SOUTH SHORE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

MEETING AGENDA

April 1, 2009

7:30 PM

 

16 members & 1 guest present

 

PRESENTATION

John Horrigan of Watertown, MA, New England History Festival, proposes a local “AstroFest” day-night festival with sound system, with music, some weekend in August (2009)

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

    1.  International Year of Astronomy 100 hours of Astronomy - Bill Luzader

         Plymouth Public Schools 7:00 – 8:30 pm (cancellation posted at planetarium web site and office phone – 508-830-4470 – by 5:30 pm on each evening)

         April 2nd Hedge School

         April 3rd Indian Brook School

         April 4th South Elementary School

 

    2.  Plymouth Library Presentation & Blake Planetarium – Bill Luzader

         April 6 at 7 pm in theatre

         8 pm telescopes at PCIS entrance (Moon & Saturn)

 

    3.  Astronomy Day – May 2, 2009 – Louis Gentile & Bill Luzader

         Louis prepared posters to advertise the event

         Bruce Lewis will play the piano (Bill Luzader will find list of astronomy songs); with small scopes put up pictures of Moon and planets for the walls of the library; ‘coloring book’ of astronomy objects from Mal MacDonald (will check with library about copying and crayons), Rolf Egon will have meteoroties

     

    4.  Whitman Library Viewing – Steve Zulon

         Postponed until autumn

 

    5.  Outreach Club – Paul Grueter

         Passed out papers with a listing of events to members who have participated in programs for the public, asked members to add any unlisted events for the

 

    6.  Telescope Donation – Paul Grueter

         Will not be ready for Astronomy Day – later in the spring

 

    7.  SSAS Bulletin Board – Paul Grueter

         Not being used much….

 

    8.  Yahoo Group for the club – Bruce Lewis

         Is the membership interested in forming a yahoo discussion group.

         Look into a subgroup of the group – more discussion led to suggested use of club email for ‘conversations’ among members or responding to requests

 

    9.  Treasurer’s report as of 3/31/09 balance of $1,849.00 – Chuck McCarthy

         Nine people who have not paid dues from last year. Suggested that he send email to these people to request status.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

    1.  Viewing Dates – 100 Hours – April 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 6th (Plymouth).

 

    2.  Regular Viewing – April 18th & 25th

 

    3.  Steve Zulon will be in hospital at the end of April – will be recovering for a few weeks after.

 

    4.  PCIS observatory – thanks to Bill Cloherty for helping to move telescope and observatory into school courtyard and the construction of a base to support the telescope in the observatory; planning other work days: Saturdays April 4 & 18, Tuesday (21) & Thursday (22) (evenings to test telescope and dome connection)

 

    5.  Double star Astronomical League Certificate questions – Bruce Lewis

 

ADJOURN 8:45 pm