Hartford, which has an Alternative Market Placement program that shops out unusual coverage to other underwriters--somewhat like a broker--but puts their name on the policy. A resource to consider is the Nonprofits' Insurance Alliance of California, PO Box 8507, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-8507 (800) 359-6422, http://www.niac.org
  Next Meeting will be 2008 Aug 17, 10 am at Chabot
  AANC 2008 June 22 Minutes
  1. Call to order 10:20 am Walt
  2. Roll call: Alan Gould, Dirk Lammerts, Ed Pieret, Liede Marie Haitsma, John Dillon, Ken Frank, Mike Portuesi, Richard Ozer, , Walt Heiges
  Guests: Doug Brown (FPOA), Cecilia Yarnel (Sonoma County Astro Society)
  3. Approve minutes http://aanc-astronomy.org/minutes Minutes not approved due to dead link. Walt will coordinate with Alan and Richard to see if there is any way we can spread the website maintenance load to help Alan.
  4. Treasurer's report – Richard
  Stockton dues received.
  Checking: $2540.78
  Total Current AANC funds: $7659.66
  Report on Activity since April 2008 (MS Word doc)
  A. AANC Awards Tally & Nominations - Walt/Ken/Alan
  Winner: Jim Head - MDAS nominated MDAS Outreach Representative. 4 votes. [Alan – Leide will send you write-up of nomination by email]
  Richard Ozer - Nominated by SFAA. 3 votes
  Steve Gottleib – Nominated by GFST organizing committee. 0 votes. [Alan – Richard Ozer will send you write-up of nomination by email]
  Winner: Suzie Gurton (nee Chippendale) - Andy Fraknoi nominated and SFAA endorsed. Unanimous
  Chris Hulbe - Walt (SVAS) nominated. Sacramento City College and Sacramento State U. [Alan – Walt will send you write-up of nomination by email]
  Winner: Telescope Makers' Workshop at the Chabot Space & Science Center.- Nominated by SFAA . Unanimous. After the vote Richard said this will provide a critical boost to TMW; they really can use community support right now.
  Winner: Hans Wiest – 1800 destiny Curved Spiders (Company in Pleasanton) GFST nomination. Unanimous
  B. Fall Astronomy Day October 4th - http://aanc-astronomy.org/AstroDay.html. Ken has coordinated with CSM. Ed recommended that day because it is 1st quarter moon, after the start of school year, and also the 51st anniversary of the Sputnik launch
  C. FPOA/AANC Star-B-Que and AANC Awards - Doug/Ken
  Walt will prepare awards per voting results above.
  Ken will help with Star-B-Que write-up, and will contact Vivian and Susie to see if they can help with kid's activities. Volunteers still needed for: raffle, setup, photography, cleanup and other. Please contact Doug_Brown at AMAT dot com if you can help.
  A. Night Sky Network/Project Astro/IYA2008/ASP-AAS Con - Vivian/Marni/Ken
  Ken reported on ASP/AAS convention. Lots of very active participation. Marnie and Vivian did great presentations. Each month in 2009 will have a theme with featured objects. Deborah Lazar-Perl from Chicago library got 3 telescopes from Orion and a manual and a 4 hour class which they lend out for a week. If you want more info, let Ken know.
  B. Other agenda items and announcements:
  Chabot 125th year celebration June 21, http://www.chabotspace.org/125th/
  CAS Opening: Academy of Science in the new building on September 27th,
  http://calacademy.org/visit/
  Ken Frank reported on events, including Olympian who lead off with an Olympic-style relay featuring a Meade OTA torch!
  Skipped, due to lack of time. Send reports to adgould at comcast.net *
  Ed Peret moved, Richard Ozer second, 11:04
  Next meeting date: Aug 17th at Chabot
  Hercules Stargazers Club Report - Submitted by Dave Harris
  May 10, 2008 -- The Astronomy Day Stargaze. This evening we conducted a school group program. Elizabeth B., a sixth-grade teacher at Adams Middle School in Richmond, brought three students and one set of parents. We started a little late, around 9:00 p.m., but we did the orientation, telescope demo, sky tour, viewing through the scopes, and a slide show. There were four scopes, including two 10" Dobs, a 13" Dob, a 10" Meade S-C, and a few binoculars, with a pair of 15x60's on a mount. There were four Stargazer volunteers besides myself, and we had about 6 other visitors besides the school group.
  The views included M13, M92, the Beehive Cluster, Saturn, Mars, and the moon. The loudest "wows" were for binocular views of the moon and telescopic views of Saturn. The slide show was a compilation of a few previous slide groups, and was well-received. After a few questions, we packed up around 11:30 p.m. The volunteers agreed it was a success.
  May 31, 2008 -- The sky this night was full of thin, patchy clouds, and did not offer many viewing possibilities, but after checking it out with the binoculars I set up my 10" Dob around 8:45 p.m. One additional Stargazer volunteer had brought his binoculars too, and starting around 9:05 p.m. we managed to spot Procyon, Castor, Pollux, and Saturn. A little later we found most of Leo, the Dipper, Polaris, Spica, a few stars in Hercules, and Vega. Another Stargazer volunteer arrived with a friend new to astronomy, and the rest of the time we discussed scopes, optics, and dark skies. I provided his friend with a program flyer, a brochure on getting started in astronomy, and a sheet on light pollution. Since the sky did not improve, we left around 10:25 p.m.
  Our next Stargazes at Foxboro Park in Hercules are June 28, July 26, and August 23. See you there!
  MDAS Outreach is now over for the summer and there were plenty of schools for Outreach events; some were cancelled due to cloudy skies but the majority that occurred were well attended; Jim Head did a great job again this year and we look forward to September to begin again. Public Nights have been (also) well attended. The Warming Room on the Lower Summitt on Mt. Diablo will soon be ready for official use for Astronomy Outreach.
  Liede-Marie Haitsma/VP
  MDAS Rep for AANC
  GSSP Nomination for AANC Amateur Award 2008 - Steve Gottlieb is a renowned Bay Area amateur observer who has looked at more than 7000 of the NGC and IC objects. His observations are a significant portion of the NGC/IC project, a collaboration of accomplished amateur observers that's designed to clarify or correct problems in the NGC and IC catalogs.
  Aside from being an incredibly kind and generous person, Steve is an accomplished High School Math and Science teacher whose students have demonstrated a passion for Asronomy long after their graduation.
  Steve is also a frequent speaker at Bay Area astronomy clubs, has provided observing lists to numerous star parties and has participated as a lecturer at GSSP, AANC conventions, and elsewhere.
  Steve has been published in The Deep Sky Observer, Sky and Telescope, Night Sky Magazine, Orion's DeepMap 600, the Night Sky Observing Guide, Astronomy Magazine and others.
  Barbara Arrighi, Doug Brown, John Dillon, Dean Drumheller, Ken Frank, Alan Gould, Liede Marie Haitsma, Dave Harris, Walt Heiges, Mike Koop, Dirk Lammerts, Larry McCune, Len Nelson, Rich Neuschaefer, Richard Ozer, Ed Pieret, Mike Portuesi, Cecilia Yarnel
  AANC 2008 Aug 17 Minutes
  1. Call to order 10:14 am Walt/Ken
  Dean Drumheller, Ken Frank, Alan Gould, Liede Marie Haitsma, Dave Harris, Walt Heiges, Larry McCune, Richard Ozer, Ed Pieret, Mike Portuesi
  Ken moved, Liede-Marie seconded to approve minutes. Passed.
  4. Treasurer's report - Richard - PDF
  Activity Since 5/22/2008 (8/17/2008 Report)
  Beginning Balance 2,540.78$
  Funds Disbursed 342.17$
  C&T - Awards 321.09
  Walt Heiges 21.08
  Revenue Collected -$
  Ending Balance 2,198.61$
  Checking 2,198.61$
  Franklin Templeton 5,164.31$
  Total Assets 7,362.92$
  Some discussion of having money earn more interest.
  A. FPOA Star B Q and AANC Awards Wrap-Up - Doug/Ken
  Photos by Dave Samuels and Mojo can be found here: http://www.fpoa.net/
  We thank Dave Samuals and Morris Jones for these photos.
  We earned $1700. They are just about even.
  Ken and Richard suggest having awards BEFORE the raffle.
  Andy Newton's group at Hartnell college is shaping up nicely. They get kids involved who would normally taking other courses like autobody, cosmetology and take space science instead. Going to 4-year colleges; getting degrees.
  Richard O won the book--- by Peter Jenniskens---about origins of meteor showers. Used cardboard planes to illustrate intersections of orbits.
  Mike P said it was a very well-run event. Like clockwork. Thanks to Doug Brown on how well it was run.
  Richard: One complaint--Layout of awards had defect -- plaque not well nailed down to wood and engraving uneven.
  B. CAS Opening: Academy of Science in the new building on September 27th and 28th
  http://calacademy.org/visit/ - Dirk
  Ken: If you go to sfaa-astronomy.org for latest newsletter, there is call for volunteers for opening weekend of Cal Academy. To get involved contact academyevent@sfaa-astronomy.org
  Bring club fliers and membership info to SFAA booth. Ken's trying to get free entry into the museum.
  A. Night Sky Network/Project Astro/IYA2008 - Vivian/Marni/Ken
  Gearing up--each month starting Nov there will be an activity--a speaker/webcast. e.g. LCROSS mission to the Moon.
  Idea: with 3 telescopes from Orion can support "100 hours of astronomy"
  John Dobson in town starting Monday night. Ukranian visitors will be with him. Going to Lick, then SFSA meeting; other things.
  B. Ken suggests a permanent Fall Astronomy Day http://aanc-astronomy.org/AstroDay.html
  Using same calculation as normal Astronomy Day 1st qrtr Moon weekend. This year Oct 4.
  No objections to having it permanent.
  C. Tom Harris of MDAS wants to know how other clubs did and will do at Glacier Point.
  Please send Alan links to your Yosemite and while we're at it Total Solar Eclipse photos for all to share.
  That's what the AANC is all about!
  Walt: SVAS had good representation there and had a bleast
  Ken: went with San Jose club. 100 to 200 people left this year for various reasons
  Larry: Sonoma County had very clear air there and a very nice observing session.
  Alan: Eclipse from Novosibirsk, Siberia was great. It was dicey with cloudy weather for days before and lightning strom the night before. But the day of eclipse cleared nicely. Sky became especially dark during elipse and Mercury was very bright. Venus dazzling. Sun's corona fantastic.
  Larry: Lin Anderson saw eclipse from China
  D. Check out the Featured Club Newsletter: http://www.eastbayastro.org/2008/0807/2008-07.pdf
  Ken: this has lots of interesting info and news of events.
  Walt SVAS went from monthly to every other month is going to online only. Many clubs are moving that way. Saves money, trees, CO2 emissions from mailing, ....
  Mike: SFAA still gives a small number of printed editions to certain members.
  Some clubs have newsletter in members-only area. E-mail is sent out to notify members.
  Larry: Sonoma is considering ahving premium membership dues for those wanting hard copy edition of newsletter. BTW: Next Saturday is Sonoma StarBQ at Ferguson Observatory about 6 mi north of Kenwood. They're builing a 40" telescope.
  Fri Aug 29, SCAS and SFAA will have mini-Messier event.
  Radio show at San Mateo, live, on astronomy, current events, what's in the night sky. Use 20" telescope to target objects of interest and post them on Internet. Google CSM Astronomy and find Resources page.
  Thanks to NASA Kepler mission for providing telecon service.
  Larry: Striking Sparks is starting of for this year. Seeking sponsors to sponsor telescopes for $200/telescope. Richard: we need written request for grant.
  Ken: ASP is going to hold 2009 meeting in Sept at Westin at SFO airport Sep 12-17. AANC Conference mighty be able to be tag-on to ASP conference.
  Walt: City of Davis may be able to host AANC conference. No date in mind. Last big Davis Starshow was at end of Aug. Davis has been good at tyring to maintain dark skies. International Year of Astronomy is 2009. Richard: we need to make decision on which venue to pursue. There are compelling reason to have Central Valley conference: SVAS involvement, getting new people involved in astronomy, Stockton....
  Ken: UC Merced. Perhaps we can pursue both ideas.
  E. Tentative Meeting Dates for 2009
  Feb 8, Apr 5, Jun 7, Aug 9, Oct 4, Dec 6.
  Richard moved; Liede-Marie seconded to accept those mtg dates. Passed.
  8. Adjourn 11:15 (Richard moved, Dave seconded)
  Next meeting date: October 12th, Location Chabot, unless otherwise amended.
  7A. MDAS Club Report (2008 Aug 12). Liede-Marie Haitsma
  MDAS Rep. for AANC Mount Diablo Astronomical Society: The Warming Room on Mt. Diablo is finally running with lights working at Public Night on August 2nd, everything went fine and it's first lecture was given inside. Everyone enjoyed the evening with wonderful viewing. Jim Head is beginning to get calls from teachers for the upcoming school year and outreach events; in September outreach programs will begin.
  7B. Hercules Stargazers Report (2008 Aug 16) Foxboro Park, Hercules, Ca. Submitted by Dave Harris
  June 28, 2008 Stargaze -- A very hazy sky from the California wildfires obscured all but the very brightest objects. I began scanning the sky with binoculars around 8:40 p.m. Saturn was barely visible, and after another hour I was able to spot only Vega, Arcturus, and most of the Big Dipper. As I was leaving, Steve pulled up, and we discussed the sky at the park, and some alternative locations for the Stargazes, but didn't reach any conclusions. We left around 10:40 p.m., just after Jupiter became visible behind some trees.
  July 26, 2008 Stargaze -- This proved to be a much better evening. The sky was clear and the haze almost non-existant. By 9 p.m. we had four scopes set up, which included Mark's 20", Timo's 13.1", my 10" and 10x30 IS binoculars, and Ernie's Televue 85. Tom, without a scope, checked out the views through all of them.
  We observed Jupiter and its moons, the Ring Nebula, M13, the double Albireo, the Veil Nebula, the double Alpha Hercules, open cluster IC 4665, and several bright meteors which may have been from the Capricornids. Steve arrived with his bright light saber and helped point out some objects. Around 10:45 p.m. a new observer, Brian, arrived and set up his Celestron 80. Now, with five scopes and binoculars, we continued our viewing with M7, M6, M8, M16, M17, M11, The Dumbell Nebula, M81 and M82. Jupiter was high and clear, with Io and Europa further apart. Then we looked at the Andromeda Galaxy and the Double Cluster in Perseus.
  At 12:30 a.m. we packed up the scopes. Before leaving, Mark and I reviewed the evening's highlights, and discussed publicity for the Stargazes, which at the moment does not seem to be enough. We left the park at 1:15 a.m.
  Our remaining Stargazes for 2008 are August 23, September 27, October 25, and November 22.
  Barbara Arrighi, Doug Brown, John Dillon, Dean Drumheller, Ken Frank, Alan Gould, Liede Marie Haitsma, Dave Harris, Walt Heiges, Mike Koop, Dirk Lammerts, Larry McCune, Len Nelson, Richard Ozer, Ed Pieret, Mike Portuesi, Mark Wagner, Ray Wong, Cecilia Yarnel
  AANC 2008 Oct 12 Minutes
  1. Call to order Walt/Ken 10:07am
  Ken Frank, Alan Gould, Liede Marie Haitsma, Walt Heiges, Mark Wagner, Richard Ozer, Ed Pieret, Mike Portuesi, Ray Wong, Dean Drumheller, John Dillon
  Richard moved, Dean seconded to approve minutes. Passed.
  Activity Since 8/17/2008 (10/11/2008 Report)
  Beginning Balance $2,198.61
  Funds Disbursed -$0
  Revenue Collected -$0
  Ending Balance $2,198.61
  Checking $2,198.61
  Franklin Templeton $5,172.23$
  Total Assets $7,370.84
  A Academy of Science wrap-up – Dirk
  Photos: http://www.planitarium.net/sfaa/cas/opening/saturday/
  Last Saturday was grand opening for the public. Everything is up and running. lots of people and a good event.
  A. Did anyone image Faustini and surrounding craters for LCROSS Mission?
  Dean took a video. Will send to Brian Day. Ken sent Dean info about how to find craters.
  http://mail.aanc-astronomy.org/pipermail/contacts/2008-October/000877.html
  24th year of the Sonoma County Astronomical Society's (SCAS) annual "Striking Sparks"
  telescope program. Larry McCune would like our support. Larry wrote:
  The Sonoma County Astronomical Society (SCAS) sponsors the annual Striking Sparks Telescope Awards Program. This will be the 24th year with over 220 telescopes awarded to Sonoma County students. The purpose of the program is to promote science education and interest in astronomy. Our programâs goal is to strike other sparks of interest in Sonoma County students. Applicants must attend one or more SCAS Young Astronomers meetings or the Robert Ferguson Observatory and write an essay about their interest in astronomy.
  There is an opportunity for AANC to sponsor a telescope for the 2009 program. We are just kicking off the 2009 STRIKING SPARKS TELESCOPE PROGRAM and plan to award 6 telescopes on March 20, 2009. The applications were sent to the Sonoma County school teachers this week. We would be glad to have AANC sponsor a telescope and participate in this worthwhile program as you have in the past. The cost to sponsor a Striking Sparks telescope is $200.
  I attached a copy of the entry application for your information
  Contact Larry McCune, Striking Sparks Coordinator at: llmccune@comcast.net {encoded address}
  Ken moved that AANC give $200 to Striking Sparks to sponsor a telescope for the coming year. Richard seconded. Motion passed.
  C. A I R "Astronomy Internet Radio" and the history of AR at CSM – Dean Drumheller—Started an astronomy radio show from Oregon and had bandwidth problem. Will try again to do internet radio show. Take photos live with 20" scope and post on internet. Target audience is amateur astronomers. Working on planetarium show too that will feature live images from observatory. Tue-Thur from 10-12 there is live image of the Sun. http://collegeofsanmateo.edu/astronomy Community Sky Search
  D. Night Sky Network/Project Astro/IYA2009 - Vivian/Marni/Ken—http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov— Click on Access NSN Activities and NASA Amateur Resources. Lots of great stuff.
  E. Lisa Cudal of Orion posed a question about website advertising. Proposal from Orion. See full message below
  Issues: Does AANC need the money? How much money would it make? Do we want to open the door to choosing what vendors to permit ads? We could offer to have an ad or logo by the companies listing on the Resource page if they become member.
  Alan: Move that we establish new membership category: Commercial member. $50/year. Commercial member has the right to have ad/logo placed by their entry on the Resources page. Ray seconded. Motion passed.
  F. Check out the Featured Club Newsletter:
  http://www.svas.org/uploads/media/SEPT_OCT_SVAS_V3B.pdf
  Consensus is that SVAS newletter is superb example of club newsletter.
  G. 2009 Conference
  Should we have one in the first place?
  1. Form a committee to plan the conference/forum
  2. Jim Manning's primary concerns are:
  How large a room do we need for our meeting (~ 150 participants)?
  for: workshops/ breakout sessions i.e. imaging and CCD workshops.
  2. Catering needs?
  3. Our own registration separate from ASP and coordination?
  4. Jim M. suggested possible full registration ($420) includes membership in ASP, full
  access to all presentations and copy of proceedings...remember, this is ONLY ideas
  being formulated...not written in stone. Hotel accommodations at the Burlingame Westin for
  single or double occupancy is at the ASP rate of $165/night.
  5. Volunteer possibilities and benefits under discussion:
  Davis (hosted by Davis Star Party folks),
  SF (hosted by ASP—part of ASP annual conference).
  Conference would be in conjunction with IYA.
  Richard: successful AANC conferences are in conjunction with another event or organization.
  Ken: There is advantage to having in Bay Area associated ASP for the draw value. They have hotel and venue set up. The 2009 ASP conference will be held in the San Francisco Bay Area at the Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel, 1 Old Bayshore Highway in Millbrae, California. Disadvantage: ASP suggested that AANC members do a full registration. AANC can offer volunteers and bring in vendors. CalStar is within a week of this date.
  Richard: Suggests a team of AANC people go talk to the ASP folks to discuss details.
  Walt: maybe we could gear up for event at Davis in 2011.
  Jim Manning (ASP Exec Dir) wants to get more ASP members and have ASP conference attendees.
  Alan: Money-making is not necessarily the primary purpose of the conference. We could view the AANC event as the amateur astronomy room for a day, fully integrated with the ASP conference as a whole.
  Richard moves we proceed to expore relationship with ASP for conference next year. Mark seconded. Motion passed.
  Ken, Richard, Alan volunteer to be on team to explore the relationship. Michael vounteered to do the website.
  8. OR, do we want a possible Central Valley or Bay Area conference/Forum on our own?
  An excellent model of what we might possibly envision for 2009 is AstroCon 2004:
  http://astrocon2004.aanc-astronomy.org/
  Alan's handy dandy guidelines for hosting a conference:
  John Dobson had planned to be back in San Francisco on Oct 14th as he does each fall. Unfortunately, he fell and broke a toe. His doctor recommended that he not travel for several weeks. John will not come to SF the rest of this year. Should you like to write John, please do so c/o The Vedanta Society, 1946 Vedanta Place, Los Angeles, CA 90068 or send an email message to him: sidewalkastronomers at earthlink.net
  8. Adjourn 11:44 (Ken moved, Richard seconded)
  Next meeting date: Dec 14, Location Chabot, unless otherwise amended.
  7A. MDAS Club Report
  2008 Oct 5. Liede-Marie Haitsma
  MDAS Rep. for AANC Mount Diablo Astronomical Society: The last Public Night for MDAS was on October 4th drawing only about 25-30 visitors; there was a huge cloud covering the top of Mount Diablo that didn't move and grew progressively clouder and darker, thus Marni Berendsen and several visitors left early. School has started, and Jim Head has begun to set-up Outreach programs, with several per month.
  7B. Hercules Stargazers Report (2008 nnn) Foxboro Park, Hercules, Ca. Submitted by Dave Harris
  Our remaining Stargazes for 2008 are October 25, and November 22.
  7C. SFAA activities, Dirk Lammerts 2008 Oct 10
  -SFAA was at Yosemite Glacier Point on July 11-12.
  -SFAA provided telescopes for the Mt. Tamalpais State Park public star party on July 12, August 9 and September 6. Member only viewing nights at Mt. Tamalpais were on July 5, August 2, August 30 and September 27.
  -The SFAA City Star parties at Lands End were held July 26 and August 23. The September City Star Party was held at the Randall Museum and included a lecture by Jorge Morales who spoke about telescope design.
  -The general member meeting in July featured a lecture on "The Role of Gravity in Astronomy" by Dr. Claire Chapin, Merritt College. In August the lecture "Space Ecology: The Final Frontier of Environmentalism" was presented by Lynda Williams, SRJC Physics Instructor. In September the lecture "SOFIA: NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy" by Dana Bachman, SOFIA, NASA Ames
  -SFAA participated in an overnight solar eclipse event at the Exploratorium with telescopes, mirror grinding demos and an info table on the night of July 31.
  -SFAA and the Sonoma County Astronomical Society participated in a Mini-Messier Marathon at Lake Sonoma on August 29.
  -SFAA held its annual Star-B-Q at Mt. Tamalpais on September 27.
  -SFAA had a great presence at the new California Academy of Science Grand Opening Weekend, September 27-28. We drew big crowds with multiple solar scopes, educational demonstrations on supernova and galaxy distance scales based on the Night Sky Network toolkits, did mirror grinding demonstrations, and had many great talks about astronomy, telescopes, and the SFAA in general.