B.C.A.A.S. BOARD MEETING MINUTES
September 7, 2006
A Board Meeting was held on September 7, 2006 at Barb Geigle’s home, at 8:00 pm. Dave Brown, Ron Kunkel, Paul Becker, Linda Sensenig, Bret Cadmus, Keith Minnich and Barb Geigle attended. Ron announced that the man who is buying the Cave telescope will be picking it up in a few days.
We will have a public star watch on November 8 at 3:30 pm for the Mercury Transit, at the Dry Brook Day Use Area at Blue Marsh Lake. We will have a talk and solar observing prior to the transit and stargazing when it gets dark. The rain date will be Saturday, November 11 at 6:00 pm for stargazing.
The Museum has asked us to participate in the Grand Reopening program for the Planetarium on Saturday, October 7 from 11 to 5 and Sunday, Oct. 8 from noon to 5. Former Astronaut Story Musgrave will be speaking at 3 on Saturday and at 1 on Sunday (he will have a book signing at 12 on Sunday). Dave noted that we had agreed to help fund Dr. Musgrave’s visit with a $500 donation, with the understanding that he would be available to speak to our group. However, Dr. Musgrave doesn’t arrive until late Friday evening and will be leaving immediately after his talk on Sunday. Further, the museum didn’t make any arrangements for him to meet with the club, and suggested we contact Dr. Musgrave directly. Dave will send him an email explaining that our members will be outside with telescopes and demonstrations and will miss his talks and asking if he will meet with us for an hour from 5 to 6 pm on Saturday, or if we could take him to dinner.
Dave will try to find out if a room will be available for us to give talks during the 2 day event. We will also need to be set up outside somewhere that the sun can be viewed. Ron is willing to give a talk on Pluto, and Keith Minnich will give a talk on transits. Anyone else willing to give a program should contact Dave so that we can make up a schedule. Barb has an easel and board that the schedule can be displayed on. Barb will also print up a flyer announcing our transit watch at Blue Marsh.
Several members will have their telescopes at a fund raiser dinner for the Planetarium on Friday, Oct. 6. Dr. Musgrave is supposed to give a short talk, and we will have a short star watch afterward.
Our September speaker is Dr. Ruth Daly from Penn State, and our November speaker is Jacqueline van Gorkum from Columbia University.
Respectfully submitted
Barbara Geigle, Secretary