From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Sat Dec 1 16:29:35 2001 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Another Star Party Message-ID: FYI, I got this from Mark Wagner. I'm inclined to turn down the offer since we are so far away. I think other clubs might be better set up to handle this. Mike Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 13:20:23 -0800 From: Mark Wagner To: koopm@best.com Subject: Star Party for SJAA? Hey Mike... The Lassen Star Party is moving out of Lassen Park next year. A group is working with Shasta County to host a new star party at the Shingletown Airport. 1/2 mile of basically abandoned runway at over 4,000 ft on 2 miles out of Shingletown on hwy 44. If it can be arranged, this will be a HUGE improvement since we would be able to leave our equipment set up and camp on site, hopefully. It also means access to restaurants and other services very near where we'd be obseving/camping. Would you entertain the idea of SJAA being the sponsor for this event too? As before, SJAA would need to do nothing except vote to be official sponsor and cover the event with our insurance (I feel better about saying that since I'm a member again!). We have a committee set up already, including some people involved in organizing the Davis Star Party. I think we'd bill the thing as hosted by Shasta County and the SJAA. If I can get the other organizers on board regarding the club being the host, would you (the club) be interested? Mark From north at znet.com Sun Dec 2 08:00:52 2001 From: north at znet.com (Dave North) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Another Star Party References: Message-ID: <3C0A5035.9F9EC3AC@znet.com> Mike: >>I'm inclined to turn down the offer since we are so far away. I think other clubs might be better set up to handle this.<< If my two cents counted for anything, I'd say do it. Odds are most of the folks attending would be from around here (at least at first) and this kind of service is more or less what the club is here to do. Dave From bhavner at earthlink.net Sun Dec 2 14:52:44 2001 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob Havner) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] ATM Link Message-ID: I was looking for Tom's link for the ATM class. I only found it in the Ephemeris article. Bill, could you put a link to that article on the home page. I think it would help others find out about the class. Bob Havner San Jose Astronomical Association bhavner@earthlink.net From bill at nineplanets.org Sun Dec 2 15:08:58 2001 From: bill at nineplanets.org (Bill Arnett) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] ATM Link In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <91291882-E779-11D5-AD3D-0030655A4BEC@nineplanets.org> On Sunday, December 2, 2001, at 02:52 PM, Bob Havner wrote: > I was looking for Tom's link for the ATM class. I only found it in the > Ephemeris article. Bill, could you put a link to that article on the > home > page. I think it would help others find out about the class. Done. -- Bill Arnett bill@nineplanets.org Redwood City, CA USA http://nineplanets.org/ 37 27 38 N 122 16 11 W From jane at whiteoaks.com Sat Dec 1 16:32:53 2001 From: jane at whiteoaks.com (Jane Houston Jones) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] ATM Link References: <91291882-E779-11D5-AD3D-0030655A4BEC@nineplanets.org> Message-ID: <3C0976B5.4090200@whiteoaks.com> For John Dobson's Telescope Making classes, we set up an email list for the students. Each year we add the new class to the list, and the questions the students have are answered for all to read. I think Tom is on our class email list. You might consider setting up a list for the SJAA group, or have then join our list. I'm sure some of John's students will show up in the SJAA class to finish their mirrors. This year we had one person who couldn't finish his mirror at Chabot join John's class, and other years, we have sent unfinished mirrors to Chabot. It's great to have multiple ATM resources. Jane Bill Arnett wrote: > > On Sunday, December 2, 2001, at 02:52 PM, Bob Havner wrote: > >> I was looking for Tom's link for the ATM class. I only found it in the >> Ephemeris article. Bill, could you put a link to that article on the >> home >> page. I think it would help others find out about the class. > > > Done. > > -- > Bill Arnett > bill@nineplanets.org Redwood City, CA USA > http://nineplanets.org/ 37 27 38 N 122 16 11 W > > _______________________________________________ > SJAABoard mailing list > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard -- Jane Houston Jones San Rafael, CA jane@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com From jvn at svpal.org Mon Dec 10 14:26:34 2001 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Houge Park reserved, 2002 Message-ID: <3C15369A.199E@svpal.org> HI, All, Houge Park is reserved for all of 2002. There is a possible dual-schedule on a few Thursday (ATM class), but both buildings are available, so it will work. OTOH their class may not have enough sign-ups to meet the minimum, so there may be no conflict. There's now a parks person (Ray Hidalgo, 369-1850) stationed at Houge Park, who handles reservations. His office is in the other (south) building, along with some day activities. To get in, go to the unmarked door on the east side, near the SE corner. He was worried about how we turn off the parking lot lights -- do we get into the wiring?? I explained that what we do is entirely safe. He did not have the construction schedule for the rework that is going on. But the "other" door, the one facing the parking lot, is now keyed so that we can enter there instead of wading through the mud as I did Dec.1. I should have tried it! Clear skies! -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's home page From bhavner at earthlink.net Wed Dec 12 19:16:43 2001 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob Havner) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Speaker for Feb. Meeting Message-ID: Hi all, I have confirmed Tim Thompson of NASA/JPL and the Los Angeles Astronomical Society for the Feb. meeting. He will be speaking on stellar evolution. Karin Avila will be giving a brief talk about Project Astro, about 15 min. Bob Havner San Jose Astronomical Association bhavner@earthlink.net From mojo at whiteoaks.com Sun Dec 16 20:31:14 2001 From: mojo at whiteoaks.com (Morris Jones) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Astronomy class times unknown Message-ID: Dear Board, Right now I have this item for the calendar: January 4 - Astronomy Class I, Houge Park. Time, subject, TBA If there's going to be a class announced in the Ephemeris, there really should at least be a meeting time. Could someone settle on this for me? Mojo -- Morris Jones <*> San Rafael, CA mojo@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com From jvn at svpal.org Sun Dec 16 23:58:59 2001 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Calendar material, Feb.02; class questions References: Message-ID: <3C1DA5C3.6780@svpal.org> Morris Jones wrote: > Jim, I need a February calendar. :) Oops! I'm behind myself this time. Here 'tis: MIKE: Your dates for the ATM class give Thursday dates, including Mar.8 and Apr.5, which are Fridays! Please clarify. I reserved Houge Hall for the previous dates just in case. BOB: Will the Beginner's All-Purpose Astronomy Class run at 7:30 as was done last year? I've put 7:30 below. Holler if it's not. February 2 -Sa- Deep-Sky weekend. Sset 5:35 pm, 66% moon rise 11:25 pm. 7 -Th- ATM Class I -- Houge Park. 8 pm. 8 -Fr- Astronomy Class II -- Houge Park, 7:30 pm 8 -Fr- Houge Park star party Sset 5:41 pm, 10% moon rises 5:36 am. 9 -Sa- Deep-Sky weekend. Sset 5:43 pm, 5% moon rises 6:20 am. 16 -Sa- ATM Class II -- Houge Park. 7:30 pm. 22 -Fr- Houge Park star party Sset 5:55 pm, 77% moon sets 4:05 am. 23 -Sa- General Meeting at Houge Park. Two speakers: Tim Thompson, NASA/JPL, on stellar evolution. Karin Avila, brief talk about Project Astro. OOF! That's a heavy schedule! To it add: Jan. 8 -- Meadows Elementary Jan. 17 -- San Miguel School, Sunnyvale Jan. 22 -- Steinbeck Middle, SE San Jose Jan. 23 -- Bernal Intermediate, SE San Jose Jan. 24 -- Sakamoto Elementary (3rd try) Jan. 25 -- Holy Spirit, Almaden valley Jan. 30 -- Alternate date Feb. 6 -- Alternate date Feb. 25 -- Millbrook School, NE San Jose -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's home page From mojo at whiteoaks.com Mon Dec 17 00:19:19 2001 From: mojo at whiteoaks.com (Morris Jones) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Ephemeris off to bed ... Message-ID: The January Ephemeris is at the printer, and here's where to find an advance copy: http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0201/EphJan02.pdf Circulation dept.: Let Accuprint know a copy count. :) Mojo -- Morris Jones <*> San Rafael, CA mojo@whiteoaks.com http://www.whiteoaks.com From wb6yru at aenet.net Thu Dec 27 01:32:52 2001 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Observer's Handbooks & Calendars Message-ID: <3C2AEAC4.656F@aenet.net> The Observer's Handbook 2002 and Astronomy 2002 Calendar have arrived. I was told to order 30 handbooks and 10 calendars. In those quantities, our cost is $7 per calendar and $13.50 per handbook. Is it the board's intention to make a profit? If so, I recommend no less than $15 per book and $8 per calendar. That's not a lot of profit, but we would be doing the membership a favor. Even if we charged $20 per book and $10 per calendar, that would be cheaper than what folks could order them for individually... The quantity prices from the order form (postage included): Books: 20 - 99 $13.50 ea <-- we bought 30 5 - 19 $14.00 ea 1 - 4 $22.95 ea Calendars: 10 - 24 $7.00 ea <-- we bought 10 5 - 9 $11.00 ea 1 - 4 $15.95 ea So, what should we charge? Gary Mitchell Treasurer From bartolij at POM-EMH1.ARMY.MIL Fri Dec 28 07:38:02 2001 From: bartolij at POM-EMH1.ARMY.MIL (Bartolini, Jim) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Observer's Handbooks & Calendars Message-ID: <7FFFE5F732B8D511B89E00306E00F0A9151FF0@POMMAIL1> >>From: Gary Mitchell [SMTP:wb6yru@aenet.net] >>...I recommend..... $15 per book and $8 per calendar. Sounds reasonable to me........ Jim .............. :-) ================================================== Jim Bartolini ================================================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20011228/0eb65dad/attachment.html From Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com Fri Dec 28 09:16:10 2001 From: Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com (Mark Taylor) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Observer's Handbooks & Calendars In-Reply-To: <3C2AEAC4.656F@aenet.net> Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20011228084240.00b03018@indigoskies.com> At 01:32 AM 12/27/2001, Gary Mitchell wrote: >The Observer's Handbook 2002 and Astronomy 2002 Calendar have >arrived. Ooo, good. I'll bring money to the meeting! > I was told to order 30 handbooks and 10 calendars. >In those quantities, our cost is $7 per calendar and $13.50 per >handbook. FYI/FWIW -- I just found the packing slip from last year's purchase, which had been misplaced between archived copies of the Ephemeris. I'll bring it to the next meeting for Gary to keep in the records folders. Last time we got 15 calendars @ $8 and 30 books @ $13. Looks like they decreased the price of the calendars by a buck, and increased the books by 50 cents. Anyway, we sold out of both without breaking a sweat last year, so I expect we'll do so again this time. >Is it the board's intention to make a profit? If so, I recommend >no less than $15 per book and $8 per calendar. Last time we kept it to "even fives", which made the cash transactions easier, and a small profit margin, which made the members ecstatic (or at least more enthusiastic about buying from us); that means we charged $10/calendar and $15/book. As Gary showed, even $15/cal and $20/book still gives people a price break relative to the retail cost (2+ bucks after sales tax is added to the retail price) and adds a more significant profit into the club coffers. I'm OK with either profit model, but we should probably keep both items consistently on either the low (~$2) or the high (~$7) profit model. Mark From Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com Fri Dec 28 10:17:23 2001 From: Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com (Mark Taylor) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] APD distribution In-Reply-To: <3C2AEAC4.656F@aenet.net> Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20011228091619.00b168c8@indigoskies.com> A reminder about APDs: I still have all of the remaining copies** in my possession. As discussed (at the meeting when we decided to order APDs again this year) I'm working too far away and for too many hours to guarantee my presence at any given club event, and as such cannot sell them by myself this year (unless the club wants to risk operating at a loss). We talked about distributing the APDs among the board members (or I suppose any member who wants to sell them) so there would be more selling/buying opportunities at the various Houge events (meetings, classes, star parties) and dark sky parties. Gary will need to manage the treasury aspect of accounting for the books and cash in this "distributed sales process". That said, I'll hand over all unsold books and collected monies to Gary at the next meeting so he can check that everything is "in balance" to begin with. Then he can proceed with the accounting as he sees fit. I'll offer a suggestion, though, based on my own experiences: Record how many books are handed out (free) to each salesmember up front (self included), and then reconcile those numbers against cash and unsold books returned on the far end. It's a little extra accounting effort, but at least you know where the loss occurred if somebody loses APDs or their collected funds, or forgets to turn them in at all. At the end you should be able to account for all 60 books (no cash collected), or $600 (no books remaining), or some ratio in between. Regards, Mark ** So far I think 10 or 12 have sold -- less than half of what we need to sell for "break even". I brought the APDs to the December meeting, but there wasn't much buying going on (low level of pre-advertising, and the miserable weather no doubt both contributing). From bill at nineplanets.org Fri Dec 28 13:52:24 2001 From: bill at nineplanets.org (Bill Arnett) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Observer's Handbooks & Calendars In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.0.20011228084240.00b03018@indigoskies.com> Message-ID: <2D81B3A8-FBDD-11D5-A3D7-0030655A4BEC@nineplanets.org> On Friday, December 28, 2001, at 09:16 AM, Mark Taylor wrote: > ...Last time we kept it to "even fives", which made the cash > transactions easier, and a small profit margin, which made the members > ecstatic (or at least more enthusiastic about buying from us); that > means we charged $10/calendar and $15/book. Let's stick with last year's prices. -- Bill Arnett bill@nineplanets.org Redwood City, CA USA http://nineplanets.org/ 37 27 38 N 122 16 11 W From jvn at svpal.org Fri Dec 28 15:35:18 2001 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Observer's Handbooks & Calendars References: <7FFFE5F732B8D511B89E00306E00F0A9151FF0@POMMAIL1> Message-ID: <3C2D01B6.4338@svpal.org> Bartolini, Jim wrote: > > >>From: Gary Mitchell [SMTP:wb6yru@aenet.net] > > >>...I recommend..... $15 per book and $8 per calendar. > I also agree to $15/book and $8/calendar -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's home page From Paulm at catc.com Fri Dec 28 16:05:29 2001 From: Paulm at catc.com (Paul Mancuso) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Observer's Handbooks & Calendars Message-ID: I agree too. paulm -----Original Message----- From: Jim Van Nuland [mailto:jvn@svpal.org] Sent: Friday, December 28, 2001 3:35 PM To: sjaaboard@sjaa.net Subject: Re: [SJAABoard] Observer's Handbooks & Calendars Bartolini, Jim wrote: > > >>From: Gary Mitchell [SMTP:wb6yru@aenet.net] > > >>...I recommend..... $15 per book and $8 per calendar. > I also agree to $15/book and $8/calendar -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's home page _______________________________________________ SJAABoard mailing list SJAABoard@sjaa.net http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard From wb6yru at aenet.net Sat Dec 29 23:37:36 2001 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Observer's Handbooks & Calendars References: Message-ID: <3C2EC43F.565E@aenet.net> Looks like everyone wants $15 per book. But some people like $8 per calendar and others like $10. As the one taking the money, it doesn't bother me to deal with ones. Chances are I'll have to break a lot of twenties anyway. Are these books & calendars supposed to be a fund-raiser or just a perquisite of being a SJAA member? Gary Paul Mancuso wrote: > > I agree too. > paulm > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jim Van Nuland [mailto:jvn@svpal.org] > Sent: Friday, December 28, 2001 3:35 PM > To: sjaaboard@sjaa.net > Subject: Re: [SJAABoard] Observer's Handbooks & Calendars > > Bartolini, Jim wrote: > > > > >>From: Gary Mitchell [SMTP:wb6yru@aenet.net] > > > > >>...I recommend..... $15 per book and $8 per calendar. > > > I also agree to $15/book and $8/calendar > > -- > Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association > JVN's home page > > _______________________________________________ > SJAABoard mailing list > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard > _______________________________________________ > SJAABoard mailing list > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard From wb6yru at aenet.net Sat Dec 29 23:52:48 2001 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] APD distribution References: <5.1.0.14.0.20011228091619.00b168c8@indigoskies.com> Message-ID: <3C2EC7D0.6060@aenet.net> Mark Taylor wrote: > > A reminder about APDs: > I still have all of the remaining copies** in my possession. > > As discussed (at the meeting when we decided to order APDs again this year) > I'm working too far away and for too many hours to guarantee my presence at > any given club event, and as such cannot sell them by myself this year > (unless the club wants to risk operating at a loss). > > We talked about distributing the APDs among the board members (or I suppose > any member who wants to sell them) so there would be more selling/buying > opportunities at the various Houge events (meetings, classes, star parties) > and dark sky parties. Gary will need to manage the treasury aspect of > accounting for the books and cash in this "distributed sales process". I'm against having many people do this, it just complicates things unecessarily. > Regards, > Mark > > ** So far I think 10 or 12 have sold -- less than half of what we need to > sell for "break even". I brought the APDs to the December meeting, but > there wasn't much buying going on (low level of pre-advertising, and the > miserable weather no doubt both contributing). Sounds like what's lacking is marketing. As you noted, there hasn't been a lot of advertising. Or, perhaps they aren't as poplular as we'd like to think...how many did we sell last year? Gary From Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com Sun Dec 30 00:12:05 2001 From: Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com (Mark Taylor) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Observer's Handbooks & Calendars In-Reply-To: <3C2EC43F.565E@aenet.net> References: Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20011230000945.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> To whatever extent that there is profit from sales of the items, the margin is "raised funds" which I always placed in the equipment fund. I don't recall ever restricting sales to members, but not many non-members would be aware of them anyway. Mark At 11:37 PM 12/29/2001, Gary Mitchell wrote: >Looks like everyone wants $15 per book. But some people like $8 >per calendar and others like $10. As the one taking the money, >it doesn't bother me to deal with ones. Chances are I'll have >to break a lot of twenties anyway. > >Are these books & calendars supposed to be a fund-raiser or >just a perquisite of being a SJAA member? > >Gary > > >Paul Mancuso wrote: > > > > I agree too. > > paulm > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Jim Van Nuland [mailto:jvn@svpal.org] > > Sent: Friday, December 28, 2001 3:35 PM > > To: sjaaboard@sjaa.net > > Subject: Re: [SJAABoard] Observer's Handbooks & Calendars > > > > Bartolini, Jim wrote: > > > > > > >>From: Gary Mitchell [SMTP:wb6yru@aenet.net] > > > > > > >>...I recommend..... $15 per book and $8 per calendar. > > > > > I also agree to $15/book and $8/calendar > > > > -- > > Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association > > JVN's home page > > > > _______________________________________________ > > SJAABoard mailing list > > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard > > _______________________________________________ > > SJAABoard mailing list > > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard > > >_______________________________________________ >SJAABoard mailing list >SJAABoard@sjaa.net >http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard From Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com Sun Dec 30 00:23:59 2001 From: Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com (Mark Taylor) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] APD distribution In-Reply-To: <3C2EC7D0.6060@aenet.net> References: <5.1.0.14.0.20011228091619.00b168c8@indigoskies.com> Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20011230001241.00ab4640@indigoskies.com> At 11:52 PM 12/29/2001, Gary Mitchell wrote: >Mark Taylor wrote: > > We talked about distributing the APDs among the board members (or I suppose > > any member who wants to sell them) so there would be more selling/buying > > opportunities at the various Houge events (meetings, classes, star parties) > > and dark sky parties. Gary will need to manage the treasury aspect of > > accounting for the books and cash in this "distributed sales process". > >I'm against having many people do this, it just complicates >things unecessarily. That's fine with me -- it's your call as keeper of the balance. In the past (as treasurer) I generally sold them myself, but handed some out to others on occasion. A paper spreadsheet was all I used to track the whos and numbers. > > ** So far I think 10 or 12 have sold -- less than half of what we need to > > sell for "break even". I brought the APDs to the December meeting, but > > there wasn't much buying going on (low level of pre-advertising, and the > > miserable weather no doubt both contributing). > >Sounds like what's lacking is marketing. As you noted, there >hasn't been a lot of advertising. Without a doubt that's true. The reason I haven't posted anything about them is that I don't want to advertise that they'll be available at some particular place and time when I know I won't be there, and I don't know if anyone else will be present, willing and able to sell them. This Friday's Houge party and class is a perfect example... I would send a notice, but I know I won't be there. If someone can be there to sell, then it's worth posting about. Who will be there, and how can we meet up (for a hand-off) before Friday? >Or, perhaps they aren't as >poplular as we'd like to think...how many did we sell last year? We didn't last year, and many people asked where they were. Prior years we ordered and sold most of 100 and 75, IIRC. This year I got only 60 to start with because I was aiming to sell out of them rather than have extras. We generally break even once we've sold 50% of them, and every book beyond that is pure profit for the equipment fund. The success of getting even to the 50% mark hinges on (a) having salespeople at the events, and (b) advertising them when we are sure point "a" is covered. Cheers, Mark From wb6yru at aenet.net Sun Dec 30 05:19:11 2001 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Observer's Handbooks & Calendars References: <5.1.0.14.0.20011230000945.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> Message-ID: <3C2F144F.7D28@aenet.net> Mark Taylor wrote: > > To whatever extent that there is profit from sales of the items, the margin > is "raised funds" which I always placed in the equipment fund. Did you decide to do that on your own or is this from a board directive that I didn't hear about? I've never read or heard anything on putting money into the observatory/equipment fund (the money market account). Any money coming in, not specified for that fund, I've just been putting in the general (checking) account. Gary From Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com Sun Dec 30 12:09:42 2001 From: Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com (Mark Taylor) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Funds (was: Observer's Handbooks & Calendars) In-Reply-To: <3C2F144F.7D28@aenet.net> References: <5.1.0.14.0.20011230000945.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20011230091758.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> At 05:19 AM 12/30/2001, Gary Mitchell wrote: >Mark Taylor wrote: > > > > To whatever extent that there is profit from sales of the items, the margin > > is "raised funds" which I always placed in the equipment fund. > >Did you decide to do that on your own or is this from a board >directive that I didn't hear about? Well, since you asked so nicely.... Anyone who wasn't on the board 3-4 years ago naturally wouldn't have heard the details of our discussions about the equipment fund. So here's a historical account for the benefit of everyone who has joined the board since that time. Sorry for the length of it, but that the nature of such an account. The equipment fund didn't even exist before 3-4 years ago. Our loaner equipment was being maintained and accessorized, but through a tedious process because there was no budget for the equipment chairperson (then, and still, Mike) to spend against. This meant that EVERY expenditure (no matter how small) had to be brought to the board and voted on, which in turn meant that it took at least a month from the time Mike saw a need and the time that he could "safely" address it. It was suggested/voted/passed that we create an equipment fund specifically for the purchase and repair of loaner scopes and accessories, and that the chairperson would have discretionary spending authority - no need to go to the board for every little nut and bolt (or even whole scope). Since this was a discretionary fund, Mike could get a check straight from the treasurer at any time, without waiting for a board meeting or board action to get reimbursed; this was especially useful for big purchases and when a good bargain was found and needed to be snatched up on the spot. Some seed money was voted into the new fund, but the balance was pretty weak to begin with. It would have covered maybe a couple new eyepieces and a Telrad. The sale of SJAA-branded APDs was suggested *specifically* for the purpose of helping beef up the equipment fund. They never existed for any other purpose. Later, as we discussed selling the RASC handbook "as usual" (at cost, for whatever oddball price we were getting them) it was agreed that we could make the whole sales process easier, AND raise a little more for the equipment fund at the same time, by simply rounding up to some reasonable whole number. Then, as we sold other books and materials (such as "Full Moon", and the RASC wall calendar and Beginner Guide) the profit made on them was also intentionally directed at the equipment fund. In general, the profit from all materials sold above cost came to be directed at the equipment fund (by default, unless specified otherwise). Profit on items has ranged from pennies to 5 or 10 dollars, depending on whether the sale was a concerted effort to raise funds, or whether it was simple rounding to make the money-handling easier. We also determined that our equipment fund was the most appropriate place to direct donations which were sent in to thank us for lending them a nice scope and helping them get started in the hobby. We were also getting donations which specified that they should be for "educational purposes". So, IIRC, it was near the end of 2000 that an "Education Fund" was added as a third ledger line in my reporting of the checking account balance. So yes, the board (of course) voted to create the funds and to direct certain kinds of money into them. And I decided (as treasurer) which physical account should be used to maintain each new fund, and reported the balance breakdown accordingly. >I've never read or heard anything on putting money into the >observatory/equipment fund (the money market account). The Observatory fund is absolutely NOT the same as the Equipment fund. For some reason this has been a point of confusion. Here are details in hopes that we'll all get on the same page from here on out: The MM account holds just the Observatory Fund. Aside from bank interest that goes into it, it is *only* touched by board vote or specific designation of donated funds, and very rarely at that. When added to, the money is generally coming out of the General Fund because that's where most money comes into the club, even if it's just a pit-stop for funds earmarked specifically for the observatory fund. BTW, this fund has gone basically untouched for a number of years because it became plainly clear to many on the board at the time that we had little hope of actually building an observatory (for many reasons) and would need orders of magnitude more money in the fund to actually buy some land, let alone build on it. So instead, it unofficially became a fund that we could use, on occasion, to help out others -- like we did for the FPOA. The status of this fund can surely be changed, assuming the board wants to dedicate some resources fund raising, building up the balance, acquiring a piece of land, etc. But until that time, it's pretty stationary. The Equipment Fund has/had always shared the main checking account with our General Fund. If you look back at prior treasury reports, the checking account balance was always further broken into a line-item for the General Fund and the Equipment Fund (and toward the end, the Education Fund as well). The breakdown of the one physical account's balance into the distinct funds was just a tally sheet I kept outside of quicken. I never did get around to making a nice "general ledger" sheet for it where the details of every transaction could be shown against one or more funds. It's just a simple spreadsheet, but I was too swamped with work last year to spend the time to make it pretty (my main reason for bowing out of the treasury). >Any money coming in, not specified for that fund, I've just been >putting in the general (checking) account. At least some of the money has probably been going into the right physical account by default. I chose to keep the equipment and general funds together because they were the two most heavily used funds, and because nearly all transactions were tied to one fund or the other. There are probably two things that need to be "fixed" if at all possible: - Determine or estimate how much money came into the General Fund that would normally have gone to the equipment (or education) fund, and add that amount to the last known balance for each to bring them up to date. - If any "equipment" money has been put into the Observatory Fund by mistake, it should be transferred to checking, and added to the ledger for the Observatory Fund. After that, the ongoing maintenance should be easy -- especially if you do what I never managed to and create a nice little spreadsheet "ledger" for it. Regards, Mark P.S. I've attached the final treasurer's report that I tendered about 9 months ago, in case it can be used to provide a starting point for straightening things out. There should have been a paper copy of it in the file folders I handed off this past spring. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: SJAAFinalTreasRpt.doc Type: application/msword Size: 19456 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20011230/c086629f/SJAAFinalTreasRpt.doc From jvn at svpal.org Sun Dec 30 16:45:31 2001 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Donation of telescope & binocular Message-ID: <3C2FB52B.3366@svpal.org> Hi, All, Jack Zeiders has donated his 17 inch hand-made Dobsonian, and a 5 inch binocular. The latter are Japanese Battleship glasses, made in the mid-1940s. Jack will continue to store them until we are ready to bring them into the loaner program and arrange for other storage. Both are in good condition. I'm guesstimating $2000 for the binocular, and $4000 for the scope. It is made of high-quality material with superb workmanship -- this is not a mere utilitarian plywood Dobbox. There is a small crack in the veneer of the top-end assembly, but it has no effect on the scope's performance. Please advise if these are reasonable valuations. Has anyone seen similar items sold lately? The 18 inch Obsession lists at $4495. Clear Skies! -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's home page From north at znet.com Sat Dec 29 21:00:09 2001 From: north at znet.com (Dave North) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Donation of telescope & binocular References: <3C2FB52B.3366@svpal.org> Message-ID: <3C2E9F59.69E4F484@znet.com> Jim: >>Please advise if these are reasonable valuations. Has anyone seen similar items sold lately? The 18 inch Obsession lists at $4495.<< The problem with attaching a value to Jack's scope is its unique design: it's one of the lightest 17-inch class scopes ever made, while still optically excellent. It follows aircraft design principals, and is exquisitely built. It is, in other words, a one-off Best Of Show. I would assume in the end it's worth more than a comparable Obsession, properly marketed. So, at least that price. Maybe more. Maybe, depending, much more. Dave From bill at nineplanets.org Sun Dec 30 22:39:54 2001 From: bill at nineplanets.org (Bill Arnett) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Donation of telescope & binocular In-Reply-To: <3C2E9F59.69E4F484@znet.com> Message-ID: <32E0AC63-FDB9-11D5-A3D7-0030655A4BEC@nineplanets.org> On Saturday, December 29, 2001, at 09:00 PM, Dave North wrote: > ... Maybe, depending, much more. Do we need a valuation for some rational purpose or just for Jack's taxes? I presume we will not ever consider selling it. So we might as well put as high a valuation on it as can reasonably be justified. I would guess we could justify something on the order of 150% of a new Obsession; say $6000. Ditto for the big binos, though the comparables are more difficult. Orion's 125mm binos are $4000 and I'm sure Jack's are better.... -- Bill Arnett bill@nineplanets.org Redwood City, CA USA http://nineplanets.org/ 37 27 38 N 122 16 11 W From wb6yru at aenet.net Mon Dec 31 02:22:58 2001 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Funds (was: Observer's Handbooks & Calendars) References: <5.1.0.14.0.20011230000945.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> <5.1.0.14.0.20011230091758.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> Message-ID: <3C303C82.449C@aenet.net> This is not aimed at Mark, just venting in general... :) This is exactly how big things fall through the cracks and are forgotten. If it isn't already obvious, I didn't know most of what Mark just described. That should *not* have happened. None of us will hold these offices forever. There needs to be better provisions for passing the baton. When the club/board sets up something, whether it be a special fund or whatever, the details of what it is and how it works need to be written down and put in the approprate place...with copies elsewhere. When someone new takes any given office, all the information to do that job should be in an obvious and prominent place. I'm not just talking about the treasurer; the same is true for the secretary, database manager, newsletter mailer (bulk mail), newsletter editor, loaner program manager, etc. Here's what I've got: 1) Statements from the bank for a money market account in a folder marked "money market/obs. fund." No other info. 2) Statements from the bank for a savings account in a folder marked "savings/gregory" plus another folder with a couple of receipts for a Gregory plaque. No other info. 3) Checkbook, statements from the bank for a checking account, old checks etc. in a folder marked "Checking/GF-EF". This folder also has two notepaper pages. One is labeled "Equipment fund" with a dozen entries starting with $1000 on 11/20/2000, ending with $948.19 on 1/29/2001. Most of the entries have to do with APD's or books, and a few deductions for equipment (apparently). The other page is labeled "Andrah/Edu fund" with a single entry, $750. (There was no indication, aside from being in that folder, that these were part of the checking account.) No other info. 4) There's another box with old records. Nothing very informative... mostly receipts, old tax forms, old bank statements, a folder of correspondence (letters and misc. on every consceivable topic), some past balance summaries. One page out of a handfull of balance summaries ending 1998 has a list of accounts (line items) listing: "SJAA Checking account", "Gregory Fund", "Observatory Fund", and "General Fund." The general fund showed a negative balance of $1737...Is there some overlap between accounts? There's no way to tell. And there's one other sheet listing donations for the H alpha filter. That's it! When I gave the treasurer's reports at the board meetings, I only mentioned the money market, savings, and checking balances. Why didn't anyone say something...maybe ask a question or two? And here I've been at it for almost a year. OK, let's see if we can put Humpty Dumpty back together here... As treasurer, I'd like/need the following: I'm going to summarize what Mark said below about the Obs. fund and staple it to the front of the Money Market folder. Is there anything else to know about it, beyond what Mark stated? If so, please send it to me. Whoever knows about the Gregory fund, please send me a summary of it. Please include what it is, how it started, and how it's supposed to be administered. (To be stapled to front of the savings/gregory folder.) Jim: as secretary, can you pull the board minutes describing these funds, particularly the equipment fund? Specifically, *exactly* what money goes into each fund. Is there anything else (from the minutes) that Mark hasn't said? By the way, Mark talked about the board voting to automatically allow funding for equipment. A vote like that is call a "standing rule" and is one step below the bylaws. The only real difference is the board by itself can make a standing rule, but it takes the whole club to make a bylaw. Those should be written down--and handed to new officers and directors when they take office. Gary Mark Taylor wrote: > > At 05:19 AM 12/30/2001, Gary Mitchell wrote: > >Mark Taylor wrote: > > > > > > To whatever extent that there is profit from sales of the items, the margin > > > is "raised funds" which I always placed in the equipment fund. > > > >Did you decide to do that on your own or is this from a board > >directive that I didn't hear about? > > Well, since you asked so nicely.... Anyone who wasn't on the board 3-4 > years ago naturally wouldn't have heard the details of our discussions > about the equipment fund. So here's a historical account for the benefit > of everyone who has joined the board since that time. Sorry for the length > of it, but that the nature of such an account. > > The equipment fund didn't even exist before 3-4 years ago. Our loaner > equipment was being maintained and accessorized, but through a tedious > process because there was no budget for the equipment chairperson (then, > and still, Mike) to spend against. > > This meant that EVERY expenditure (no matter how small) had to be brought > to the board and voted on, which in turn meant that it took at least a > month from the time Mike saw a need and the time that he could "safely" > address it. > > It was suggested/voted/passed that we create an equipment fund specifically > for the purchase and repair of loaner scopes and accessories, and that the > chairperson would have discretionary spending authority - no need to go to > the board for every little nut and bolt (or even whole scope). Since this > was a discretionary fund, Mike could get a check straight from the > treasurer at any time, without waiting for a board meeting or board action > to get reimbursed; this was especially useful for big purchases and when a > good bargain was found and needed to be snatched up on the spot. > > Some seed money was voted into the new fund, but the balance was pretty > weak to begin with. It would have covered maybe a couple new eyepieces and > a Telrad. > > The sale of SJAA-branded APDs was suggested *specifically* for the purpose > of helping beef up the equipment fund. They never existed for any other > purpose. > > Later, as we discussed selling the RASC handbook "as usual" (at cost, for > whatever oddball price we were getting them) it was agreed that we could > make the whole sales process easier, AND raise a little more for the > equipment fund at the same time, by simply rounding up to some reasonable > whole number. > > Then, as we sold other books and materials (such as "Full Moon", and the > RASC wall calendar and Beginner Guide) the profit made on them was also > intentionally directed at the equipment fund. In general, the profit from > all materials sold above cost came to be directed at the equipment fund (by > default, unless specified otherwise). Profit on items has ranged from > pennies to 5 or 10 dollars, depending on whether the sale was a concerted > effort to raise funds, or whether it was simple rounding to make the > money-handling easier. > > We also determined that our equipment fund was the most appropriate place > to direct donations which were sent in to thank us for lending them a nice > scope and helping them get started in the hobby. > > We were also getting donations which specified that they should be for > "educational purposes". So, IIRC, it was near the end of 2000 that an > "Education Fund" was added as a third ledger line in my reporting of the > checking account balance. > > So yes, the board (of course) voted to create the funds and to direct > certain kinds of money into them. And I decided (as treasurer) which > physical account should be used to maintain each new fund, and reported the > balance breakdown accordingly. > > >I've never read or heard anything on putting money into the > >observatory/equipment fund (the money market account). > > The Observatory fund is absolutely NOT the same as the Equipment fund. For > some reason this has been a point of confusion. Here are details in hopes > that we'll all get on the same page from here on out: > > The MM account holds just the Observatory Fund. Aside from bank interest > that goes into it, it is *only* touched by board vote or specific > designation of donated funds, and very rarely at that. When added to, the > money is generally coming out of the General Fund because that's where most > money comes into the club, even if it's just a pit-stop for funds earmarked > specifically for the observatory fund. BTW, this fund has gone basically > untouched for a number of years because it became plainly clear to many on > the board at the time that we had little hope of actually building an > observatory (for many reasons) and would need orders of magnitude more > money in the fund to actually buy some land, let alone build on it. So > instead, it unofficially became a fund that we could use, on occasion, to > help out others -- like we did for the FPOA. The status of this fund can > surely be changed, assuming the board wants to dedicate some resources fund > raising, building up the balance, acquiring a piece of land, etc. But > until that time, it's pretty stationary. > > The Equipment Fund has/had always shared the main checking account with our > General Fund. If you look back at prior treasury reports, the checking > account balance was always further broken into a line-item for the General > Fund and the Equipment Fund (and toward the end, the Education Fund as > well). The breakdown of the one physical account's balance into the > distinct funds was just a tally sheet I kept outside of quicken. I never > did get around to making a nice "general ledger" sheet for it where the > details of every transaction could be shown against one or more > funds. It's just a simple spreadsheet, but I was too swamped with work > last year to spend the time to make it pretty (my main reason for bowing > out of the treasury). > > >Any money coming in, not specified for that fund, I've just been > >putting in the general (checking) account. > > At least some of the money has probably been going into the right physical > account by default. I chose to keep the equipment and general funds > together because they were the two most heavily used funds, and because > nearly all transactions were tied to one fund or the other. > > There are probably two things that need to be "fixed" if at all possible: > - Determine or estimate how much money came into the General Fund that > would normally have gone to the equipment (or education) fund, and add that > amount to the last known balance for each to bring them up to date. > - If any "equipment" money has been put into the Observatory Fund by > mistake, it should be transferred to checking, and added to the ledger for > the Observatory Fund. > > After that, the ongoing maintenance should be easy -- especially if you do > what I never managed to and create a nice little spreadsheet "ledger" for it. > > Regards, > Mark > > P.S. I've attached the final treasurer's report that I tendered about 9 > months ago, in case it can be used to provide a starting point for > straightening things out. There should have been a paper copy of it in the > file folders I handed off this past spring. > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > > Name: SJAAFinalTreasRpt.doc > Part 1.2 Type: application/msword > Encoding: base64 From Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com Mon Dec 31 09:02:36 2001 From: Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com (Mark Taylor) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Funds (was: Observer's Handbooks & Calendars) In-Reply-To: <3C303C82.449C@aenet.net> References: <5.1.0.14.0.20011230000945.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> <5.1.0.14.0.20011230091758.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20011231073350.00abf4d0@indigoskies.com> At 02:22 AM 12/31/2001, Gary Mitchell wrote: >None of us will hold these offices forever. There needs to be >better provisions for passing the baton. ... >the details of what it is and how it works need to be written >down and put in the approprate place...with copies elsewhere. >When someone new takes any given office, all the information >to do that job should be in an obvious and prominent place. > >I'm not just talking about the treasurer; the same is true for >the secretary, database manager, newsletter mailer (bulk mail), >newsletter editor, loaner program manager, etc. I agree completely with all of this. In fact, it reminds me of something I was trying to get momentum for shortly after I joined the board (or was it after taking over the treasury?) I called it a "duties list", and it was to contain every officer position AND special project chair, with details about the jobs and how to do them. Unfortunately I didn't have the necessary energy and time to keep after it, and it died away. I'd still like to see us pull something like that together, too, but I know it's not easy. >Here's what I've got: It's still far from perfect, but at least it's much more info (and more organized) than what I got. It took me most of a year to get a handle on all the ins and outs of the job and start organizing things in a way that made sense to me. >3) Checkbook, statements from the bank for a checking account, >...two notepaper pages. One is labeled "Equipment >fund" with a dozen entries... The other page is labeled >"Andrah/Edu fund" ... No other info. Unfortunately that's as close as I ever got to making a proper ledger / spreadsheet out of the three funds. Those tally sheets were enough to allow me to report running fund balances and look up old transactions as needed, but not much more. Regrettably, the relationship of the funds to the physical account was not documented as it needed to be; that's the trouble with being too close to the details of what you are documenting -- one tends to overlook what they alone would consider to be "self-evident points". >4) There's another box with old records. Nothing very >informative... That particular box is exactly as it was when I got it; everything in there pre-dates me. I wasn't too sure what to "make of" the contents, either. >When I gave the treasurer's reports at the board meetings, I >only mentioned the money market, savings, and checking balances. >Why didn't anyone say something...maybe ask a question or two? As for myself, I would report individual fund details when I had the time to work everything out nicely before the meetings. But when I was lacking the time for that (too often), I just grabbed the totals off the latest statements. So I wouldn't/couldn't begrudge anyone reporting the accounts at that level. >And here I've been at it for almost a year. It took me about the same, so the "tradition" lives. As you've already pointed out, this is not a good thing, and can be reduced/eliminated by documenting the job for future occupants. I think the summary I gave in the last message, plus some details from this one, will go a long way toward explaining much of what was lacking. I'm an email away, though. >Whoever knows about the Gregory fund, please send me a summary >of it. Please include what it is, how it started, and how it's >supposed to be administered. (To be stapled to front of the >savings/gregory folder.) This has been asked for a couple times (different folks at different times), and summarized vocally by those who know (including at one or two board and general meetings over the last few years). But, it still never gets written down for some reason. Actually, come to think of it, this MAY have made it into an article at some point, and the non-financial details of it can be found on the site (or with a google search). I'm sure others can do better, but here's what I know, including some treasury details... - Started from a donation by a club member (Dr G) - Intended to provide recognition for contributions to amateur astronomy and educational efforts in the subject - Awarded by the board. Mainly when the mood strikes, from what I can tell. Sometimes annually and sometimes less. - The money is kept in a simple savings account, where it gains very little interest, and will eventually run dry if not added to on occasion. - Some would have the funds placed in a higher interest vehicle, which sounds good but locks it up more. I've always been somewhat inclined to just roll it into the checking as another ledger line, since it will need infusions from the GF on occasion no matter what. Neither has happened yet, though. >Jim: as secretary, can you pull the board minutes describing >these funds, particularly the equipment fund? I'll let Jim answer about the official minutes which he records as secretary. We've also tried (and tried) to make a routine of publishing some form of minutes in the Ephemeris. We have gone through multiple stints of independently taking and publishing *unofficial* minutes there, but nobody really wants the job full-time. Translating the official minutes into a regular column (or just nicely typed text in a folder) has never been done, to my knowledge. Historically, we seem to operate on "collective memory" as much as (or more than) minutes, which is of course not optimal. It does explain how we manage to discuss and re-discuss the same topics over and over even when people are sure the matter was resolved many times before (like the publishing of FP/Coe party dates) I don't know what the answer is to fixing this situation. We've tried, and it just doesn't seem to get any better. Optimally meetings would be audio recorded, the details transcribed, and the official minutes published in the Ephemeris -- but this is a small organization, and nobody seems to want a job like that. > Specifically, >*exactly* what money goes into each fund. Is there anything >else (from the minutes) that Mark hasn't said? Is there that level of detail in the minutes, Jim? I'm sure the votes themselves are there, but so much important detail seems to be in the (sometimes hours of) discussion that takes place before the voting happens. How much of that gets in there? And what about "discussions" - potentially important topics for which there was no contention of opinions, and which were never put to a vote but "accepted as S.O.P."? I'm sure there is some of that going on, as well. >By the way, Mark talked about the board voting to automatically >allow funding for equipment. A vote like that is call a >"standing rule" and is one step below the bylaws. Are you sure that's the same as a discretionary spending fund? Automatically using funds to pay the bills (without a vote) is what I think of as a standing rule. Maybe I've got it wrong. Anyway, Gary -- if there are any more questions about treasury stuff, the standing hand-off offer still stands: Just ask and I'll tell you what I know or recall. Mark From north at znet.com Sun Dec 30 09:55:52 2001 From: north at znet.com (Dave North) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Funds (was: Observer's Handbooks & Calendars) References: <5.1.0.14.0.20011230000945.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> <5.1.0.14.0.20011230091758.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> <5.1.0.14.0.20011231073350.00abf4d0@indigoskies.com> Message-ID: <3C2F5528.5B8C662B@znet.com> Mark: >>That particular box is exactly as it was when I got it<< ...and actually in better shape than when I got it. The state of the records some years back was, amazingly, worse than it is now. The problems plagued us for well over a year before things were at least operating somewhat normally. For some reason, I try to forget that period. Dave From Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com Mon Dec 31 12:04:20 2001 From: Sol.Man at IndigoSkies.com (Mark Taylor) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Funds (was: Observer's Handbooks & Calendars) In-Reply-To: <3C2F5528.5B8C662B@znet.com> References: <5.1.0.14.0.20011230000945.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> <5.1.0.14.0.20011230091758.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> <5.1.0.14.0.20011231073350.00abf4d0@indigoskies.com> Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20011231120320.00ac5190@indigoskies.com> At 09:55 AM 12/30/01, Dave North wrote: >Mark: >>That particular box is exactly as it was when I got it<< > >...and actually in better shape than when I got it. Different box. This one was a file box full of billing records receipts, handed down from Treas to Treas. From jvn at svpal.org Mon Dec 31 16:10:24 2001 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Gregory Award history References: <5.1.0.14.0.20011230000945.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> <5.1.0.14.0.20011230091758.00ab2650@indigoskies.com> <3C303C82.449C@aenet.net> Message-ID: <3C30FE70.B97@svpal.org> Gary Mitchell wrote: > 2) Statements from the bank for a savings account in a folder > marked "savings/gregory" plus another folder with a couple of > receipts for a Gregory plaque. No other info. > Whoever knows about the Gregory fund, please send me a summary > of it. Dr. Boris Gregory was a professor of French Literature at San Jose State College. He had a lifetime interest in astronomy, and for retirement, was given or bought one of the earliest C-8 telescopes. After retirement, he taught an introductory astronomy class, part of the Adult Education series. It was in one of these sessions that Bob Fingerhut and other SJAA members met him. He joined SJAA, as did Bob, but I don't know the exact sequence of classes and joining. Dr. Gregory was president of SJAA for one term, 1973-1974. He was on the Board from antiquity until his death in March 1979, and was especially adept at welcoming newcomers, including myself. With years of experience, he was asked for advice and help, and his answer was typically "Come over and we'll work on it". At board meetings, he was very often the first to say "I'll look into that". After his death, SJAA members Bob Fingerhut and Norm Neinchel invented the A.B.Gregory award, to be given "In recognition of outstanding contributions of time and effort to others in amateur astronomy". It is given only once. Bob and Norm provided the initial funds, and there was a nomination and a donation (in that order) from Mrs.Gregory a few years later. In addition, one of the members has sometimes chosen to cover the cost instead of asking to be reimbursed for the engraving. Outstanding examples of recipients are Jack Zeiders, who conceived the astronomy class and did all the teaching for the first several years. Paul Barton, who has worked on dozens of people's scopes at his shop, and especially, took the forgotten, decrepit SJAA club telescopes and made the loaner program into an important part of the club. Bob Ashford, who for several years was teaching an astronomy class at an East Palo Alto school and anywhere else he could find; this is the direct origin of Project Astro (What Andy Fraknoi did was to publish Bob's class notes). The list of awardees is on our web site. -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's home page From bill at nineplanets.org Mon Dec 31 16:45:40 2001 From: bill at nineplanets.org (Bill Arnett) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Gregory Award history In-Reply-To: <3C30FE70.B97@svpal.org> Message-ID: On Monday, December 31, 2001, at 04:10 PM, Jim Van Nuland wrote: > ... The list of awardees is on our web site. That's http://www.sjaa.net/ga.html It lists Jay Freeman twice. Is that right? -- Bill Arnett bill@nineplanets.org Redwood City, CA USA http://nineplanets.org/ 37 27 38 N 122 16 11 W From jvn at svpal.org Mon Dec 31 16:57:31 2001 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:14 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Gregory Award history References: Message-ID: <3C31097B.F6B@svpal.org> Bill Arnett wrote: > > On Monday, December 31, 2001, at 04:10 PM, Jim Van Nuland wrote: > > > ... The list of awardees is on our web site. > > That's > http://www.sjaa.net/ga.html > It lists Jay Freeman twice. Is that right? ??? He should be there just once, but my notes also say twice. Did we award the award in 2001? I think Jane was the most recent. The award isn't supposed to be given but once to any person. Damn. I'm supposed to know all this stuff, but my brain has been slowly turning into mush. Kevin and Denni's were lost in the Oakland Hills fire, and the replacements carried the original dates (1980 and 1981), but perhaps not the original design. -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's home page