Board Meeting - 12/02/2008
BATTLE POINT ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION
MINUTES of
BOARD MEETING of DECEMBER 2, 2008
Time 19:11 -- Convened Board Meeting
President Harry Colvin, as presiding officer, convened the BPAA Board Meeting at 19:10 on December 2, 2008.
Other Board Members present were:
Mike Browning, Vice President
Russell M. Heglund, Secretary
Steve Ruhl, Education Officer
Nels Johansen, Facilities Officer
Malcolm Saunders, Chief Astronomer
Absent: Frank Schroer, Treasurer
The Bylaws require five Board Members to be present to constitute a quorum, therefore a quorum was present.
No visitors were present.
Time 19:12 -- Previous Board Minutes
Minutes of the November 5, 2008 Board Meeting were read by R. Heglund, Secretary. H. Colvin moved/S. Ruhl seconded, that the minutes be approved. Motion passed by the Board.
Time 19:18 -- President's Report
H. Colvin reports: The Big Picture event went well, standing room only in a crowd of about 50 people. Thanks go to Mike Browning for paying for the pre-event dinner. Vicki did an excellent job on publicity. The presentation by Dr Djorgovski, Professor of Astronomy at Cal Tech, was excellent. I have downloaded a presentation by Dr. Djorgovski and it is available.
Time 19:31 -- Vice President's Report (see attached Fund Raising Activity report)
M. Browning reports: The fundraising letter will be coming out in the next couple of days. I talked to the Paul Allen group about thier grants. We didn't get it because we are not big enough....don't reach enough people (with our proposed project). We submitted a letter of inquirey to the Annenberg Grant people, for $95,000, to see if they are interested (in our project). We are looking for from $20 to $35,000 from individuals to make-up to matching funds.
Time 19:58 -- Treasurer's Report (see attached report as of November 30, 2008) (also attached are reports as of Oct 31, 2008 and October Previous Year comparison)
H. Colvin reports: Total assets as of November 30 are $24,541.31.
Time 20:02 -- Membership Report (see attached report)
H. Colvin reports: As of December 3: 2 new members, 6 renewals, 21 expiring, and 5 second notices. Frank Schroer is looking for someone to take over membership job.
M. Browning: I will contact new members Barb Martin and Travis Pine.
Time 20:08 -- Secretary Report
R. Heglund reports: I have been working to "firm up" two artists proposals (for the Sundial Project). May bring to the Board solid proposals at the February Board Meeting.
M. Saunders: About how much is estimated to build it?
R. Heglund: About $15 to $20,000; depending on materials.
Time 20:10 -- Facilities Report
N. Johansen reports: I don't have time for lots of projects right now. Nothing to report.
M. Saunders: You deserve "applause" for all your work on the Dome.
Time 20:15 -- Chief Astronomer Report
M. Saunders reports: Nothing new on 20" Dobsonian project. We are learning how to run the Losmandy Mount. Russ had it a week for learning. Frank Schroer has donated a laptop computer to run it. We need some adapters for the Questar Telescope, for cameras.
Also: I have disabled the rotator motor on the Dome. I have put a Log Book up at the Ritchie Telescope.
Time 20:23 -- Education Report
S. Ruhl reports: We had about 30 people at the November Planetarium show. I will be doing the Planetarium Show on December 20. My goal next year is to get more (Planetarium) Operators.
Time 20:26 -- New Business
H. Colvin reports: I am presenting the following Slate of Officers, for nomination by the Board:
Office of President: Harry Colvin
Office of Vice President: Mike Browning
Office of Secretary: Russell M. Heglund
Office of Treasurer: Frank Schroer
Office of Chief Astronomer: Malcolm Saunders
Office of Facilities Officer: Nels Johansen
Office of Education Officer: Steve Ruhl
H. Colvin moved/M. Saunders seconded, to accept the slate of officers. Motion passed by the Board.
Time 20:26 -- Awards Dinner
H. Colvin reports: The Awards Dinner (for George McCullough and Eric Cederwall) will be at 7pm, December 19th at the Casa Rojas restaurant in the pavillion.
Time 20:38 -- Boxlight Spare lamp
H. Colvin moved/M. Saunders seconded, to authorize up to $400.00 to purchase a spare bulb for the Boxlight Projector. Motion passed.
S. Ruhl: We should check cost of a new projector, before buying a bulb.
H. Colvin: I will look into the cost of a new projector.
Time 20:43 -- Annual Letter
H. Colvin reports: The Annual Letter has to go out December 13, according to the ByLaws. The Annual Meeting will be Wednesday, January 14th.
Goals and Objectives should be part of your annual reports.
N. Johansen: Might be nice to post the Mission Statement in the Entry.
Time 20:50 -- Policy and Procedures
M. Saunders: I will bring a policy to the next Board Meeting (about access to the Ritchie Telescope). The Log Book (for use of the Ritchie Telescope) is up in the Dome.
Time 20:52 -- One Call for All Mailing
H. Colvin: It has gone out.
M. Browning: Vicki Saunders gets credit for getting it out.
Time 20:54 -- Old Business
M. Saunders: I am still working on the Ritchie Telescope control box.
H. Colvin: The Rotary Grant Proposal has been submitted.
N. Johansen: How about an investigation of the boundry of our property?
M. Browning: I will persue it again (with Park) if you want.
Time 21:08 -- Adjournment
S. Ruhl moved/N. Johansen seconded, to Adjourn the Board Meeting. Motion passed.
Minutes taken on December 2, 2008 by Russell M. Heglund, BPAA Secretary.
Minutes approved by the BPAA Board on __________________________
Attested by: