[SJAAboard] October 27, 2007 - Final SJAA Board Meeting Minutes

Craig Scull craigus at rocketmail.com
Sun Nov 18 00:37:02 MST 2007


======================================================
October 27, 2007 - SJAA Board Meeting Minutes
- Craig Scull
======================================================

Rob made a motion to approve the September meeting
minutes. The motion was seconded by Craig and approved
by unanimous vote. There were no abstentions or
oppositions.


-------------------------------------
Members present
-------------------------------------
SJAA Board Members
*-Rob Hawley
*-Rich Neuschaefer
*-Lee Hoglan
*-Craig Scull
*-Gary Mitchell
*-Steve Nelson (excused)
*-Dave Smith
*-Robert Armstrong
*-Gordon Reade

SJAA Members
*-Jim Van Nuland


-------------------------------------
Coverage for upcoming events
-------------------------------------
November

  2 -Fr- Houge Park star party
  2 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 
Rob

 16 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 4:57 pm, 43%
moon sets 10:47 pm.
         Star party hours: 7:00 until 10:00 pm
Rob

 17 -Sa- General Meeting. Michael Connelly will speak
on The Formation
         of Binary Stars
         Board meeting at 6:00; General Meeting at 8:00
Rich

 18 -Su- Fall Swap at Houge Park.  Noon to late
afternoon.
Gary

 30 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 4:51 pm, 53%
moon rise 11:33 pm.
         Star party hours: 7:00 until 10:00 pm
 30 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. a 3D view of
what is around the Milky Way.
Rob
 

 December

 14 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 4:51 pm, 27%
moon sets  9:45 pm.
         Star party hours: 7:00 until 10:00 pm
Rob

 22 -Sa- General Meeting. Our own Dr. Lee Hoglan will
speak on
         Night Myopia.
         Board meeting at 6:00; General Meeting at 8:00
Rob

 28 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 4:58 pm, 69%
moon rise 10:21 pm.
         Star party hours: 7:00 until 10:00 pm
Rob


-------------------------------------
Treasurer's report - Gary Mitchell
-------------------------------------
Treasurer's report for board meeting, October 27, 2007

Accounts:

CD 1          5251.66
CD 2          5000.00
CD 3          5393.07
CD 4          5215.84
Checking      2134.62
Obs. Fund     3235.84
PayPal         200.16
Savings        343.92
Petty Cash      80.24
              ---------
TOTAL        26,855.92


CD 4 matured and renewed October 1.

CalStar 2007 meals:
We took in a total of $2466.10 and paid out a total
of $2483.49 (including fees), for a net loss of
$17.39.  This is an order of magnitude improvement
over last year's loss of $118.61.

$600 was received for mirror making supplies sold to
Richard Ozer from Chabot.


-------------------------------------
RASC 2008 Observer Handbooks and Astronomy Calendars
-------------------------------------
Paul K. wants 68 calendars, Kenneth (SFAA) wants 5
calendars.  With our own, that will put us over the
100 price break.

Last time we ordered 60 of the Observer Handbooks. 
Kenneth wants 10 of those (about the same as last
year).  This year we'll order a few more: 65.

In addition we'll try getting 25 of the Beginner
Guides.  Kenneth wants 5 of those.


-------------------------------------
SJAA Business Cards
-------------------------------------
Gary showed a sample business card at the meeting. He
is going to print 100 for us and additional batches as
needed. Thanks Gary!


-------------------------------------
General Meeting Programs
-------------------------------------
Our January speaker is confirmed- Jeff Moore.


-------------------------------------
What is a Majority?
-------------------------------------
Gary to put wording online and bring to next meeting
so we can vote on it.


-------------------------------------
Ephemeris Mailing
-------------------------------------
Thanks to Gordon the labeling process is going much
smoother!


-------------------------------------
Swap Preparation
-------------------------------------
No changes to the forms from last year. Gary is
leading this event. Volunteers should show up at least
a 1/2 hour early to set up tables and such. Doors open
at 12 for sellers to set up.


-------------------------------------
CalStar 2008
-------------------------------------
Very wet from rain, dew, and mud. Next year's event
is going to be in the later part of September and we
are hopeful for better weather.

Robert made a motion that the board appoint Rob as
lead of CalStar 2008 and renew the April 2007 CalStar
resolution. Rob seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.

Rob made a motion that we will contract with Valley
Catering to provide meal service. Robert seconded the
motion. The motion passed unanimously.


-------------------------------------
Permanent AANC Representative
-------------------------------------
Rob made a motion to remove Steve Nelson as the SJAA
representative for the AANC. Rich seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.

Rob sent a letter of apology to MoJo and Jane on
behalf of the board. Rich also signed the letter

Rich is volunteering to serve as our the
representative to AANC. The next meeting is Dec. 2.
Rob made a motion to appoint Rich as the acting AANC
representative. The motion was seconded by Lee. The
motion passed unanimously.


-------------------------------------
Mike Koop complementary membership
-------------------------------------
Robert made a motion to renew Mike's membership for
another year. Lee seconded the motion. The motion
passed by majority. There was one opposition.


-------------------------------------
Loaner Program
-------------------------------------
Rob will go to the DMV with the license numbers and
scope loan contracts from the 4 scope loanees and see
if he can get the addresses of these people. These
people have not been responding to his continued
attempts to contact them.

Rob made a motion that we try to sell the following
two telescope at the swap or auction with a disclaimer
to potential sellers that each OTA is good, but that
the mounts have serious problems. Craig seconded the
motion. The motion passed unanimously.
  #38 is very difficult to set up and use.
  #19 is a german equatorial that is not easy to set
      up.


#26 Rob to investigate optics and we'll decide the
future of this scope in a future meeting.

We're beginning to think that the best way to
evaluate the telescopes in the inventory is to request
them individually (rather than all at once or in
passing from one loanee to the next) do a
evaluation/fix ups, and make a keep/no-keep decision. 

Gary makes a motion to sell the Orion AZ-3 altazimuth
mount to Rob minus the $30 cost of the replacement
parts he purchased. Craig seconded the motion. There
was one vote against the motion by proxy. Rob recused
himself from the vote. The motion passed by majority.

A member is going to make a donation of a new Orion
6" Intelliscope Dobsonian telescope with digital
setting circles. Craig makes a motion that we accept
the donation. Robert seconded the motion. The motion
passed unanimously.

Rob made a motion that we purchase Akana's StarBlast
telescope which she has priced at 1/2 price. Lee
seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.


-------------------------------------
Reaffirming SJAA Culture
-------------------------------------
Rob made a motion that the club will not pursue
sexual harassment insurance. Gordon seconds this
motion. The motion passed unanimously.


-------------------------------------
Observational Astronomy Class Report 
-------------------------------------
This has been getting increasingly popular due to the
high quality of content presented.


-------------------------------------
Houge Park SP 
-------------------------------------
No updates.


-------------------------------------
Observatory Committee
-------------------------------------
No updates.


-------------------------------------
School Star Parties
-------------------------------------
Here are the lists as of the end of October 23. 

  Cumulative list of school events for 2007-8 school
  year

Completed events:

    Total  Good Part. Cloudy Cancel
    sched  sky  succ.  fail  at noon
Jul  1    1    -    -    -
Aug  3    3    -    -    -
Sep  2    1    -    -    1
Oct  8    3    2    1    2
-----------------------------------
Tot  14    8    2    1    3


Coming attractions (includes one in October):

    Total  Firm Makeup  Negotiating
Oct  1    1    -    -
Nov  9    8    -    1
Dec  4    2    2    -
2008
Jan  4    3    -    1
Feb  4    3    -    1
Mar  4    4    -    -
Apr  4    4    -    0
...
Aug  1    1    -    0
-----------------------------------
tot  26    25    2    3       

  "Makeup" are firm dates. They will be dropped from
this list if the primary event is successful.  If
primary fails, the makeup event will be moved from
3rd to 2nd column, and the name of the school will be
added on the Current Events page.


SERVER MIGRATION --

  All school and calendar files have been moved from
my own website to
<http://www.sjaa.net/school>.

Calendar files: Hotline, full years 2007 and 8, and
the Yosemite page.

School files: Current Events, Teacher's Advice,
Astronomer's Advice.

  The old site has small pages that put up a little
message with the new URL, suggest that the reader
update the bookmark, and says click to proceed. 

  The information files on the Scolstar remailer have
been edited so that they point to the new locations.

  In addition, I've uploaded the .TXT files that have
driving directions to all the schools back to late
1995, when electronic distribution came
into use for school events.  These will be updated
along with the weekly postings that announce another
weeks' school events. 

Clear Skies! 
-- 
Jim Van Nuland


-------------------------------------
Membership Report
-------------------------------------
Last SJAA Meeting        9/22/2007
Report Date        10/17/2007

expired        82
       
Sep-07        8
       
Oct-07        13
Nov-07        12
Dec-07        15
Jan-08        16
Feb-08        17
Mar-08        20
Apr-08        12
May-08        19
Jun-08        58
Jul-08        23
Aug-08        22
Sep-08        19
Oct-08        13
Nov-08        6
more than 13 months        6
complementary        33
       
expiring            8
paid(current)        271
       
email delivery        38
Labels Generated        270

S&T Members        174
New Members since last meeting        4
current + complementary        304

********************Membership
retention********************

    paid only           
    Members at
      end of year        Members retained       
2007        42        42
2006        58        39    67%    81
2005        64        26    41%    107
2004        68**        18    26%    125
2003        61**        23    38%    148
2002        26**        14    54%    162
< 2002    148**        109    74%    271

    ** based on 12/04           
total                271       

*************history*******************************

        Tot    Paid    Compl New
10/4/06    316    285    31    7   
12/13/06    321    289    32    2   
1/10/07    319    286    33    4    58 in 2006
2/20/07    315    281    34    2   
3/21/07    312    279    33    4   
4/14/07    311    278    33    4   
8/14/07    308    274    34    8   
9/18/07    305    270    35    5   
10/17/07    304    271    33    4   

Rob Hawley



Lastly, Rich will be leading next month's meeting in
Rob's absence.


The meeting was adjourned at 7:50.





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