Board Meeting - 12/14/11

 

BATTLE POINT ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION
MINUTES of
BOARD MEETING of DECEMBER 14, 2011
 
Time 19:07 – Convened Board Meeting
Steve Ruhl, BPAA President, as presiding Officer, convened the BPAA Board Meeting at 19:07 on December 14, 2011.  
 
Other Board Members present were:
Russell M. Heglund, Secretary
Malcolm Saunders, Chief Astronomer
Nels Johansen, Facilities Officer
Dave Fong, Education Officer
 
BPAA Bylaws require five Board Members to be present to constitute a quorum, therefore a quorum was present. 
 
Absent Board Members were: 
Frank Schroer, Treasurer
Charles Higgins, Vice President
 
Visitor: 
Vicki Saunders, Newsletter Editor
 
Time 19:11 – Minutes of Nov 2, 2011 Board Meeting read
R. Heglund read minutes of Nov 2, 2011 Board Meeting
S. Ruhl moved/M. Saunders seconded, that the Nov 2, 2011 minutes be approved as read. Passed.
 
Time 19:14 – Proposed ByLaw to add a Communications Officer Board Member Position
(see attached)
R. Heglund moved/S. Ruhl seconded, to approve the new ByLaw adding a Communications Officer Board Member Position. Passed.    
 
Time 19:22 – Appointment of Communications Officer Board Member.
M. Saunders moved/N. Johansen seconded, to appoint Vicki Saunders to the Board position of Communications Officer.   Passed.
 
Time 19:24 – Presidents Report
S. Ruhl reports: Here is draft of the annual letter (see attached) for comment. 
(Board consensus: letter looks good to send out.)
N. Johansen: I tried to renew on-line and couldn't renew. It spit me out. Maybe that's why a lot of people aren't renewing. 
S. Ruhl: try again tomorrow and if not working, send me an email. 
 
S. Ruhl: Pacific Science Center is turning 50 next year.....and will hold a Star Party around June 8 or 9. I will respond to them that we will participate. 
 
Diane Colvin accepted our offer to honor her at the annual dinner. 
 
There is no VP Report, Charles is sick.
 
Time 19:33 – Treasurer Report (see attached)
S. Ruhl reports: Total current assets as of Nov 30, 2011, are $22,776.87.   We had 11 people in the Advanced Astronomy Class.        
 
Time 19:36 – Membership Report (see attached)   
S. Ruhl reports: We have 80 memberships total as of Dec 3, 2011.    
 
D. Fong: I can take-up getting Facebook going for the BPAA.    
 
Time 19:45 – Secretary Report
R. Heglund reports: We (V. Saunders and I) approved final version of wording for the Outside Plaque. Going ahead with getting it made. 
The Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation grant requires we sign a Financial Agreement (see attached) before they will disburse the grant funds (they approved $1,000 grant for the Sundial Project). 
S. Ruhl: I have not heard anything else about the (Sundial) property deal (with the Park). Lets hold up sending Financial Agreement in until we know more.    
R. Heglund: OK.....I will check with Charles Higgins about status of property deal and get back to you.     
 
Time 20:04 – Facilities Report
N. Johansen: no report.
 
Time 20:05 – Chief Astronomer Report
M. Saunders reports: We have a couple of telescope donations: (1) a 3.5” Questar and (2) a 10” Meade.   
Keith Ost, our small telescope guy has trouble getting here...I think we need a new person. I think Dave Janich would be a good choice....I will talk to him. 
I plan to go ahead and get some better eyepieces for our loaner telescopes. 
N. Johansen: I would go with Meade eyepieces....they have good prices. 
 
 
 
 
Time 20:15 – Communications Officer Report
V. Saunders reports: I would like advance schedule of shows coming up. I need weeks of advance notice. 
 
Time 20:21 – Education Officer Report
D. Fong reports: Last Planetarium show we had a real clear night.....and a good turnout. 
S. Ruhl: We had 60 people in the first show and 40 people in the second show. People had a great time (outside observing).....but it was cold.  
 
Time 20:27 – Dark Sky Movie
D. Fong: I have the dark sky movie (documentary: THE CITY DARK directedby Ian Cheney) in 80min and 60min versions. It is a feature length movie showing in movie theaters. It is a well made documentary movie. 
The cost for screening rights is at least $200 for one night...or $300 for unlimited screenings. 
M. Saunders: Maybe we can show at the Lynwood Theater (on Bainbridge) and talk afterwards at a “Science Cafe”. 
 
N. Johansen moved/M. Saunders seconded, to buy unlimited showing rights to THE CITY DARK movie , for $300.00.. Passed.
 
V. Saunders: It would be good to talk to Islandwood....they have a nice facility to show it.
  
R. Heglund: I know the manager of Lynwood Theater on Bainbridge......I could talk to her about running the movie. 
 
S. Ruhl: The BPAA Annual Meeting is January 11 (at 7:00 pm). Plan on a short Board Meeting at 6:30 pm.  
 
R. Heglund: I am planning to come to the Observatory tomorrow with Loni Koski and clean out the Tool Room and set-up the metal storage cabinet (for storage of high value astronomy gear, etc...).    
 
N. Johansen: I could meet you around noon and we could scope-it-out.   
 
Time 20:45 – Adjournment
N. Johansen moved/D. Fong seconded, to Adjourn. Passed.
 
 
Minutes taken on December 14, 2011 by Russell M. Heglund, Secretary
Minutes Approved by the BPAA Board on _____________________
Attested by: