From bhavner at ricochet.net Sat Sep 30 03:57:02 2006 From: bhavner at ricochet.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:12 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Donations from Scope City References: Message-ID: <0017022b44ac$fcc75680$8d80b3cc@havner> > > Bill Arnett wrote: > Well, I guess that turns out to be a non-issue :-) > > Let's have the votes then. The motion is "Sam Sweiss at Scope City gets a > free membership". > > I vote "yes". > > -- > Bill Arnett bill@nineplanets.org > Emerald Hills, CA USA http://nineplanets.org/ > > You have my yes vote as well Bob Havner From bhavner at ricochet.net Sat Sep 30 03:57:02 2006 From: bhavner at ricochet.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:12 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] July 7th Message-ID: <0025022b4647$266cc920$3f82b3cc@havner> Hey everybody, The move is progressing "smoothly" and I have some more great news. Greg Laughlin of NASA Ames will speak on July 7th. I asked him to speak on the topic of his book "The Five Ages of the Universe". That subject is not confirmed but I will be following up. Bob -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20960412/818d06f0/attachment.html From bhavner at ricochet.net Sat Sep 30 03:57:02 2006 From: bhavner at ricochet.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:12 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Projection screen Message-ID: <0010022b55f5$cbbb1cc0$0e83b3cc@havner> Hi all, I'm ready for Saturday's meeting but I want to make sure we have a screen. Let me know before Sat. morning Bob -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20960502/aaddf554/attachment.html From bhavner at ricochet.net Sat Sep 30 03:57:02 2006 From: bhavner at ricochet.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:12 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Calendaer material for July References: <3AF47F54.1A15@svpal.org> Message-ID: <0007022b584f$3b85cfe0$3e88b3cc@havner> > 7 -s- General Meeting, Greg Laughlin, NASA, "Five ages of the > Universe" Correction: Jim, Greg Laughlin's talk is titled "The Future of the Solar System". See you tonight Bob From bhavner at ricochet.net Sat Sep 30 03:57:02 2006 From: bhavner at ricochet.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:12 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] I'll be away on vacation References: <9112B1E00AB4D311A9F3009027AF88B603FB5C8A@pom-emh1.army.mil> Message-ID: <001b022b839c$6719e060$9706703f@havner> RE: [SJAABoard] I'll be away on vacationI'll be there. Bob Havner bhavner@ricochet.net ----- Original Message ----- From: Bartolini, Jim To: sjaaboard@sjaa.net Sent: Friday, June 29, 2001 8:52 AM Subject: RE: [SJAABoard] I'll be away on vacation >>From: Paul Mancuso [SMTP:Paulm@catc.com] >>Sorry to say, I must miss the meeting too. So....am I going to be the only one there?????? Jim ........... J ================================================== Jim Bartolini ================================================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20960629/22e2ce34/attachment.html From bhavner at earthlink.net Sat Sep 30 03:57:02 2006 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob & Brenda Havner) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:13 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] New e-mail Message-ID: <0052022ba17b$4adc1240$05813b3f@havner> Fellow board members, I have a new e-mail: bhavner@earthlink.net Bill A. could you please update the web site and can you change the announce & board lists or do I have to re-register? Bob Havner Vice President San Jose Astronomical Association bhavner@earthlink.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20960806/81f354cb/attachment.html From bhavner at earthlink.net Sat Sep 30 03:57:02 2006 From: bhavner at earthlink.net (Bob Havner) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:13 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Barlow Message-ID: <000201c1424a$ea5a8ae0$606bf4d1@havner> Hi All, A friend of mine accidentally left an Orion barlow at Houge park several weekends ago. Did anyone happen to turn it in. Bob Havner Vice-President San Jose Astronomical Assn. bhavner@earthlink.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20960920/368e356f/attachment.html From bogus@does.not.exist.com Sat Sep 30 03:57:02 2006 From: bogus@does.not.exist.com () Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:15 2006 Subject: No subject Message-ID: right at the light, onto Bascom Avenue. At the next light, turn left onto Woodard Road. At the first stop sign, turn right onto Twilight Drive. Go three blocks, cross Sunrise Drive, then turn left into the park. From bogus@does.not.exist.com Sat Sep 30 03:57:02 2006 From: bogus@does.not.exist.com () Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:15 2006 Subject: No subject Message-ID: turn right at the first traffic light, onto White Oaks Road. At the first stop sign (another 0.2), turn left onto Twilight Drive. You will now be passing the park. Turn right at the first driveway, into the parking lot. For more about SJAA, questions on the auction, or to view preregistered auction items, visit our web site at http://www.sjaa.net or email auction@sjaa.net. From bogus@does.not.exist.com Sat Sep 30 03:57:02 2006 From: bogus@does.not.exist.com () Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:17 2006 Subject: No subject Message-ID: I really appreciate the offer. Unfortunately, that's bad timing for me. I have to fly out on the night of the 12th. I will be in San Francisco for the American Geophysical Union meeting from the 7th to the 12th...I guess the full moon doesn't do much for viewing. I really appreciate the note. ******************** After the light attendance of the last party, the board decided to do both and have the Holiday Party after the meeting. On Fri, 20 Sep 2002, Dave North wrote: > No Christmas Party this year? > > > d > > _______________________________________________ > SJAABoard mailing list > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard > From robhawley at earthlink.net Fri Sep 1 12:05:06 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Portable Toilets will no longer be available at WS Message-ID: <00dc01c6cdf9$8a4d2460$0500a8c0@robathome> As the owner of the toilet company we use was picking up his toilet this morning he informed me that he had sold his company to a San Jose firm. He thought it was highly unlikely that the new company would be willing to deliver that far south or would do so an exorbitant rate (like $500). Remember that when Bob checked no one was willing to do it. We have enjoyed 3 parties at the WS site this year. If Ayers allows further use it looks like we will be forced to build a toilet. That eliminates the informal relationship of this year for as on option for future events. Rob Hawley From wb6yru at aenet.net Sat Sep 2 02:24:29 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Portable Toilets will no longer be available at WS In-Reply-To: <00dc01c6cdf9$8a4d2460$0500a8c0@robathome> References: <00dc01c6cdf9$8a4d2460$0500a8c0@robathome> Message-ID: <44F94DCD.7010903@aenet.net> Rob Hawley wrote: > As the owner of the toilet company we use was picking up his toilet this > morning he informed me that he had sold his company to a San Jose firm. He > thought it was highly unlikely that the new company would be willing to > deliver that far south or would do so an exorbitant rate (like $500). > Remember that when Bob checked no one was willing to do it. > > We have enjoyed 3 parties at the WS site this year. If Ayers allows further > use it looks like we will be forced to build a toilet. That eliminates the > informal relationship of this year for as on option for future events. I would oppose the SJAA building anything, including outhouses on property we don't own, at least not without first securing a very impressive deal of some kind regarding the site. Weren't these star parties supposed to be evaluations of the site? If so, have we done enough of them yet? Gary From wb6yru at aenet.net Sun Sep 3 18:56:15 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Ephemeris copying/publishing Message-ID: <44FB87BF.6000400@aenet.net> Regarding this business of affixing labels vs printing the addresses... I just found out about another option that practically any copy shop should be able to do. Apparently most modern big copiers with multiple paper trays have the ability to pull one sheet from one tray and the rest from another tray on each set of copies. They call it "job assembly." One application is where the customer wants a different color paper on the cover, but plain white paper on the inside. The copy center at Office Depot can do this and that's a pretty "low end" copy center. So I'd be absolutely shocked if AccuPrint can't do it. I'm surprised they didn't mention this option when Mike asked earlier. The added cost of doing this should be relatively minor. Now, if there's a paper jam or whatever and a particular pre-addressed sheet is lost, what to do? If the addressed sheets are printed from a PDF file, it wouldn't take much to print up another copy of the needed replacement(s). If we generate the address pdf file, we can be sure to put them in the order needed for bulk-mail. After picking up the newsletters from the printer, the only thing we need to do is just make sure the order was maintained. Gary From north at znet.com Sun Sep 3 19:07:18 2006 From: north at znet.com (Dave North) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Ephemeris copying/publishing In-Reply-To: <44FB87BF.6000400@aenet.net> References: <44FB87BF.6000400@aenet.net> Message-ID: Gary Mitchell wrote: > Now, if there's a paper jam or whatever The problem is probably subsequent this operation. Accuprint currently (unless something has changed) folds the ephemeris. Most folders do not run cleanly, even after a good setup. So the problem is, what do you do when the folder misfires? Or at least this used to be a problem; I haven't dealt with it in a while. But you might check w/Accuprint on the issue. Dave From wb6yru at aenet.net Sun Sep 3 23:56:03 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Ephemeris copying/publishing In-Reply-To: References: <44FB87BF.6000400@aenet.net> Message-ID: <44FBCE03.6030905@aenet.net> Dave North wrote: > Gary Mitchell wrote: > >> Now, if there's a paper jam or whatever > > > The problem is probably subsequent this operation. Accuprint currently > (unless something has changed) folds the ephemeris. Yes, they still do. > Most folders do not > run cleanly, even after a good setup. So the problem is, what do you do > when the folder misfires? Well, they'd just have to print another copy of that address sheet and feed it in first (or last) to make another newsletter. It might get to be a pain if there are many misfires, but they'd have to run off more copies for that anyway. I expect they know how often it misfires and would allow for that in their quote for doing this. > Or at least this used to be a problem; I haven't dealt with it in a > while. But you might check w/Accuprint on the issue. Yes, I intend to. Gary From craigus at rocketmail.com Mon Sep 4 10:15:48 2006 From: craigus at rocketmail.com (Craig Scull) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Portable Toilets will no longer be available at WS In-Reply-To: <44F94DCD.7010903@aenet.net> Message-ID: <20060904171548.16475.qmail@web54505.mail.yahoo.com> Yes these star parties were to help evaluate the site and otherwise gauge the community's interest. Yes we have probably done enough. Next steps involve the creation of a proposal/plan/pitch to Bob that we will the board to sign off on. Gary Mitchell wrote: Rob Hawley wrote: > As the owner of the toilet company we use was picking up his toilet this > morning he informed me that he had sold his company to a San Jose firm. He > thought it was highly unlikely that the new company would be willing to > deliver that far south or would do so an exorbitant rate (like $500). > Remember that when Bob checked no one was willing to do it. > > We have enjoyed 3 parties at the WS site this year. If Ayers allows further > use it looks like we will be forced to build a toilet. That eliminates the > informal relationship of this year for as on option for future events. I would oppose the SJAA building anything, including outhouses on property we don't own, at least not without first securing a very impressive deal of some kind regarding the site. Weren't these star parties supposed to be evaluations of the site? If so, have we done enough of them yet? Gary _______________________________________________ SJAABoard mailing list SJAABoard@sjaa.net http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20060904/55ba36ac/attachment.html From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Mon Sep 4 22:45:43 2006 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Calendar 2007 -- first draft In-Reply-To: <44B2FD83.2A76@svpal.org> References: <44B2FD83.2A76@svpal.org> Message-ID: <20060904225714.U6117@koopm.best.vwh.net> Here is my version of the Calendar with some proposed changes: http://koopm.best.vwh.net/SJAA_2007_Calendar.pdf Things I changed around: Move November GM from 11/24 to 11/17 due to Thanksgiving Weekend Move Fall Swap from 11/25 to 11/18 due to Thanksgiving Weekend There is really nothing we can do about the May meeting on Memorial day weekend. I rather have people observing the previous weekend. Otherwise, Jim did well with a difficult year. Dark Sky Weekend Add 7/7, a short night but with the moon rising after midnite, useable for a close in site say Coyote. Add 12/29 Should we suggest what weekends to do a Coyote SP in June, July, Aug, Sept? Houge SP Add 11/16 Note 11/30 is 3 QTR 12/14 is 1QTR 12/28 is 3 QTR Astro Class Moved first qtr moon class to 3/23 ATM Class has lowest priority over all. It is schduled not to conflict with any observing weekend or GM. Jim got out of sequence and scheduled a few on observing weekends. I do not know if we are going to cancel these yet. I just do not have the time to support it any more than I have been, which is just opening/closing and storing and setting up the equipment. We really need to have another class, kicking off a new batch of mirrors. I figure we have about 30 incomplete mirrors out there that have been started in Jane's and Tom's classes. We still owe these people grit Jim, please do not announce these in the hotline message, but keep them in the Ephem calendar. People do not understand what the class is. We have more people showing up thinking these are star parties, than are showing up for class. delete 5/3t, 5/19s add 5/5s, 5/17t add 6/2s delete 8/30t delete 9/15s, 9/27t add 9/1s, 9/13t, 9/29s add 10/4t delete 11/17s add 11/24s Total of 12 Thurs Meetings and 13 Sat. Meetings I would like to finalize the calendar at the September meeting, so if everyone could take a critical eye to it, we can discuss this at the meeting. We need to make a final decision on the ATM class at the October meeting, since we will need to get the reservation in for Houge the first week of November. Mike On Mon, 10 Jul 2006, Jim Van Nuland wrote: > Hi, All, > > Here's the first cut on a 2007 calendar. In 2007, the full moons tend > to be near the ends of the months, so it's not simple to choose general > meeting dates. It's also the year that we must jump from early in the > month to late. > > By allowing a meeting on May 26, during RTMC, I found a nice pattern, > with meetings jumping from Mar.3 to Apr.28. By putting the Auction on > April 1, we avoid losing a general meeting. Clever, huh? > > If RTMC is not to be stepped on, we can keep the meetings early > through May 5, then jump to June 30, and continue at ends of months. > The April 7 general meeting would interfere with a short star party > night, but we'd omit it in favor of the Auction on April 1 (not Apr.8 as > that is Easter). I don't like this as we'd have a long gap without a > general meeting, then another long gap from May 5 to Jun.30. > > THE OTHER big decision is whether to keep the ATM workshop as it is, > cut it to 1/month, or drop it. Attendance is so low that I would vote > to drop it. > > In the table below, I've assumed that the general meetings follow my > first proposal. Then, I had to pick and choose to avoid gaps and having > two just a week apart. > > You may correctly guess that the table is also on the web, at > . It is not yet linked. > > -- > Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association > JVN's web site > > ============================================================ > > SJAA Calendar for 2007 > > Draft 0.1, JVN only, 2006 July 10 > NOT Approved by the Board of Directors NOT > > MAJOR problems: (1) general meetings and auction first half year. > (2) Placement of Fall Swap to avoid thanksgiving vacations > (3) Shall we continue the mirror workshop? > (4) After (1 & 3) are fixed, set up dates for mirror workshop. > > Print this with a M*O*N*O*S*P*A*C*E*D font for column alignment. > > General ATM Astro Houge Park Dark-sky > 2007 Meeting Class Class Star Party Star Party > January 6 11t, 27s 12 12, 26 13, 20c > February 3 8t, 24s 9/23? 9, 23 10, 17c > March 3 8t, 24s 9 9, 23 10 17c M.M. > April 28$ 5t 21s 6 6, 20= 7s, 14c > May 26 3t, 19s, 11 11, 25 12, 19c > June 30 7t 23s 8 8, 22 9s, 16c > July 28 5t, 21s 6 6 20 14c > August 25 2t, 18s, 30t 3 3, 17 11c > September 22 15s, 27t 7 7, 21 8, 15c > October 27 20s 5 5, 19 6, 13c > November 24* 1t, 17s, 29t 2,30 2, 30 3 10c > December 22 15s 27t none 14, 28 1, 8c > > $ Auction: Sunday, April 1, not replace a general meeting. > * Fall Swap on Sunday Nov. 25. ALSO general meeting on 24th. > OR -- Fall Swap Nov.11 to avoid thanksgiving week. > = AANC Astronomy Day is April 21. Use Houge Public on April 20. > > OTHER dates and events -- > Messier Marathon - Mar.17, NM - 1 day per Don Machholz book > Don gives no April alternate in 2007, NM mid-week. > Easter ----- Apr. 8 (school vacations week before or after) > DST start -- Mar.11 (new law) > TAX day ---- Apr.16, Monday > RTMC ------- May 25-27, 1Q moon previous Wednesday > Shingletown- I suggest June 13-17 > http://www.shingletownstarparty.org/ > Star-B-Q --- I would say Aug.11 but nobody asks me. NM 12th. > DST end ---- Nov. 4 (new law) > Cal-Star --- October 11-14 (new moon on 10th) > > GENERAL MEETINGS - troublesome. If we step on RTMC, we can jump > from early in March to late in April and stay late. > Auction Apr.1 would fill in the gap. See above. > > OR -- jump in Jan to 27, auction Apr.29. > > OR -- do Auction Apr.1, GM May 5, then June 30. There > would be two big gaps, one for the auction. > > ATM workshop - Thur after GM & Sat near 1Q moon. Except Saturday > near Auction. SHALL WE CONTINUE THIS?? > > ASTRONOMY CLASS - Moonless dates except March, or does March matter? > > HOUGE Public star parties - Jump in early May, late August. > > DARK SKY notations -- > s Short. At least 3 hours, but less than 5. > c Coe will be advised of possible attendees. No assurance that > an SJAA representative will be present, unless a specific item > is given in the month-by-month portion of the calendar. > > CAL-STAR: See Sep.12, 2005 message from Mike Koop, on the Board > mailing list, for date-setting philosophy. > > ============================================================ > > _______________________________________________ > SJAABoard mailing list > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard > From jvn at svpal.org Tue Sep 5 17:13:52 2006 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Calendar 2007 -- first draft References: <44B2FD83.2A76@svpal.org> <20060904225714.U6117@koopm.best.vwh.net> Message-ID: <44FE12C0.3C4F@svpal.org> Hi, Mike, All, I've incorporated all your changes. Thanks for checking it over, and fixing the ATM dates. The only place we differ is on August 4, which you list as a dark-sky weekend. Astronomical twilight is at 9:35 pm, the 57% moon rises at 11:27, so it's well below my 3-hour guideline. (Above 3 hours I call it "short"; after 5 I drop the "short" designation.) I do not want to call it a dark-sky weekend. Michael Koop wrote: > Things I changed around: > Move November GM from 11/24 to 11/17 due to Thanksgiving Weekend > Move Fall Swap from 11/25 to 11/18 due to Thanksgiving Weekend Agreed. They were my "else". > Dark Sky Weekend > Add 7/7, a short night but with the moon rising after midnite, usable > for a close in site say Coyote. Agreed. Nearly 4 hours of dark. > Add 12/29 A typo on my part -- I'd written it on the Big Sheet. > Should we suggest what weekends to do a Coyote SP in June, July, Aug, > Sept? YES, please do! In 2006 we were handed the dates, and some caused conflicts. Some moon would by good, as it's popular with the public. Later it'd be full dark for the astronomers. > Houge SP Add 11/16 Yes, another typo/omission. > Astro Class > Moved first qtr moon class to 3/23 Okay. I had a question re February. I've put it on 9th per your calendar. > ATM Class [big snip] > Jim, please do not announce these in the hotline message, but keep them > in the Ephem calendar. Will do, er. will don't. I'll update soon, and will omit them. Curious that anyone would be confused -- I call them "mirror-making workshop", not star party or class. > delete 5/3t, 5/19s > add 5/5s, 5/17t Done. I was probably trying to maintain the Thur/Sat pattern, but it's okay to have two Thur or Sat in succession, or in successive weeks. > add 6/2s > delete 8/30t > delete 9/15s, 9/27t > add 9/1s, 9/13t, 9/29s > add 10/4t > delete 11/17s > add 11/24s That pattern looks so nice; I wonder why I didn't see it. Too heads are better than one, especially when one of them is a cabbage. > Total of 12 Thurs Meetings and 13 Sat. Meetings I count 27 total: 13 Th, 14 Sa. Did you count the two in December? > > You may correctly guess that the table is also on the web, at > > . It is not yet linked. Still not linked. It has been updated with the above, and I'll include it below, too. Clear Skies (and calendars)! -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's web site ============================================================ SJAA Calendar for 2007 Draft 1.1, JVN & MK, 2006 Sep 4 NOT Approved by the Board of Directors NOT MAJOR problem remaining: (3) Shall we continue the mirror workshop? Print this with a M*O*N*O*S*P*A*C*E*D font for column alignment. General ATM Astro Houge Park Dark-sky 2007 Meeting Class Class Star Party Star Party January 6 11t, 27s 12 12, 26 13, 20c February 3 8t, 24s 9 9, 23 10, 17c March 3 8t, 24s 23 9, 23 10 17c M.M. April 28$ 5t 21s 6 6, 20= 7s, 14c May 26 5s, 17t, 11 11, 25 12, 19c June 30 2s,7t,23s 8 8, 22 9s, 16c July 28 5t, 21s 6 6 20 7s 14c August 25 2t, 18s 3 3, 17 11c September 22 1s,13t,29s 7 7, 21 8, 15c October 27 4t, 20s 5 5, 19 6, 13c November 17* 1t, 24s, 29t 2,30 2, 16, 30 3 10c December 22 15s 27t none 14, 28 1, 8c, 29 $ Auction: Sunday, April 1, not replace a general meeting. * Fall Swap on Sunday Nov. 18. ALSO general meeting on 24th? 17th?? OR -- Fall Swap Nov.11 to avoid thanksgiving week. = AANC Astronomy Day is April 21. Use Houge Public on April 20. OTHER dates and events -- Messier Marathon - Mar.17, NM - 1 day per Don Machholz book Don gives no April alternate in 2007, NM mid-week. Easter ----- Apr. 8 (school vacations week before or after) DST start -- Mar.11 (new law) TAX day ---- Apr.16, Monday RTMC ------- May 25-27, 1Q moon previous Wednesday Shingletown- July 11-16. http://www.shingletownstarparty.org/ Star-B-Q --- I would say Aug.11 but nobody asks me. NM 12th. DST end ---- Nov. 4 (new law) Cal-Star --- October 11-14 (new moon on 10th) GENERAL MEETINGS - Every few years, the moon requires that we jump from early in month to later in the following month. The previous jump was 2004. ATM workshop - Thur / Sat alteration is violated twice this year, blame it on the moon and holidays. WILL CLASS BE CONTINUED? ASTRONOMY CLASS - Moonless Houge star party dates except March. HOUGE Public star parties - Jump in early May, late August. DARK SKY notations -- s Short. At least 3 hours, but less than 5. c Coe will be advised of possible attendees. No assurance that an SJAA representative will be present, unless a specific item is given in the month-by-month portion of the calendar. CAL-STAR: See Sep.12, 2005 message from Mike Koop, on the Board mailing list, for date-setting philosophy. ============================================================ From wb6yru at aenet.net Wed Sep 6 01:54:01 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Calendar 2007 -- first draft In-Reply-To: <20060904225714.U6117@koopm.best.vwh.net> References: <44B2FD83.2A76@svpal.org> <20060904225714.U6117@koopm.best.vwh.net> Message-ID: <44FE8CA9.9000505@aenet.net> Michael Koop wrote: > ATM Class has lowest priority over all. It is schduled not to conflict > with any observing weekend or GM. Jim got out of sequence and scheduled > a few on observing weekends. > I do not know if we are going to cancel these yet. I'm not ready to suggest we cancel them, but we need to re-evaluate the ATM class. It needs to be more structured. Currently, pretty much all we do is open the door and provide a space to work (which isn't really very conducive to mirror making in the first place). That hardly constitutes a class. It looks like we're scheduling these the same way we schedule the public star parties, where it's a success if people simply show up. > We need to make a final decision on the ATM class at the October > meeting, since we will need to get the reservation in for Houge the > first week of November. Making the reservations is one thing, actually holding the event is another. If we want to reserve those nights regardless, I don't have a problem with that. Is there much competition for that building these days? If not, then let's go for it. In fact, if there are few others, it might be good to show more usage. Do we have to plan out room reservations for the whole year? That is, can we add reservations later? There's no perfect day/time for everyone. Turns out Thursday evenings are good, but I have a conflict with some Saturday evenings... but that's me. Instead of Saturday nights, how about early Saturday afternoons? If we are going to have a mirror making class, then it should be a *class*. I would suggest one night per week or perhaps even two. They don't have to have formal lectures, but at least there should be someone there who really knows what they're doing. Have it run for at least long enough for an average person to easily finish, then end that class. We can start a new class later. We should do more than just mirror making too--like what to do after you've got your mirror figured. Gary From robhawley at earthlink.net Wed Sep 6 09:59:51 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Taking half of the Sept Ephemeris to Orion Message-ID: <018c01c6d1d5$df0cb8f0$0500a8c0@robathome> I am taking 1/2 of the extra Ephemeris to Orion this morning. Since the plan for future mail deliveries is still in discussion I do not plan on doing the Full Automation certification at this time. Gary's proposal to have Accuprint print the address information directly on the copies has merit. As long as we stick with Machinable Standard Mail then the requirements for precision are more relaxed and seals are not required. Accuprint should be able to print something that is acceptable. Going to full automation will require much more attention to the labeling process. Aside from applying seals we will have to be very careful of how to apply the very large labels used with barcodes. It is very easy to apply them too high on the page. My first attempt at building a guide also placed the labels too high on the page (the two subsequent guides have different dimensions). The last time we applied labels one of the people was unwilling to use the guide. For the September mailing that was fine, but it may not have been had we used full automation. Had we used full automation I would have had to manually check each of the manually applied labels with the template before being willing to sign the certification form. In short I think we need to discuss what we are willing to do going forward. While adopting full automation is an interesting intellectual exercise, it will cost more money, be a lot more work, and may not result in faster delivery. I would like to evaluate Gary's Accuprint proposal first. Rob Hawley From jvn at svpal.org Wed Sep 6 17:58:45 2006 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] School star party status Message-ID: <44FF6EC5.5E91@svpal.org> Hi, All, The school star party program is getting busy! The present schedule follows. Provisional dates are mostly dates that have been requested but not agreed upon by all people at the school. Two are pre-scheduled rain dates (I do not encourage this). Events conducted in August: 1. Firm Provisional Sep 1 0 Daytime event, sun party Oct 3 1 The provisional is likely to be confirmed Nov 5 2 Dec 0 2 one rain date, one probably will go Jan 0 1 rain date Feb 1 0 Mar 2 0 Clear Skies! -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's web site From wb6yru at aenet.net Thu Sep 7 00:50:15 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Taking half of the Sept Ephemeris to Orion In-Reply-To: <018c01c6d1d5$df0cb8f0$0500a8c0@robathome> References: <018c01c6d1d5$df0cb8f0$0500a8c0@robathome> Message-ID: <44FFCF37.1050508@aenet.net> Rob Hawley wrote: > My first attempt at building a guide also placed > the labels too high on the page (the two subsequent guides have different > dimensions). The last time we applied labels one of the people was > unwilling to use the guide. Me? I mentioned it was a little awkward and possibly not really needed, but I was using it. I really was! :) I'm not sure what the answer is, but I found the edge of the Plexiglas was getting in the way. It was too thick for one thing. If you can come up with something that allows us to apply the label, but doesn't get in the way, that would be good. You may want to hold off doing any work for now--this may be academic if AccuPrint can handle my idea. (I left a message but haven't heard back from them yet.) > In short I think we need to discuss what we are willing to do going forward. > While adopting full automation is an interesting intellectual exercise, it > will cost more money, be a lot more work, and may not result in faster > delivery. I would like to evaluate Gary's Accuprint proposal first. I'll call them again. Gary From robhawley at earthlink.net Thu Sep 7 15:22:49 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Membership stats for Sept 06 Message-ID: <022c01c6d2cc$271ea940$0500a8c0@robathome> *** When memberships expire ************** Last SJAA Meeting 8/12/2006 Report Date 9/7/2006 Jul-06 8 Aug-06 8 Sep-06 16 Oct-06 15 Nov-06 12 Dec-06 17 Jan-07 17 Feb-07 25 Mar-07 23 Apr-07 11 May-07 24 Jun-07 57 Jul-07 19 Aug-07 29 Sep-07 11 Oct-07 5 more than 13 months 8 complementary 29 expiring 16 paid(current) 289 email delivery 20 Labels Generated 306 S&T Members 190 New Members since last meeting 7 current + complementary 318 *********** Membership counts during past year ************* Combined Current Paid Complementary New Members 9/14/2005 315 286 29 5 10/12/2005 312 284 28 10 11/9/2005 319 290 29 8 12/14/2005 322 293 29 7 64 in 2005 1/11/2006 328 298 30 9 (includes 2005 members) 2/10/2006 321 292 29 5 3/8/2006 325 298 5/11/2006 323 295 28 8 6/7/2006 318 290 28 3 8/9/2006 315 285 30 10 9/7/2006 318 289 29 7 *****************When current members joined***************** paid only 2006 42 2005 51 2004 75 2003 31 2002 19 2001 9 2000 1 < 2000 56 Specified 242 84% Not Specified 47 total 289 **************** What year did non renewing members join ******* expired (not including ex-compl) 2006 0 2005 17 2004 19 2003 11 2002 4 2001 0 2000 0 < 2000 11 Specified 62 90% Not Specified 7 total 69 Rob Hawley From wb6yru at aenet.net Thu Sep 7 15:38:00 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Ephemeris addressing Message-ID: <45009F48.2010404@aenet.net> I talked to AccuPrint about this "job assembly" option and they can do it. It will add about $25 or so to our bill (which is currently $168 plus tax). They weren't exactly sure about some of the details and will do a little experimenting and will get back to me. This is because the Ephemeris is printed on 11x17 paper and folded down the middle book style. If it were normal 8.5x11 paper, they say this would be a slam-dunk. Just to recap.... I recently learned that copy machines can do what they call "job assembly." That's where the copier can, for example, take the first page from tray one and the rest from tray two. We could thereby have the cover sheet a different color. In our case, tray one could contain a stack of pages where each one has a mailing address already printed. We currently send them the Ephemeris as a PDF file, each page on 8.5x11 page format. The copy machine automatically assembles this onto the 11x17 paper, (hence the need for that experiment). In this case, we'd send them two PDF files. The second file being the addresses, each on a separate page in the spot where we want it to be. It would also have to be on a 11x17 page and it's up to us to get it properly aligned on the page. Is there any chance we'd like to move to 8.5x11 paper? If so, now would be the time to do that, before we start with this job assembly business. It would mean a staple (probably in the upper left corner), there aren't any staples now. Rob: would that be of any concern with bulk mail? By the way, they do the final folding by hand, it's not automated. So, there would be practically no "misfires" as Dave talked about. Gary From robhawley at earthlink.net Thu Sep 7 16:13:51 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Ephemeris addressing In-Reply-To: <45009F48.2010404@aenet.net> Message-ID: <023001c6d2d3$48b52000$0500a8c0@robathome> Getting a PDF file for 11x17 is not a problem. As they said it would just take some experimentation. The good news is that once we set it up it would be repeatable. I had thought of this as being in conflict with using full automation. In reality it may make the full automation easier. I believe staples are an no-no. They may cause us to be non-Machinable and pay a penalty. We would still need to apply seals for full automation. Rob Hawley From wb6yru at aenet.net Thu Sep 7 16:38:15 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] director & officer liability insurance Message-ID: <4500AD67.2020308@aenet.net> Ouch! I just heard from our liability insurance broker. The annual cost for adding the Directors and Officers liability option to our existing liability policy will be $605/$600 with/without Terrorism. This will bring our total annual liability insurance premium to $1740/$1745. In my opinion, $600 should be the most a club like this should have to pay for ALL its liability insurance, let alone just for an option. But, this is what we get because people are so quick to sue over every little thing. Please be prepared to decide this at the meeting Saturday. Gary From robhawley at earthlink.net Thu Sep 7 16:50:50 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] CalStar status Message-ID: <023901c6d2d8$7350ec90$0500a8c0@robathome> As of this writing 74 registrations for 115 participants 48 meals sold Friday 41 meals sold Saturday Total sold gross $1232 PayPal $ 32 Total Receipts $ 882 Outstanding payments $ 382 Rob Hawley From rnapo at znet.com Thu Sep 7 20:32:38 2006 From: rnapo at znet.com (Rich N) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] director & officer liability insurance References: <4500AD67.2020308@aenet.net> Message-ID: <000d01c6d2f7$6fb8e0a0$2cf71345@180edt> Thanks for the update, Gary. Rich > Ouch! > > I just heard from our liability insurance broker. The annual cost for adding > the Directors and Officers liability option to our existing liability policy > will be $605/$600 with/without Terrorism. This will bring our total annual > liability insurance premium to $1740/$1745. > > In my opinion, $600 should be the most a club like this should have to pay > for ALL its liability insurance, let alone just for an option. But, this > is what we get because people are so quick to sue over every little thing. > > Please be prepared to decide this at the meeting Saturday. > > Gary > > _______________________________________________ > SJAABoard mailing list > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard > From pkohlmil at best.com Thu Sep 7 22:51:15 2006 From: pkohlmil at best.com (Paul Kohlmiller) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Ephemeris addressing In-Reply-To: <023001c6d2d3$48b52000$0500a8c0@robathome> References: <45009F48.2010404@aenet.net> <023001c6d2d3$48b52000$0500a8c0@robathome> Message-ID: <005401c6d30a$cc370790$64a516b0$@com> Going with 8.5x11 paper would improve flexibility for the SJAA editor. It would be easy to have 10 page issues when 8 pages is a little tight. In fact, I could see 10 pages being the norm. We could do this now but the middle page would be a little funny. However, there is the staple problem as Rob mentions. Also, the newsletter would look a bit less professional which bugs me but I think it's a small deal for others. Even if it is machinable (per USPS) I wonder if it would jam up their machines more often. I'm not a big fan of adding seals unless we have to do. One additional thing I would like to bring up if we go with a different color for the front/back page is that we could make the newsletter look better. The front page could be something preprinted (like the papers from PaperDirect) or maybe a blue gradient. This would add some more cost. Paul K -----Original Message----- From: sjaaboard-bounces@sjaa.net [mailto:sjaaboard-bounces@sjaa.net] On Behalf Of Rob Hawley Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006 4:14 PM To: 'Business list for SJAA board of directors and members' Subject: RE: [SJAABoard] Ephemeris addressing Getting a PDF file for 11x17 is not a problem. As they said it would just take some experimentation. The good news is that once we set it up it would be repeatable. I had thought of this as being in conflict with using full automation. In reality it may make the full automation easier. I believe staples are an no-no. They may cause us to be non-Machinable and pay a penalty. We would still need to apply seals for full automation. Rob Hawley _______________________________________________ SJAABoard mailing list SJAABoard@sjaa.net http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard From robhawley at earthlink.net Sun Sep 10 09:43:47 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Mail Stuff Message-ID: <003301c6d4f8$4a0ea710$0500a8c0@robathome> After looking at the calendar I realized that only a limited time remains before my Oz trip. Therefore I will not be able to do any experimentation in the mail process until November. For Sept I will print labels and participate in the labeling process. Someone at that meeting will have to take charge of the mail supplies. For Oct I will be away when the Ephemeris is processed. I will print labels and give them to the board at the Oct 7 board meeting. The board will have to figure out what to do from there. Rob Hawley From pkohlmil at best.com Mon Sep 11 00:16:20 2006 From: pkohlmil at best.com (Paul Kohlmiller) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] October Ephemeris Ready for Proofreading Message-ID: <000801c6d572$3278bf80$0800a8c0@PKHPXPP> The October Ephemeris is ready for proof reading at: http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0610/EphOct06.pdf The last page was not changed since the September issue so if there are any changes needed please let us know. The solar system stats section was removed but will appear in the HTML version. (I should put a note to that effect on pg. 6. And I could add it back to the PDF version that does NOT go to the printer but does that break our commitment that says printing the PDF version is the same as getting the print version). This edition is expected to go to the printer on Tuesday morning. Sometime on Thursday I will redirect the "current.pdf" page to this issue. On Friday, we will be going on vacation and will be out of e-mail contact until Sept. 26. Thank you, Paul and Mary Kohlmiller -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20060911/e5a3121a/attachment.html From craigus at rocketmail.com Tue Sep 12 18:16:59 2006 From: craigus at rocketmail.com (Craig Scull) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] September 9 , 2006 - Draft SJAA Board Meeting Minutes Message-ID: <20060913011700.49252.qmail@web54511.mail.yahoo.com> ======================================================= September 9, 2006 - SJAA Board Meeting Minutes - Craig Scull ======================================================= August minutes were approved by a motion from Rich and seconded by Gordon. No one abstained. ------------------------------------- Members present ------------------------------------- Mike Koop Rob Hawley Rich Neuschaefer Gary Mitchell Bill O'Shaughnessy Lee Hoglan Gordon Reade Craig Scull Dave Smith ------------------------------------- Treasurer's report ------------------------------------- CD 1 5,076.34 CD 2 5,167.51 Checking 8,249.88 Observ. Fund 3,100.51 PayPal 209.02 Savings 403.18 Petty Cash 86.50 ------------ OVERALL TOTAL 22,292.94 We have a quote for the supplementary Directors & Officers insurance: $600 per year, or $605 with the terrorism option. We're currently paying $1140 for general liability coverage. Newsletter: affixing mailing labels vs printing addresses: AccuPrint can print up a set of sheets with mailing addresses only and use those when printing up the newsletter--resulting in pre-printing the addresses. Estimated additional cost $25, possibly a little more depending on how it goes with the folding machine (i.e. the need to re-print some addresses sheets and extra labor). If we go to 8.5x11 paper, many technical problems go away, but it does probably mean stapling the newsletter in the upper left corner. ------------------------------------- Membership report ------------------------------------- *** When memberships expire ************** Last SJAA Meeting 8/12/2006 Report Date 9/7/2006 Jul-06 8 Aug-06 8 Sep-06 16 Oct-06 15 Nov-06 12 Dec-06 17 Jan-07 17 Feb-07 25 Mar-07 23 Apr-07 11 May-07 24 Jun-07 57 Jul-07 19 Aug-07 29 Sep-07 11 Oct-07 5 more than 13 months 8 complementary 29 expiring 16 paid(current) 289 email delivery 20 Labels Generated 306 S&T Members 190 New Members since last meeting 7 current + complementary 318 *********** Membership counts during past year ************* Combined Current Paid Complementary New Members 9/14/2005 315 286 29 5 10/12/2005 312 284 28 10 11/9/2005 319 290 29 8 12/14/2005 322 293 29 7 64 in 2005 1/11/2006 328 298 30 9 (includes 2005 members) 2/10/2006 321 292 29 5 3/8/2006 325 298 5/11/2006 323 295 28 8 6/7/2006 318 290 28 3 8/9/2006 315 285 30 10 9/7/2006 318 289 29 7 *****************When current members joined***************** paid only 2006 42 2005 51 2004 75 2003 31 2002 19 2001 9 2000 1 < 2000 56 Specified 242 84% Not Specified 47 total 289 **************** What year did non renewing members join ******* expired (not including ex-compl) 2006 0 2005 17 2004 19 2003 11 2002 4 2001 0 2000 0 < 2000 11 Specified 62 90% Not Specified 7 total 69 ---------------------------------------------- Insurance ---------------------------------------------- Gary got us a quote of $600 for directors' insurance. Rob and Mike made the point that we may not expose ourselves to significant risk until we enter into a relationship with the land at Willow Springs. Existing insurance protects "club." Directors' insurance would protect "directors." The majority of the board feels we need directors' insurance when/if we enter into a long term relationship or ownership of land. School star parties were described as a possible risk. Some materials are passed onto the schools before the events, but they are not thought to contain any cautionary tips. Rob feels lake view picnic area is a risk because of large gopher holes that could cause someone to injure themselves. It was suggested that we could look for a lawyer in the astronomical community to consult for pro-bono advice on the question of whether we need directors' insurance. The name of the lawyer who volunteered to help us previously was named Krevatz. Bill made a motion to get directors' insurance. 2 voted for the motion. 3 abstained. 4 voted against the motion. ------------------------------------- Loaner scope program ------------------------------------- Ben of Pinnacles wants to borrow a few telescopes. ------------------------------------- Observational astronomy class ------------------------------------- Akkana is doing class next week on sketching. Jim Albers will do talk on satellite observing in Oct ------------------------------------- ATM Class ------------------------------------- 3 or so people still showing up. Want to see if there is more interest before deciding to continue. ------------------------------------- General Meeting Programs ------------------------------------- Dr. Steve Stahler will do talk on "why are there stars?" Shiloh Unruh will present on Egypt eclipse. ------------------------------------- Houge Star parties ------------------------------------- Last two star parties fairly successful. Houge park mtg held last week to discuss future of building. County is looking for another tenant who would rent building or they are looking to tear the building down. A mtg at the Camden Center later this month. The SJAA presence reduced crime at Houge park. The parking lot is consistently "clean" after SJAA events whereas on other non SJAA nights a variety of things are found in the parking lot that suggest that illicit activities are occurring. ------------------------------------- School star parties ------------------------------------- School star parties are scheduled. ------------------------------------- Observatory committee ------------------------------------- Last month's 3 day star party went extremely well. There was good turnout for friday and saturday nights in August, 20 and 30 people for each night, including Steve Gottlieb who posted an impressive observing report on TAC about the site's dark sky qualities exceeding those of the Sierra foothills as well as the steadyness of the skies that allowed 400x to 500x power. Bob Ayers suggested we hold another set of 3 star parties next summer to continue to generate interest in the site and attract more interest in facilities (observatories, pads, piers, storage, etc.) The question was raised as to whether the SJAA has enough manpower to maintain an observing site. Rich mentioned that purchasing the land from Bob could even be an option. ------------------------------------- Calstar ------------------------------------- 74 registrations for 115 participants 48 meals sold Friday 41 meals sold Saturday Total sold gross $1232 PayPal $ 32 Total Receipts $ 882 Outstanding payments $ 382 ------------------------------------- Ephemeris distribution ------------------------------------- For an extra $25-$30 per monthly printing run, addresses could also be printed onto the newsletters. Basically an address PDF file that can be used to do a second run on the newsletters to print the addresses on them. Rob is going to let the printer do a sample run. The extra cost is not deemed to be excessive. ------------------------------------- Calendar 2007 ------------------------------------- Jim submitted in July. Mike has provided feedback recently. Coyote star parties not scheduled yet. ATM dates are in calendar as placeholders. Bill O mad a motion to approve the calendar, Lee seconded. The rest of the members approved. 1 person abstained. ------------------------------------- Evergreen Observatory ------------------------------------- They are in favor of docent class for star parties -- essentially training student volunteers. High schools are requiring community service and so this is one possible outlet. ------------------------------------- Fall Swap ------------------------------------- Need to finalize rules. We will be required to collect all names and addresses of sellers. We will keep it free for people to walk in the door. The word "fee" will be replaced with donation. Mike made a motion to continue with the existing model and these small changes. All were in favor, no abstains. The meeting was adjourned at 8:02pm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20060912/340cf48e/attachment.html From robhawley at earthlink.net Tue Sep 12 18:25:19 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] September 9 , 2006 - Draft SJAA Board Meeting Minutes In-Reply-To: <20060913011700.49252.qmail@web54511.mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <001901c6d6d3$7a501530$0500a8c0@robathome> I have since withdrawn my offer to try to change the mail process until November Rob Hawley From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Wed Sep 13 00:28:53 2006 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Calendar 2007 -- first draft In-Reply-To: <44FE12C0.3C4F@svpal.org> References: <44B2FD83.2A76@svpal.org> <20060904225714.U6117@koopm.best.vwh.net> <44FE12C0.3C4F@svpal.org> Message-ID: <20060913012735.W94875@koopm.best.vwh.net> Calendar has been updated. http://koopm.best.vwh.net/SJAA_2007_Calendar.pdf We will figure out what to do about the Mirror Making Workshop. Mike On Tue, 5 Sep 2006, Jim Van Nuland wrote: > Hi, Mike, All, > > I've incorporated all your changes. Thanks for checking it over, and > fixing the ATM dates. > > The only place we differ is on August 4, which you list as a dark-sky > weekend. Astronomical twilight is at 9:35 pm, the 57% moon rises at > 11:27, so it's well below my 3-hour guideline. (Above 3 hours I call it > "short"; after 5 I drop the "short" designation.) I do not want to call > it a dark-sky weekend. > > > Michael Koop wrote: >> Things I changed around: >> Move November GM from 11/24 to 11/17 due to Thanksgiving Weekend >> Move Fall Swap from 11/25 to 11/18 due to Thanksgiving Weekend > > Agreed. They were my "else". > > >> Dark Sky Weekend >> Add 7/7, a short night but with the moon rising after midnite, usable >> for a close in site say Coyote. > > Agreed. Nearly 4 hours of dark. > >> Add 12/29 > > A typo on my part -- I'd written it on the Big Sheet. > > >> Should we suggest what weekends to do a Coyote SP in June, July, Aug, >> Sept? > > YES, please do! In 2006 we were handed the dates, and some caused > conflicts. Some moon would by good, as it's popular with the public. > Later it'd be full dark for the astronomers. > > >> Houge SP Add 11/16 > > Yes, another typo/omission. > > >> Astro Class >> Moved first qtr moon class to 3/23 > > Okay. I had a question re February. I've put it on 9th per your > calendar. > > >> ATM Class [big snip] >> Jim, please do not announce these in the hotline message, but keep them >> in the Ephem calendar. > > Will do, er. will don't. I'll update soon, and will omit them. > Curious that anyone would be confused -- I call them "mirror-making > workshop", not star party or class. > >> delete 5/3t, 5/19s > add 5/5s, 5/17t > > Done. I was probably trying to maintain the Thur/Sat pattern, but it's > okay to have two Thur or Sat in succession, or in successive weeks. > >> add 6/2s > >> delete 8/30t >> delete 9/15s, 9/27t >> add 9/1s, 9/13t, 9/29s > >> add 10/4t > >> delete 11/17s > add 11/24s > > That pattern looks so nice; I wonder why I didn't see it. Too heads > are better than one, especially when one of them is a cabbage. > >> Total of 12 Thurs Meetings and 13 Sat. Meetings > > I count 27 total: 13 Th, 14 Sa. Did you count the two in December? > > > >>> You may correctly guess that the table is also on the web, at >>> . It is not yet linked. > > Still not linked. It has been updated with the above, and I'll > include it below, too. > > Clear Skies (and calendars)! > -- > Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association > JVN's web site > > ============================================================ > > SJAA Calendar for 2007 > > Draft 1.1, JVN & MK, 2006 Sep 4 > NOT Approved by the Board of Directors NOT > > MAJOR problem remaining: > (3) Shall we continue the mirror workshop? > > Print this with a M*O*N*O*S*P*A*C*E*D font for column alignment. > > General ATM Astro Houge Park Dark-sky > 2007 Meeting Class Class Star Party Star Party > January 6 11t, 27s 12 12, 26 13, 20c > February 3 8t, 24s 9 9, 23 10, 17c > March 3 8t, 24s 23 9, 23 10 17c M.M. > April 28$ 5t 21s 6 6, 20= 7s, 14c > May 26 5s, 17t, 11 11, 25 12, 19c > June 30 2s,7t,23s 8 8, 22 9s, 16c > July 28 5t, 21s 6 6 20 7s 14c > August 25 2t, 18s 3 3, 17 11c > September 22 1s,13t,29s 7 7, 21 8, 15c > October 27 4t, 20s 5 5, 19 6, 13c > November 17* 1t, 24s, 29t 2,30 2, 16, 30 3 10c > December 22 15s 27t none 14, 28 1, 8c, 29 > > $ Auction: Sunday, April 1, not replace a general meeting. > * Fall Swap on Sunday Nov. 18. ALSO general meeting on 24th? 17th?? > OR -- Fall Swap Nov.11 to avoid thanksgiving week. > = AANC Astronomy Day is April 21. Use Houge Public on April 20. > > OTHER dates and events -- > Messier Marathon - Mar.17, NM - 1 day per Don Machholz book > Don gives no April alternate in 2007, NM mid-week. > Easter ----- Apr. 8 (school vacations week before or after) > DST start -- Mar.11 (new law) > TAX day ---- Apr.16, Monday > RTMC ------- May 25-27, 1Q moon previous Wednesday > Shingletown- July 11-16. http://www.shingletownstarparty.org/ > Star-B-Q --- I would say Aug.11 but nobody asks me. NM 12th. > DST end ---- Nov. 4 (new law) > Cal-Star --- October 11-14 (new moon on 10th) > > GENERAL MEETINGS - Every few years, the moon requires that we jump > from early in month to later in the following month. > The previous jump was 2004. > > ATM workshop - Thur / Sat alteration is violated twice this year, blame > it on the moon and holidays. WILL CLASS BE CONTINUED? > > ASTRONOMY CLASS - Moonless Houge star party dates except March. > > HOUGE Public star parties - Jump in early May, late August. > > DARK SKY notations -- > s Short. At least 3 hours, but less than 5. > c Coe will be advised of possible attendees. No assurance that > an SJAA representative will be present, unless a specific item > is given in the month-by-month portion of the calendar. > > CAL-STAR: See Sep.12, 2005 message from Mike Koop, on the Board > mailing list, for date-setting philosophy. > > ============================================================ > > _______________________________________________ > SJAABoard mailing list > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard > From wb6yru at aenet.net Wed Sep 13 02:28:31 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] September 9 , 2006 - Draft SJAA Board Meeting Minutes In-Reply-To: <20060913011700.49252.qmail@web54511.mail.yahoo.com> References: <20060913011700.49252.qmail@web54511.mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4507CF3F.5030309@aenet.net> Craig Scull wrote: > ======================================================= > September 9, 2006 - SJAA Board Meeting Minutes - Craig Scull > ======================================================= > Newsletter: affixing mailing labels vs printing addresses: > AccuPrint can print up a set of sheets with mailing addresses only and > use those when printing up the newsletter--resulting in pre-printing > the addresses. Estimated additional cost $25, possibly a little more > depending on how it goes with the folding machine (i.e. the need to > re-print some addresses sheets and extra labor). If we go to 8.5x11 > paper, many technical problems go away, but it does probably mean > stapling the newsletter in the upper left corner. About going to 8.5x11 paper... I was thinking about the need for the staple and what it might do regarding the post office sorting equipment. I've found that some copy machines use the "normal" staples, where the ends are bent down into the paper, as opposed to the typical copier staples that leave the staple ends exposed and a snag hazard. I think the normal type should be OK with the sorting equipment. However, be that as it may, this could be academic. I was struck by something Rob said (I think it was Rob), that the post office deals with bulk mail only when they've got nothing else to do. *THAT* is the problem with the delay. There's not much we can do about that, short of going to first class. So, bending over backwards to make the newsletter fully machinable I don't think will really get us much. Now, if that's the case, is there any other reason we shouldn't go to a stapled 8.5x11 format? Reportedly, it would make life easier for the copy process, making other options cheaper and more available. That's something to consider. Gary From robhawley at earthlink.net Wed Sep 13 09:47:27 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] September 9 , 2006 - Draft SJAA Board Meeting Minutes In-Reply-To: <4507CF3F.5030309@aenet.net> Message-ID: <001501c6d754$4bf85b30$0300a8c0@robathome> According to my local carrier staples are a no-no. The regulations do not specifically mention staples, but it does not take much imagination to extrapolate from what they do prohibit to them. You still have to fold the newsletter in half to be a self mailer (the way we are mailing). None of the examples of self mailers show staples. They show the self mailer being sealed with tabs. http://pe.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/pubs/Pub49/Pub49.pdf (look under self mailers) http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/201.htm#wp1042571 http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/201.htm#wp1056687 If I am correct then it means that using staple will make the Ephemeris "Non-Machinable". That will involve a mail surcharge. It also means manual processing at each handling. If we want to speed the delivery then we need to eliminate manual processing. That means full automation as described in the above references. It is possible that since we don't apply seals some local POs process us as non-Machinable today. In any event there is no reason to go to 8.5x11 pages. The current 11x17 works fine. I can produce addresses in that format, but I just do not have the time to work on it until November. We can continue to print labels until then. Full automation (barcodes+sealing) is our only shot at improving the delivery results. If Accuprint prints the labels then that part of the process will be done repeatably easing the use of bar-coding. We would just need to apply seals. The labeling party would become a sealing party. That would not require me as a time critical resource in the mailing process. Rob Hawley From robhawley at earthlink.net Wed Sep 13 09:48:29 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] LSA is go for CalStar Message-ID: <001601c6d754$71797dd0$0300a8c0@robathome> I just got a call from the ranger. It looks like everything is set. Rob Hawley From wb6yru at aenet.net Wed Sep 13 17:30:48 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] September 9 , 2006 - Draft SJAA Board Meeting Minutes In-Reply-To: <001501c6d754$4bf85b30$0300a8c0@robathome> References: <001501c6d754$4bf85b30$0300a8c0@robathome> Message-ID: <4508A2B8.1040807@aenet.net> Rob Hawley wrote: > According to my local carrier staples are a no-no. Well, I wouldn't put much credence in what a carrier says. > The regulations do not > specifically mention staples, but it does not take much imagination to > extrapolate from what they do prohibit to them. You still have to fold the > newsletter in half to be a self mailer (the way we are mailing). None of the > examples of self mailers show staples. They show the self mailer being > sealed with tabs. > > http://pe.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/pubs/Pub49/Pub49.pdf > (look under self mailers) > http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/201.htm#wp1042571 > http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/201.htm#wp1056687 This all refers to sealing the mailer. I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about holding the newsletter together with a staple in the upper left corner. Half of that staple wouldn't even be exposed when the thing gets folded into a self-mailer. > In any event there is no reason to go to 8.5x11 pages. The current 11x17 > works fine. That's not quite what AccuPrint told me. They can handle 11x17, but 8.5x11 is easier, fewer complications. > Full automation (barcodes+sealing) is our only shot at improving the > delivery results. Yes, but part of my point is that this will only get us maybe a day or so. Meanwhile, the post office is eating up *many* days just sitting there. It's like worrying about saving pennies while wasting dollars. I was suggesting that maybe it's not worth the effort. And that making life easier on us and AccuPrint is more valuable than making life a little easier on the post office. Besides, that's not quite true, we do have one other shot. We could speed things up significantly by going to first class postage. That would make the mailing easier--and faster--but at almost twice the postage cost. Is it worth something on the order of 20 cents per piece to make all these mailing problems go away? We seem willing to pay $25 or $30 to AccuPrint to make the addressing easier, that's roughly 10 cents each. And what are we paying for that CASS certifying business? Not to mention the effort. I'm not necessarily saying we should go to first class. But by the same token, it just seems like maybe we're worrying too much about squeezing every last little bit out of bulk-mail. Rob, it's great that you're willing to put in the effort for the club, but perhaps you may be working too hard. If we haven't passed the point of diminishing returns, aren't we about to? Gary From robhawley at earthlink.net Wed Sep 13 17:41:42 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] September 9 , 2006 - Draft SJAA Board Meeting Minutes In-Reply-To: <4508A2B8.1040807@aenet.net> Message-ID: <003b01c6d796$8c78c8b0$0300a8c0@robathome> Gary the mail is now your problem - enjoy. I will send you a sorted comma separated text file the Wednesday before the next board meeting. Rob Hawley From wb6yru at aenet.net Thu Sep 14 03:33:47 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] September 9 , 2006 - Draft SJAA Board Meeting Minutes In-Reply-To: <003b01c6d796$8c78c8b0$0300a8c0@robathome> References: <003b01c6d796$8c78c8b0$0300a8c0@robathome> Message-ID: <4509300B.3040203@aenet.net> Rob Hawley wrote: > Gary the mail is now your problem - enjoy. It's either all or nothing, huh? I'm concerned that you're putting in too much effort for a marginal return. And instead of just easing up a bit, you go from one extreme to the other. > I will send you a sorted comma separated text file the Wednesday before the > next board meeting. > > > Rob Hawley I can print labels, but my ability to generate a pdf file is very limited. If we're going to have AccuPrint print up those address sheets, you should generate that pdf file and send it to Paul. Then he can send in both at the same time, which almost has to happen anyway. And what about that software we just got (on your advice) to make the bulk mail forms... Are you still going to do that? Gary From areopagus125 at yahoo.com Thu Sep 14 14:37:59 2006 From: areopagus125 at yahoo.com (David Smith) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] November, January general meeting speakers Message-ID: <20060914213759.60964.qmail@web42408.mail.scd.yahoo.com> November 4: Dr. Ivan Linscott, Stanford University: Radio Beacon Remote Sensing Within the Solar System January 6: Bob Fies: Aluminizing Mirrors -- David Smith __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com From jvn at svpal.org Thu Sep 14 15:20:10 2006 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] November, January general meeting speakers References: <20060914213759.60964.qmail@web42408.mail.scd.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4509D59A.5100@svpal.org> David Smith wrote: > > November 4: Dr. Ivan Linscott, Stanford University: > Radio Beacon Remote Sensing Within the Solar System > > January 6: Bob Fies: Aluminizing Mirrors Hi, Dave, they're on the calendar pages. Clear Skies! -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's web site From bill.oshaughnessy at gmail.com Thu Sep 14 21:55:57 2006 From: bill.oshaughnessy at gmail.com (Bill O'Shaughnessy) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Bill O Resignation from SJAA Board Message-ID: <7b2584010609142155v79b8bf8cr59531d8242385c15@mail.gmail.com> Hello All, Due to the lack of insurance for board members of SJAA and due to concern for possible risk to my retirement funds, I am resigning from the SJAA Board of Directors effective immediately. I have enjoyed serving on this board and I will still come help with mailing and other things if I am free. Clear Skys, William O'Shaughnessy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20060914/7a3ffa00/attachment.html From rnapo at znet.com Fri Sep 15 10:12:02 2006 From: rnapo at znet.com (Rich N) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Bill O Resignation from SJAA Board References: <7b2584010609142155v79b8bf8cr59531d8242385c15@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <001101c6d8ea$10b23860$5ef71345@180edt> Hi Bill, It's been great serving on the board with you. Thanks for your many years of service. All the best, Rich Hello All, Due to the lack of insurance for board members of SJAA and due to concern for possible risk to my retirement funds, I am resigning from the SJAA Board of Directors effective immediately. I have enjoyed serving on this board and I will still come help with mailing and other things if I am free. Clear Skys, William O'Shaughnessy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ SJAABoard mailing list SJAABoard@sjaa.net http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20060915/6d9d412a/attachment.html From wb6yru at aenet.net Fri Sep 15 19:37:41 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] additional on the directors insurance option Message-ID: <450B6375.8000702@aenet.net> Regarding the supplemental directors and officers insurance... I just heard back from our insurance broker. (I had asked if there were any way they could come down some on that quote.) The $600 amount is the minimum for this type of supplemental policy. If we had any employees, the minimum would have been $1000. :/ I'm sorry to see Bill resign over this. It's possible others may not join the board for the same reason. So, I find myself shifting from slightly against to slightly in favor. We may have to hold more than one swap and/or auction, or come up with something else. Our cash flow is currently positive, but that will be a lot harder to maintain if we get this policy. I would not be in favor of raising the dues again. We've been sort of reluctant to sell off scopes from the loaner program despite many of them not getting loaned out. Also, we have not encouraged people to donate scopes or other astronomical equipment. I wouldn't want to see the SJAA get too carried away with that, but we may want to give it some thought. Most of the money we make at the swap and auction comes from the sale of donated items. Gary From rnapo at znet.com Sat Sep 16 01:42:22 2006 From: rnapo at znet.com (Rich N) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] helping SJ PD... References: <450B6375.8000702@aenet.net> Message-ID: <000301c6d96c$08063e00$9df61345@180edt> Since we have now had two SJPD officers pull in to Houge in the last two weeks wondering what is going on, maybe we should make a sign that can be hung at the entrance to the parks driveway saying, "Welcome, SJAA observing session from 7pm until about midnight." It also would be good to make sure the SJPD has our event schedule, but a sign at the entrance would, I think, help. Rich From robhawley at earthlink.net Sat Sep 16 07:40:39 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] helping SJ PD... In-Reply-To: <000301c6d96c$08063e00$9df61345@180edt> Message-ID: <00b701c6d99e$1475c340$0300a8c0@robathome> Last night I almost called the police myself. There were a number of folks parked on the far side of the parking lot. Rob Hawley > -----Original Message----- > From: sjaaboard-bounces@sjaa.net > [mailto:sjaaboard-bounces@sjaa.net] On Behalf Of Rich N > Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 1:42 AM > To: Business list for SJAA board of directors and members > Subject: [SJAABoard] helping SJ PD... > > Since we have now had two SJPD officers pull in to Houge in > the last two weeks wondering what is going on, maybe we > should make a sign that can be hung at the entrance to the > parks driveway saying, "Welcome, SJAA observing session from > 7pm until about midnight." It also would be good to make > sure the SJPD has our event schedule, but a sign at the > entrance would, I think, help. > > Rich > > _______________________________________________ > SJAABoard mailing list > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard > From robhawley at earthlink.net Sat Sep 16 08:46:16 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Review of new auction spec 0.0.2 Message-ID: <00ba01c6d9a7$3f3c2570$0300a8c0@robathome> I finally got the time this week to incorporate everyone's comments from the April version of the spec. http://www.robhawley.net/sjaaAuction0.0.2.pdf I would appreciate if everyone could have a look at this in the next six weeks. I need to start coding in November if this is going to be ready for the auction. I also put the two beginning astronomy presentations I did earlier in this year on the web http://www.robhawley.net/febpresentation.pdf http://www.robhawley.net/JanPresentation.pdf I am having a problem accessing these from my home computer. I would appreciate if you could see if these fully open from yours. Rob Hawley From wb6yru at aenet.net Sat Sep 16 15:19:34 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] helping SJ PD... In-Reply-To: <000301c6d96c$08063e00$9df61345@180edt> References: <450B6375.8000702@aenet.net> <000301c6d96c$08063e00$9df61345@180edt> Message-ID: <450C7876.1080704@aenet.net> Rich N wrote: > Since we have now had two SJPD officers pull in to Houge in the last two weeks wondering what is > going on, maybe we should make a sign that can be hung at the entrance to the parks driveway saying, > "Welcome, SJAA observing session from 7pm until about midnight." Having a sign is a very good idea in any case... police or not. Gary From wb6yru at aenet.net Sat Sep 16 16:19:51 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] insurance... just do it Message-ID: <450C8697.3090700@aenet.net> Re: directors & officers insurance One director already resigned over this and another is now quoting court cases. What's the world coming to? It used to be if group like this wanted to so something nice, they just did it--no worries. Not any more, apparently. OK, guys... to keep the piece and to keep the stomach acid under control, let's just get the insurance and be done with it. Apparently this is just the cost of doing business in this society. So, I propose that the board instruct the treasurer to buy the directors and officers supplimental insurance. Is there a second? (We can do this on the remailer.) Gary From jvn at svpal.org Sun Sep 17 00:45:25 2006 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] insurance... just do it References: <450C8697.3090700@aenet.net> Message-ID: <450CFD15.14E2@svpal.org> Gary Mitchell wrote: > So, I propose that the board instruct the treasurer to > buy the directors > and officers supplemental insurance. Is there a second? > > (We can do this on the remailer.) Yes, but every director must reply, not simply a majority. Clear Rules, -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's web site From craigus at rocketmail.com Sun Sep 17 21:55:41 2006 From: craigus at rocketmail.com (Craig Scull) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] September 9 , 2006 - Final SJAA Board Meeting Minutes Message-ID: <20060918045541.11745.qmail@web54505.mail.yahoo.com> ======================================================= September 9, 2006 - SJAA Board Meeting Minutes - Craig Scull ======================================================= August minutes were approved by a motion from Rich and seconded by Gordon. No one abstained. ------------------------------------- Members present ------------------------------------- Mike Koop Rob Hawley Rich Neuschaefer Gary Mitchell Bill O'Shaughnessy Lee Hoglan Gordon Reade Craig Scull Dave Smith ------------------------------------- Treasurer's report ------------------------------------- CD 1 5,076.34 CD 2 5,167.51 Checking 8,249.88 Observ. Fund 3,100.51 PayPal 209.02 Savings 403.18 Petty Cash 86.50 ------------ OVERALL TOTAL 22,292.94 We have a quote for the supplementary Directors & Officers insurance: $600 per year, or $605 with the terrorism option. We're currently paying $1140 for general liability coverage. Newsletter: affixing mailing labels vs printing addresses: AccuPrint can print up a set of sheets with mailing addresses only and use those when printing up the newsletter--resulting in pre-printing the addresses. Estimated additional cost $25, possibly a little more depending on how it goes with the folding machine (i.e. the need to re-print some addresses sheets and extra labor). If we go to 8.5x11 paper, many technical problems go away, but it does probably mean stapling the newsletter in the upper left corner. ------------------------------------- Membership report ------------------------------------- *** When memberships expire ************** Last SJAA Meeting 8/12/2006 Report Date 9/7/2006 Jul-06 8 Aug-06 8 Sep-06 16 Oct-06 15 Nov-06 12 Dec-06 17 Jan-07 17 Feb-07 25 Mar-07 23 Apr-07 11 May-07 24 Jun-07 57 Jul-07 19 Aug-07 29 Sep-07 11 Oct-07 5 more than 13 months 8 complementary 29 expiring 16 paid(current) 289 email delivery 20 Labels Generated 306 S&T Members 190 New Members since last meeting 7 current + complementary 318 *********** Membership counts during past year ************* Combined Current Paid Complementary New Members 9/14/2005 315 286 29 5 10/12/2005 312 284 28 10 11/9/2005 319 290 29 8 12/14/2005 322 293 29 7 64 in 2005 1/11/2006 328 298 30 9 (includes 2005 members) 2/10/2006 321 292 29 5 3/8/2006 325 298 5/11/2006 323 295 28 8 6/7/2006 318 290 28 3 8/9/2006 315 285 30 10 9/7/2006 318 289 29 7 *****************When current members joined***************** paid only 2006 42 2005 51 2004 75 2003 31 2002 19 2001 9 2000 1 < 2000 56 Specified 242 84% Not Specified 47 total 289 **************** What year did non renewing members join ******* expired (not including ex-compl) 2006 0 2005 17 2004 19 2003 11 2002 4 2001 0 2000 0 < 2000 11 Specified 62 90% Not Specified 7 total 69 ---------------------------------------------- Insurance ---------------------------------------------- Gary got us a quote of $600 for directors' insurance. Rob and Mike made the point that we may not expose ourselves to significant risk until we enter into a relationship with the land at Willow Springs. Existing insurance protects "club." Directors' insurance would protect "directors." The majority of the board feels we need directors' insurance when/if we enter into a long term relationship or ownership of land. School star parties were described as a possible risk. Some materials are passed onto the schools before the events, but they are not thought to contain any cautionary tips. Rob feels lake view picnic area is a risk because of large gopher holes that could cause someone to injure themselves. It was suggested that we could look for a lawyer in the astronomical community to consult for pro-bono advice on the question of whether we need directors' insurance. The name of the lawyer who volunteered to help us previously was named Krevatz. Bill made a motion to get directors' insurance. 2 voted for the motion. 3 abstained. 4 voted against the motion. ------------------------------------- Loaner scope program ------------------------------------- Ben of Pinnacles wants to borrow a few telescopes. ------------------------------------- Observational astronomy class ------------------------------------- Akkana is doing class next week on sketching. Jim Albers will do talk on satellite observing in Oct ------------------------------------- ATM Class ------------------------------------- 3 or so people still showing up. Want to see if there is more interest before deciding to continue. ------------------------------------- General Meeting Programs ------------------------------------- Dr. Steve Stahler will do talk on "why are there stars?" Shiloh Unruh will present on Egypt eclipse. ------------------------------------- Houge Star parties ------------------------------------- Last two star parties fairly successful. Houge park mtg held last week to discuss future of building. County is looking for another tenant who would rent building or they are looking to tear the building down. A mtg at the Camden Center later this month. The SJAA presence reduced crime at Houge park. The parking lot is consistently "clean" after SJAA events whereas on other non SJAA nights a variety of things are found in the parking lot that suggest that illicit activities are occurring. ------------------------------------- School star parties ------------------------------------- School star parties are scheduled. ------------------------------------- Observatory committee ------------------------------------- Last month's 3 day star party went extremely well. There was good turnout for friday and saturday nights in August, 20 and 30 people for each night, including Steve Gottlieb who posted an impressive observing report on TAC about the site's dark sky qualities exceeding those of the Sierra foothills as well as the steadyness of the skies that allowed 400x to 500x power. Bob Ayers suggested we hold another set of 3 star parties next summer to continue to generate interest in the site and attract more interest in facilities (observatories, pads, piers, storage, etc.) The question was raised as to whether the SJAA has enough manpower to maintain an observing site. Rich mentioned that purchasing the land from Bob could even be an option. ------------------------------------- Calstar ------------------------------------- 74 registrations for 115 participants 48 meals sold Friday 41 meals sold Saturday Total sold gross $1232 PayPal $ 32 Total Receipts $ 882 Outstanding payments $ 382 ------------------------------------- Ephemeris distribution ------------------------------------- For an extra $25-$30 per monthly printing run, addresses could also be printed onto the newsletters. Basically an address PDF file that can be used to do a second run on the newsletters to print the addresses on them. Rob is going to let the printer do a sample run. The extra cost is not deemed to be excessive. ------------------------------------- Calendar 2007 ------------------------------------- Jim submitted in July. Mike has provided feedback recently. Coyote star parties not scheduled yet. ATM dates are in calendar as placeholders. Bill O mad a motion to approve the calendar, Lee seconded. The rest of the members approved. 1 person abstained. ------------------------------------- Evergreen Observatory ------------------------------------- They are in favor of docent class for star parties -- essentially training student volunteers. High schools are requiring community service and so this is one possible outlet. ------------------------------------- Fall Swap ------------------------------------- Need to finalize rules. We will be required to collect all names and addresses of sellers. We will keep it free for people to walk in the door. The word "fee" will be replaced with donation. Mike made a motion to continue with the existing model and these small changes. All were in favor, no abstains. The meeting was adjourned at 8:02pm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20060917/d5a2902a/attachment.html From craigus at rocketmail.com Sun Sep 17 21:57:41 2006 From: craigus at rocketmail.com (Craig Scull) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] insurance... just do it In-Reply-To: <450CFD15.14E2@svpal.org> Message-ID: <20060918045741.42716.qmail@web54513.mail.yahoo.com> I am inclined to "just do it" (get the insurance) for now. We can always re-evaluate whether to renew it again for next year. It's not a multi-year contract. Perhaps by next year we will have a stronger consensus on whether we need this or not. Jim Van Nuland wrote: Gary Mitchell wrote: > So, I propose that the board instruct the treasurer to > buy the directors > and officers supplemental insurance. Is there a second? > > (We can do this on the remailer.) Yes, but every director must reply, not simply a majority. Clear Rules, -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's web site _______________________________________________ SJAABoard mailing list SJAABoard@sjaa.net http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.sjaa.net/pipermail/sjaaboard/attachments/20060917/eebe33a6/attachment.html From robhawley at earthlink.net Mon Sep 18 11:22:29 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Payment to Valley Catering Message-ID: <01aa01c6db4f$66e830b0$0300a8c0@robathome> Just to let the board know Since I will not freeze the order to Valley Catering until just before I leave for LSA, I am planning to pay using a personal check and then see reimbursement. Rob Hawley From jvn at svpal.org Mon Sep 18 13:16:04 2006 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Ephemeris arrived in this corner of 95124 Message-ID: <450EFE84.3E07@svpal.org> Hi, Rob, Mike, Subject says it: my copy of the Ephemeris arrived today about noon. -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's web site From robhawley at earthlink.net Mon Sep 18 18:48:59 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Current CalStar counts Message-ID: <01d501c6db8d$c7370020$0300a8c0@robathome> This is going to be a record CalStar. This is a case of "be careful what you ask for". People actually responded to all the advertising. All Registrations 185 people from 111 groups Dark Area 78 people from 55 groups Casual Area 51 people from 33 groups Meals fri-ham fri-veg fri-ss 49 5 11 sat-tt sat-ch sat-veg 49 13 6 Net Cost (including SJAA fee) $1889 PayPal Fees 66 Amount Collected to date $1650 (That's like real money!) I will post the final numbers on Wednesday. Rob Hawley From wb6yru at aenet.net Mon Sep 18 23:40:42 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Payment to Valley Catering In-Reply-To: <01aa01c6db4f$66e830b0$0300a8c0@robathome> References: <01aa01c6db4f$66e830b0$0300a8c0@robathome> Message-ID: <450F90EA.4080702@aenet.net> Rob Hawley wrote: > Just to let the board know > > Since I will not freeze the order to Valley Catering until just before I > leave for LSA, I am planning to pay using a personal check and then see > reimbursement. I was just about to ask about that... whether we would get a bill or be expected to pay them on the spot. If you're OK with doing that, thanks--the club is good for it. :) We have already given them checks totaling $550. That's two for travel fees ($125 each) and one for general deposit ($300). Gary From wb6yru at aenet.net Mon Sep 18 23:42:25 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Ephemeris arrived in this corner of 95124 In-Reply-To: <450EFE84.3E07@svpal.org> References: <450EFE84.3E07@svpal.org> Message-ID: <450F9151.9060606@aenet.net> Jim Van Nuland wrote: > Hi, Rob, Mike, > > Subject says it: my copy of the Ephemeris arrived today about noon. Mine too, (95124). Gary From jvn at svpal.org Tue Sep 19 01:37:47 2006 From: jvn at svpal.org (Jim Van Nuland) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Ephemeris arrived in this corner of 95124 References: <450EFE84.3E07@svpal.org> <450F9151.9060606@aenet.net> Message-ID: <450FAC5B.2748@svpal.org> Gary Mitchell wrote: > > Jim Van Nuland wrote: > > > Hi, Rob, Mike, > > > > Subject says it: my copy of the Ephemeris arrived today about noon. > > Mine too, (95124). Interesting! Last month we were several days apart. -- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association JVN's web site From d_crom at yahoo.com Tue Sep 19 13:47:22 2006 From: d_crom at yahoo.com (Dana Crom) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Ephemeris arrived in this corner of 95124 In-Reply-To: <450FAC5B.2748@svpal.org> Message-ID: <20060919204722.64996.qmail@web51711.mail.yahoo.com> Got mine yesterday, too (95120). --- Jim Van Nuland wrote: > Gary Mitchell wrote: > > > > Jim Van Nuland wrote: > > > > > Hi, Rob, Mike, > > > > > > Subject says it: my copy of the Ephemeris > arrived today about noon. > > > > Mine too, (95124). > > Interesting! Last month we were several days > apart. > > -- > Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical > Association > JVN's web > site > > _______________________________________________ > SJAABoard mailing list > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard > ================================== Dana Crom - San Jose, California d_crom@yahoo.com (personal email) Dana.Crom@zoran.com (work email) ================================== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com From robhawley at earthlink.net Wed Sep 20 13:21:24 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Final CalStar counts Message-ID: <02c501c6dcf2$58e33740$0300a8c0@robathome> 192 reservations in 118 different groups 78 reservations in 55 groups in dark area 51 reservations in 33 groups in casual area 26 people in 12 groups are not staying in the CalStar area {I did not sum up some of the other options} Meals counts SJAA due VC collected fri hamburger 43 473 430 veggie 5 55 50 sausage 11 121 110 ---- 590 sat tri-tip 48 864 816 chicken 16 256 240 veggie 6 84 78 ---- 1134 Total Collected 1,929 PayPal Fees Collected 76 ----- Total Published Cost 1,853 Due Valley Catering 1,724 net profit (loss) after payment of deposits (121) I did not consider the actual versus collecting handling fees in the profit figure above. From what I was seeing we probably also made a small amount on these. I will be paying Valley Catering via a bank check. The final payments to VC may be slightly higher if I allow walkins Rob Hawley From wb6yru at aenet.net Tue Sep 26 18:45:11 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] insurance... just do it In-Reply-To: <20060918045741.42716.qmail@web54513.mail.yahoo.com> References: <20060918045741.42716.qmail@web54513.mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4519D7A7.6050003@aenet.net> Craig Scull wrote: > I am inclined to "just do it" (get the insurance) for now. We can always re-evaluate whether to renew it again for next year. It's not a multi-year contract. > > Perhaps by next year we will have a stronger consensus on whether we need this or not. > So far (and it's been 10 days), this is the closest I've seen to someone casting a vote. Are we not considering this coverage at this time? Our insurance broker just contacted me asking about that. What should I tell him? Gary > > Jim Van Nuland wrote: > Gary Mitchell wrote: > >>So, I propose that the board instruct the treasurer to >>buy the directors >>and officers supplemental insurance. Is there a second? >> >>(We can do this on the remailer.) > > > Yes, but every director must reply, not simply a majority. > > Clear Rules, > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > SJAABoard mailing list > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard From robhawley at earthlink.net Tue Sep 26 19:22:51 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] insurance... just do it In-Reply-To: <4519D7A7.6050003@aenet.net> Message-ID: <00f701c6e1db$d56cc2c0$0300a8c0@robathome> I did not reply because I thought the matter was settled. We are getting insurance. Rob Hawley > -----Original Message----- > From: sjaaboard-bounces@sjaa.net > [mailto:sjaaboard-bounces@sjaa.net] On Behalf Of Gary Mitchell > Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 6:45 PM > To: Business list for SJAA board of directors and members > Subject: Re: [SJAABoard] insurance... just do it > > Craig Scull wrote: > > > I am inclined to "just do it" (get the insurance) for now. > We can always re-evaluate whether to renew it again for next > year. It's not a multi-year contract. > > > > Perhaps by next year we will have a stronger consensus on > whether we need this or not. > > > > So far (and it's been 10 days), this is the closest I've seen > to someone casting a vote. > > Are we not considering this coverage at this time? Our > insurance broker just contacted me asking about that. What > should I tell him? > > Gary > > > > > > Jim Van Nuland wrote: > > Gary Mitchell wrote: > > > >>So, I propose that the board instruct the treasurer to buy the > >>directors and officers supplemental insurance. Is there a second? > >> > >>(We can do this on the remailer.) > > > > > > Yes, but every director must reply, not simply a majority. > > > > Clear Rules, > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > -- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > SJAABoard mailing list > > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard > > > _______________________________________________ > SJAABoard mailing list > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard > From rnapo at znet.com Wed Sep 27 09:02:33 2006 From: rnapo at znet.com (Rich N) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] insurance... just do it References: <00f701c6e1db$d56cc2c0$0300a8c0@robathome> Message-ID: <001301c6e24e$58e2c1a0$34f61345@180edt> I may have missed one of the other messages. Let's get the insurance. Rich > I did not reply because I thought the matter was settled. We are getting > insurance. > > > Rob Hawley > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: sjaaboard-bounces@sjaa.net > > [mailto:sjaaboard-bounces@sjaa.net] On Behalf Of Gary Mitchell > > Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 6:45 PM > > To: Business list for SJAA board of directors and members > > Subject: Re: [SJAABoard] insurance... just do it > > > > Craig Scull wrote: > > > > > I am inclined to "just do it" (get the insurance) for now. > > We can always re-evaluate whether to renew it again for next > > year. It's not a multi-year contract. > > > > > > Perhaps by next year we will have a stronger consensus on > > whether we need this or not. > > > > > > > So far (and it's been 10 days), this is the closest I've seen > > to someone casting a vote. > > > > Are we not considering this coverage at this time? Our > > insurance broker just contacted me asking about that. What > > should I tell him? > > > > Gary > > > > > > > > > > Jim Van Nuland wrote: > > > Gary Mitchell wrote: > > > > > >>So, I propose that the board instruct the treasurer to buy the > > >>directors and officers supplemental insurance. Is there a second? > > >> > > >>(We can do this on the remailer.) > > > > > > > > > Yes, but every director must reply, not simply a majority. > > > > > > Clear Rules, > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > -- > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > 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 robhawley at earthlink.net Wed Sep 27 10:58:30 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Need reimbursement check for CalStar expenses Message-ID: <015f01c6e25e$8b1c03b0$0300a8c0@robathome> I paid the caterer $1724 in cashier's check drawn on my own account. In addition I had $23.61 in Kinko's expenses. If would appreciate picking up a check for this amount Friday night at Houge. Rob Hawley From wb6yru at aenet.net Wed Sep 27 16:07:37 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] insurance... just do it In-Reply-To: <00f701c6e1db$d56cc2c0$0300a8c0@robathome> References: <00f701c6e1db$d56cc2c0$0300a8c0@robathome> Message-ID: <451B0439.8020007@aenet.net> Rob Hawley wrote: > I did not reply because I thought the matter was settled. We are getting > insurance. That's news to me! When did this happen? At the last board meeting we tabled the issue. Then, on Sept. 14 (less than a week later), Bill O'Shaughnessy announced on the board remailer that he was resigning because we had *not* decided (yet) to get the insurance. A couple of days later I posted a motion that we get the insurance (before we lose any more directors over this). Until today (Wed.) I only saw Craig's response. So, there were at least three of us that had no idea the matter was settled. Gary > > Rob Hawley > > >>-----Original Message----- >>From: sjaaboard-bounces@sjaa.net >>[mailto:sjaaboard-bounces@sjaa.net] On Behalf Of Gary Mitchell >>Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 6:45 PM >>To: Business list for SJAA board of directors and members >>Subject: Re: [SJAABoard] insurance... just do it >> >>Craig Scull wrote: >> >> >>>I am inclined to "just do it" (get the insurance) for now. >> >>We can always re-evaluate whether to renew it again for next >>year. It's not a multi-year contract. >> >>> >>> Perhaps by next year we will have a stronger consensus on >> >>whether we need this or not. >> >>> >> >>So far (and it's been 10 days), this is the closest I've seen >>to someone casting a vote. >> >>Are we not considering this coverage at this time? Our >>insurance broker just contacted me asking about that. What >>should I tell him? >> >>Gary >> >> >> >>>Jim Van Nuland wrote: >>> Gary Mitchell wrote: >>> >>> >>>>So, I propose that the board instruct the treasurer to buy the >>>>directors and officers supplemental insurance. Is there a second? >>>> >>>>(We can do this on the remailer.) >>> >>> >>>Yes, but every director must reply, not simply a majority. >>> >>>Clear Rules, >>> >>> >>> >> >>---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >>>-- >>> >>>_______________________________________________ >>>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 north at znet.com Wed Sep 27 16:48:17 2006 From: north at znet.com (Dave North) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] insurance... just do it In-Reply-To: <451B0439.8020007@aenet.net> References: <00f701c6e1db$d56cc2c0$0300a8c0@robathome> <451B0439.8020007@aenet.net> Message-ID: <231ba0cc65be74a881f12983a2ef839b@znet.com> Gary Mitchell wrote: > So, there were at least three of us that had no idea the matter was > settled. Well, four, but I'm not on the board. Before you purchase it, though, it might be best to see if it covers directors when the board is found to be in breach of any of its various responsibilities (in other words, no matter what). If not, it may in fact be worthless. Especially when you consider how tricky it can be to always avoid such a breach. For example, there may be some folks who don't know all the rules about passing motions involving expenditures. Something to think about, anyway. Dave From wb6yru at aenet.net Wed Sep 27 16:55:24 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Need reimbursement check for CalStar expenses In-Reply-To: <015f01c6e25e$8b1c03b0$0300a8c0@robathome> References: <015f01c6e25e$8b1c03b0$0300a8c0@robathome> Message-ID: <451B0F6C.6010009@aenet.net> Rob Hawley wrote: > I paid the caterer $1724 in cashier's check drawn on my own account. In > addition I had $23.61 in Kinko's expenses. > > If would appreciate picking up a check for this amount Friday night at > Houge. So, that's a total of $1747.61. Good enough, I'll have it then. To keep the accounting straight: Is the Kinko's related to Calstar meals or something else? Gary From robhawley at earthlink.net Wed Sep 27 17:29:07 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] Need reimbursement check for CalStar expenses In-Reply-To: <451B0F6C.6010009@aenet.net> Message-ID: <01ab01c6e295$1c6392d0$0300a8c0@robathome> It is reproducing the signs and the programs. Also we will be refunding the Friday night meal payment for a couple. They arrived late, but pointed out that the web site did not list the meal times. I talked with Mike and that seemed to be the correct thing to do. Next year the web site will need to specify the meal times. One other person also did not arrive and initially ask me about a refund. The next night he approached me and said forget it. I am inclined to still offer the refund. I have the copies of the checks as receipts. Rob Hawley From koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net Wed Sep 27 18:36:37 2006 From: koopm at koopm.best.vwh.net (Michael Koop) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] insurance... just do it In-Reply-To: <451B0439.8020007@aenet.net> References: <00f701c6e1db$d56cc2c0$0300a8c0@robathome> <451B0439.8020007@aenet.net> Message-ID: <20060927191013.C47871@koopm.best.vwh.net> We will be voting on it at the next board meeting to allow more time to do research and understand the information posted by Rob. Mike On Wed, 27 Sep 2006, Gary Mitchell wrote: > Rob Hawley wrote: >> I did not reply because I thought the matter was settled. We are getting >> insurance. > > That's news to me! When did this happen? > > At the last board meeting we tabled the issue. > > Then, on Sept. 14 (less than a week later), Bill O'Shaughnessy announced on > the board remailer that he was resigning because we had *not* decided (yet) > to get the insurance. > > A couple of days later I posted a motion that we get the insurance (before > we lose any more directors over this). Until today (Wed.) I only saw > Craig's response. > > So, there were at least three of us that had no idea the matter was settled. > > Gary > >> >> Rob Hawley >> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: sjaaboard-bounces@sjaa.net [mailto:sjaaboard-bounces@sjaa.net] On >>> Behalf Of Gary Mitchell >>> Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 6:45 PM >>> To: Business list for SJAA board of directors and members >>> Subject: Re: [SJAABoard] insurance... just do it >>> >>> Craig Scull wrote: >>> >>> >>>> I am inclined to "just do it" (get the insurance) for now. >>> >>> We can always re-evaluate whether to renew it again for next year. It's >>> not a multi-year contract. >>>> Perhaps by next year we will have a stronger consensus on >>> >>> whether we need this or not. >>> >>>> >>> >>> So far (and it's been 10 days), this is the closest I've seen to someone >>> casting a vote. >>> >>> Are we not considering this coverage at this time? Our insurance broker >>> just contacted me asking about that. What should I tell him? >>> >>> Gary >>> >>> >>> >>>> Jim Van Nuland wrote: >>>> Gary Mitchell wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>>> So, I propose that the board instruct the treasurer to buy the directors >>>>> and officers supplemental insurance. Is there a second? >>>>> >>>>> (We can do this on the remailer.) >>>> >>>> >>>> Yes, but every director must reply, not simply a majority. >>>> Clear Rules, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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 >> > > > _______________________________________________ > SJAABoard mailing list > SJAABoard@sjaa.net > http://www.sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard > From wb6yru at aenet.net Thu Sep 28 22:06:46 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] more about the D&O insurance Message-ID: <451CA9E6.1040300@aenet.net> I just got another reply from our insurance broker. He asked whether we were still considering this coverage because the quote expires on 10/6. (Our next meeting is on 10/7.) Why it should expire, I have no idea. It doesn't make much sense. Would it be more if we applied in October? Somehow I doubt it. It should be just as stable as any premium. But that's just me. He also admitted that most issues involving D&O coverage has to do with employees. However, that would mean a $1000 policy. Since we have no employees, it's $600. He says most of the risk in our case, and which this policy covers, would come from us--one of our own directors (past or present). But what are the chances one of us would get pissed off enough to go after the rest of us? I dunno. Vanishingly small, I'd like to think. This is just an amateur astronomy club after all. Still, I guess anything is possible. Well, anyway... Now what? Let it expire? It's either that or you guys will probably have to take up my motion here on the remailer... and soon. Unless someone has another alternative. Gary From robhawley at earthlink.net Fri Sep 29 09:45:53 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 03:57:35 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] We need to proceed with liability insurance Message-ID: <027d01c6e3e6$baff8910$0300a8c0@robathome> I am a little surprised we are still discussing this after the material I forwarded from the lawyer. California law does provide significant protection to board members of non-profits. But there are ways to still sue directors. In any event anyone can sue anyone. I was threatened with a lawsuit last year as I tried to enforce the road closures at CalStar. I forwarded a lot of material in a previous posting. I deleted one of the postings from the board archive because it included contact information for the attorney. I will be happy to forward that information off list to any board member. There was a lot of material that we exchanged. From my own research the case that is applicable to the discussion is Frances T. v. Village Green Owner Assn. The lawyer's response to this case was to recommend we get insurance. >From To Serve or Not to Serve: The Benefits and Hazards of Lawyers Serving on Nonprofit Boards GENERAL NONPROFIT DIRECTOR LIABILITY ISSUES by LISA A. RUNQUIST Runquist & Zybach LLP Attorneys at Law Los Angeles, California Updated 2/7/2002 http://tinyurl.com/ntkw7 ##Quoting from the reference Even if all of this is done correctly, liability of directors and officers may be found to exist. In California, the leading case in this area is Frances T. v. Village Green Owners Assn.1 The California Supreme Court held in Frances T. that the business judgment rule contained in the Corporations Code (similar to Section 8.30, referenced above) is not a bar to individual director liability if a director participates in tortious conduct, even if the director is acting in his or her official capacity. In the Frances T. case, the plaintiff alleged that: (i) the association directors owed a duty to her; ###################### (ii) they had specific knowledge that a hazardous condition existed which threatened her personal safety; and (iii) they failed to take action to avoid the harm. ###################### In ruling that the plaintiff had stated a cause of action against the directors as individuals, the Supreme Court found that to maintain a tort claim against a director, individually, the plaintiff must show that: (i) the director specifically authorized, directed or participated in the tortious conduct; or (ii) the director knew or should have known that a condition under the board's control was hazardous and could cause injury and yet the director negligently failed to take action to avoid the harm; and (iii) an ordinarily prudent person, possessing the same knowledge as the director, would have acted differently. The California Supreme Court specifically noted that individual directors named in a personal injury suit have a defense against personal liability if their conduct was not clearly unreasonable under the circumstances or if they reasonably relied on expert advice or the decision of a subordinate who was in a better position to act. The Francis T. court also held that any director who did not vote in favor of the action which caused the injury would have a defense to personal liability. See Frances T. v. Village Green Owner Assn., supra, at 509-511. See also Seagate Technology v. A. J. Kogyo Co., 219 Cal. App. 3d 696, 702 (1990) and Taylor-Rush v. Multitech Corp., 217 Cal. App. 3d 103, 112 (1990). ##end quote To put this in a different way assume we were running an organization to promote hang gliding. We allowed the public to take a ride, but did not instruct them on the dangers or have them sign a waiver. When (not if) someone was hurt the directors could be found liable. To extreme an example you say! How many of you have been on jury duty? Those esteemed folks are the ones you have to convince that walking through a field in total darkness is not inherently dangerous. I really do not have time to deal with this before my trip. Assuming the board does not fix this problem itself when I get back I have 3 alternatives: 1. Purchase private insurance 2. Hire an attorney at my own expense to come speak to the board 3. Not run for re-election Gary mentioned that the existing bid expires next week. Many professionals provide a time limit for their services. If we ask they will give us a new bid, but expect a "bozo" fee to be tacked onto it for making them prepare the bid more than once. Similarly my offer to pick up the cost of this insurance has expired. My original communication of the results of the board requesting input from a lawyer did not count as a vote. Hopefully this will. Rob Hawley From wb6yru at aenet.net Sat Sep 30 04:14:11 2006 From: wb6yru at aenet.net (Gary Mitchell) Date: Sat Sep 30 04:11:55 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] We need to proceed with liability insurance In-Reply-To: <027d01c6e3e6$baff8910$0300a8c0@robathome> References: <027d01c6e3e6$baff8910$0300a8c0@robathome> Message-ID: <451E5183.5040307@aenet.net> Rob Hawley wrote: > I am a little surprised we are still discussing this after the material I > forwarded from the lawyer. I can't help wondering how accurate that advice is. It seems to me there's a built-in bias. There's no down-side for a lawyer to recommend getting insurance, even if it's not really needed. However, there *is* a down-side for him in telling us we probably don't need it. If something happens, we could go after him for the bad advice. > California law does provide significant > protection to board members of non-profits. But there are ways to still sue > directors. In any event anyone can sue anyone. True, but all the insurance in the world won't change that. I was trying to find a list of exactly what's covered in the D&O policy to compare with what's covered in our general policy, but apparently I don't have it. However, the insurance broker says that in our case it primarily covers the risk of internal suits, like one director suing the rest. > From my own research the > case that is applicable to the discussion is Frances T. v. Village Green > Owner Assn. The lawyer's response to this case was to recommend we get > insurance. I read that over more than once. Is that the worst example they can come up with? What I got from it is that as long as we, as directors, behave in a reasonable and conscientious way, that's a pretty solid defense. > To put this in a different way assume we were running an organization to > promote hang gliding. We allowed the public to take a ride, but did not > instruct them on the dangers or have them sign a waiver. When (not if) > someone was hurt the directors could be found liable. > > To extreme an example you say! How many of you have been on jury duty? > Those esteemed folks are the ones you have to convince that walking through > a field in total darkness is not inherently dangerous. I don't think that's a good analogy. But be that as it may, this is exactly why we have our general liability policy. > I really do not have time to deal with this before my trip. Assuming the > board does not fix this problem itself when I get back I have 3 > alternatives: > > 1. Purchase private insurance > > 2. Hire an attorney at my own expense to come speak to the board > > 3. Not run for re-election And THAT is why I proposed we get the D&O supplement. Not because we really need it, but just to keep the board from coming apart at the seams. Gary From robhawley at earthlink.net Sat Sep 30 07:12:55 2006 From: robhawley at earthlink.net (Rob Hawley) Date: Sat Sep 30 07:12:52 2006 Subject: [SJAABoard] We need to proceed with liability insurance In-Reply-To: <451E5183.5040307@aenet.net> Message-ID: <02e501c6e49a$869228e0$0300a8c0@robathome> For me this has become a business decision. The board is aware of my parameters. I also do not feel that it is likely a part from an airplane will strike my house, but I have insurance for that. Rob Hawley