B.C.A.A.S. MEETING MINUTES

October 9, 2008

The meeting was called to order by Dave Brown with 22 in attendance.  He noted that we received a donation from the Schuylkill Valley Library for the talk he gave there, and also a donation for the talks he and Ron Kunkel had given at the Hawk Mountain Scout Camp. We are also expecting a donation from French Creek State Park for the talk he gave there in August.  The weather did not cooperate for the LVAAS Megameet last weekend, although some observing was done on Friday night.

A computer on the Hubble Space Telescope that collects science data to send to Earth broke down just before the planned servicing mission was to launch. NASA is going to try to start up the backup system.  They delayed the launch of the shuttle mission until early next year so that a backup system that has been in storage can be checked out to possibly be installed on that mission.

Dave Brown and Barb Geigle are going to meet with Ron Roth on October 22 to start preliminary discussions for the joint programs we are planning with the museum next year.

We will be celebrating our 35th anniversary at the December meeting in the Museum. If anyone has any photos of past BCAAS events, they would be appreciated.  Food will be provided by the club.

Linda Sensenig reported a balance of $$$$. Our CD is due to renew soon; Dave will contact the bank to renew it.

Barb Geigle announced that the Night Sky Network will have a teleconference on November 18.  The topic is "How to make an Itty Bitty (sidewalk) Radio Telescope" with speaker Sue Ann Heatherly. Ms. Heatherly is the Education Officer of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) at Green Bank, West Virginia.  More details will be provided at the next meeting. 

The Penn. Outdoor Lighting Council is looking for a Berks County business to give a “Good Lighting Award” to. Ron suggested a business in Tilden Township, as they had been working on a lighting ordinance. If anyone has any candidates, please contact Barb Geigle.

Skies Unlimited, in Pottstown, is having their annual Expo this Saturday.  Hands On Optics is having theirs on November 8.

Nominations for officers for next year are being accepted. So far, Barb Geigle will run for President, Linda Sensenig for Treasurer, and possibly Dave Brown for Vice President.

Barry Shupp was our speaker tonight. He discussed digital photography and showed some of his outstanding images.

 Respectfully submitted

Barbara Geigle, Secretary

 

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