[Sjaa-board] July 11 2009 - SJAA DRAFT Board Meeting Minutes

Tue Jul 14 14:27:15 MDT 2009

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July 11 2009 - SJAA DRAFT Board Meeting Minutes

- Greg Claytor

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Members present
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Robert Armstrong - Treasurer

Greg Claytor - Secretary

Lee Hoglan

Rich Neuschaefer - President

Rod Norden

Gordon Reade

Kevin Roberts 

Mark Wagner

Robert Armstrong, Greg Claytor, Lee Hoglan, Rich Neuschaefer, Rod Norden, Gordon Reade and Mark Wagner were present.  Kevin Roberts was absent.  Notice was not discussed.

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Meeting Called to Order

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Meeting called to order at or about 6:36 pm

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May and June Meeting Minutes

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Robert motioned to approve the May minutes.  Rich seconded the motion. The motion was unanimous.  There were no abstentions or oppositions.

Robert motioned to approve the June minutes.  Gordon seconded the motion. The motion was unanimous.  There were no abstentions or oppositions.  .

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Treasurer's Report

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Robert submitted and presented account summaries to the board.  Detail can be viewed at SJAA.net on the Board mailing list archives.

Robert cautioned that our CDs are getting a paltry .02%.  Robert motioned to begin exploring alternate investment vehicles that might provide higher yields than those of our current CDs.  Rich seconded the motion. The motion was unanimous.  There were no abstentions or oppositions.

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Beginner's Astronomy Class

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Rod outlined his plan to develop and conduct Quarterly Outdoor Constellation Classes at Hogue Park.  It was concluded that there would be better continuity if the indoor section of the class ended a half an hour prior to the start of the outdoor section, giving participants time to set up and/or look at ther member's scopes.  The initial outdoor constellation class will begin October 9th.  Rod agreed to post quarterly nautical twilight times for the entire year to fine tune beginner class and star party start times.

It was agreed that the July 17th beginner classes will begin at 8:00.  July 17th and 31st star parties will begin at 9:30.  The August 14th beginner class will begin at 7:30.  The August 14th and 28th star parties will begin at 9:00.  

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SJAA eMail Addresses

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Mark outlined a enormous and continuing spam problem directed at SJAA email accounts, then talked about a strategy he's come up with to lower that volume.

Rich made a motion to accept Marks plan to implement changes to SJAA email system to mitigate the spam problem.  Rod seconded the motion. The motion was unanimous.  There were not abstentions or oppositions.

The board decided not to post the plan specifics in an effort to keep the spammers at bay.

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Observatory Fund

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Greg informed the board that he had researched placing an ad with the San Jose Mercury news and that the cost looked to be free.  Greg added that he will prepare the ad copy describing the SJAA's plan to abandon any plans to build an observatory, now or in the future, and post it to the board list for review.  Robert mentioned that we need to keep the ad brief and also post it to the Ephemeris. 

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School Star Party Program

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There are currently no School Star Parties during summer break.

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Membership

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Mark mentioned that membership is stable, that he continues to send renewal reminders and people are responsive.  Membership report detail can be viewed at SJAA.net on the Board mailing list archives.

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Loaner Program

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Lee mentioned that he has begun using our new club storage location at Hogue for loaner scopes, several scopes have been returned including one very nice scope with a long focal length (?).  He reported no problems with the loaner program.

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Coverage for Upcoming Events

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Coverage for upcoming events is adequate and no activities are without coverage.

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Hogue/ PRN

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Rich mention that we are now in possession of a Hogue Park gate key and that the city has asked that we begin locking the gate following our meetings and activities at the park.

Mark mentioned that He's forwarded a copy of SJAA's insurance to the city.  He also mentioned that the SJAA is now in possession of the contract provided by the city, but that he's not had the opportunity to review it.  There remain some outstanding issues from the clubs perspective.  Mark and Robert continue to work to resolve these final issues.

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By-Law Changes

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Robert suggested, and it was agreed, that the By-Law Sub Committee meet at CALSTAR 09' to discuss the specific being considered.  The board will post the specific time and location of the meeting to the board list prior to CALSTAR 09'.

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AANC

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Mark motioned to amend last month's motion.

Mark motioned that the AANC donate a grant to the SJAA to cover the cost of SJAA insuring CALSTAR '09 using the SJAA's insurance.  If the AANC grants monies to the SJAA to cover the cost of the insurance rider, then SJAA will agree to participate as a co-sponsor of CALSTAR '09.  Left Coast Observers, as organizer of the event, must also agree that AANC and SJAA will be given one seat each on the organizing committee for CALSTAR 09'.  In the event that the AANC chooses not to participate then SJAA will agree to cover the cost itself.

Robert seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.  There were no abstentions or oppositions.

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Ephemeris As Electronic By Default 

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Rich made a motion for Mark to create a paragraph for inclusion on the SJAA Membership web page describing the cost of producing the Ephemeris and inform the membership that we are moving to an "electronic by default" method of delivering the Ephemeris.  Robert seconded.  Motion was unanimous with no abstentions or oppositions.

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Meeting Adjourned - Rich 

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Rich motioned to adjourn the meeting at or about 7:53.  Mark Seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.  There were no abstentions or oppositions.
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