Membership Meeting - 01/9/2008
BATTLE POINT ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION
MINUTES of
JANUARY 9, 2008 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Time 19:08 -- Convened Annual Meeting
H. Colvin, as presiding Officer, convened the BPAA Annual Meeting of January 9, 2008.
Present were:
Board Members:
George McCullough, Vice President
Eric Cederwall, Treasurer
Russell M. Heglund, Secretary
Malcolm Saunders, Chief Astronomer
Steve Ruhl, Education Officer
Nels Johansen, Facilities Officer
Program Managers:
Vicki Saunders, Newsletter Editor and Publicity Manager
Diane Colvin, Events Manager and ALCOR
Paul Below, Yahoo Group Manager
Members:
Jim Young
Allan Saunders
Ellen Saunders
Jody Heglund
Daniel Bartholemew
Time 19:13 --- President's Annual Report
H. Colvin reports: There has been a 16% increase in membership. The Planetarium Show often exceeds capacity. We are getting good publicity, including a Sunset Magazine article last year. We have an improved audio system in the meeting room. We are working on a Capital Project of improvements. Mike Browning is heading-up the Capital Project Funding. We are sending letters out on a regular basis to new members. Our new Treasurer (upon election) will be in charge of the membership database.
(see attached complete President's Report)
Time 19:20 -- Treasurer's Annual Report
Eric Cederwall reports: This is my 13th year as Treasurer. We have $22,000 in reserve in the Vanguard Account. If we take out the fund-raising in 2006, comparisons to 2007 are pretty comparable. We have maybe 2 years normal operating expenses covered by our cash reserves.
S. Ruhl moved/G. McCullough seconded, that the Treasurer's Annual report be accepted. Motion passed by the members and Board.
(complete Treasurer's report is attached)
H. Colvin: Eric, on behalf of the Board, we can't thank you enough for all your service.
Time 19:36 -- Vice President's Annual Report
George McCullough reports: I have gotten the Policy and Procedures Manual up-to-date and turned it over to the Secretary.
We had six highly qualified guest speakers and nine topic presenters at five different Member Meetings. I have been a member since 1995 and I am convinced that the BPAA is in a healthier state now than it was at this time last year. I wish the BPAA, our new Vice President (to be), and other board members continued success and improvement in 2008 and beyond.
(complete Vice President's Annual Report attached)
Time 19:38 -- Facilities Annual Report
Nels Johansen reports: A new sound system was installed. The roof and doghouse still leak and need repair. We changed the lock on the front door. I have received estimates for carpet replacement, concrete observing pads, new lighting, drywall completion in the shop, and painting.
(complete Facilities Annual Report attached)
Time 19:50 -- Secretary's Annual Report
Russell Heglund reports: I typed minutes for 11 Board Meetings (& one Annual Meeting). Monitored 102 phone messages and directed 96 messages to appropriate Board members and managers.
As Equipment and Telescope Loan Manager I received two donated Telescopes, a donated computerized mount, and a telescope transport case. We have acquired a steel stowage cabinet for telescope accessories. We have 12 operational telescopes that are available for loan.
As Library Manager I instituted a card check-out system for our books. We need another shelf in the Library to accommodate our books.
(complete Secretary's Annual Report is attached)
Time 19:51 -- Chief Astronomer's Annual Report
Malcolm Saunders reports: I am also the LAN manager.....really an IT person who upgrades the computers....our computers are in pretty good shape now.
The Ritchie Telescope is running pretty well....but it needs constant attention and can be improved. We are in the process of putting in wireless controls. The Dome is entirely inadequate......we need a new Dome. It needs to be bigger....more floor space....it will make it safer to operate.
We have acquired a LXD75 computerized mount and put the 7" Questar on it.
The 20" DOB project led by Doug Tanaka is nearly done.
We have concluded that the 27" mirror we have in storage will never be used by us.....we are considering selling it.
I have a whole list of projects.....get in contact with me if you want to work on some.
I offer tutorials on how to use the Ritchie Telescope.....just get ahold of me.
(complete Chief Astronomer's Annual Report is attached)
Time 20:06 -- Education Director's Annual Report
Steve Ruhl reports: We had seven school visits in 2007. The museum of flight came to the Observatory. We went to the Muscular Dystrophy Camp in Port Orchard and put on Planetarium Shows. The Star Partys and Planetarium Shows at the Observatory had good turn-out due to the publicity. We did a "4th of July" Planetarium show in the Church in Winslow. The instructor for the Astro Camps is no longer available, and Jim Vaughn moved his Robot Camps to the Park Department. I have organized the Education into Docents and Coordinators.
(see complete Education Director's Annual Report attached)
Time 20:13 -- Newsletter and Publicity Manager Annual Report
Vicki Saunders reports: I have developed a publicity list to send out info. I make posters for events and do press releases once-a-month. We got Sunset Magazine article. I am working on a new membership form. I am working on a new T-Shirt design.
We need to get-out what people do. Each Board Member needs to write an article on what they do. I need more reviews of books.
(see complete Annual Report attached)
Time 20:21 -- Events Manager and ALCOR
Diane Colvin reports: I am contact for scheduling of all events. I represent the BPAA to the Astronomical League (ALCOR).
Time 20:22 -- Archive Manager
Mike Browning reports: I have converted lots of slides to digital. There is great continuity in our Newsletters......we are up to #80. I may make the history of the group into a "coffee table" book. May be ready in March. We need to decide where to store valuable slides, etc.....maybe in a safety deposit box.
Time 20:32 -- Capital Project Initiative
H. Colvin: I got a work group together....made up of Mike Browning, Frank Schroer, and most of the Board Members.....to come up with Capital Project priorities...
Top Priority: Restrooms and Updated Heating System and Improved Telescope Dome. We had to get down on paper what we wanted to do......you can see it (proposal) on our BPAA website. We are looking into setting-up a remote site telescope. We are looking at a mini-Imax type planetarium, in a new annex to the Observatory. May take $1.5 million to accomplish everything. We have submitted a Grant Request.
Mike Browning: What should we stress about us to sell people on us? Who do you ask and in what order? In March we will reach out to members. Then we need an event to introduce us into the community......maybe at Islandwood. Forward to me ideas to raise money. I have never raised money for a non-profit, so I am open to suggestions.
H. Colvin: We can't seem to keep facility open for the number of hours it should be. We can't do it just with volunteers. I am thinking about starting an endowment fund to employ a director.
Time 20:54 -- Approval and Election of Board Officers
H. Colvin: The following is the slate of Officers to the BPAA Board for the 2008 term presented to the membership for election:
President -- Harry Colvin
Vice President -- Mike Browning
Secretary -- Russell M. Heglund
Treasurer -- Frank Schroer
Chief Astronomer -- Malcolm Saunders
Education -- Steve Ruhl
Facilities -- Nels Johansen
Allan Saunders moved/Jim Young seconded that the above slate be approved and elected to the BPAA Board for the 2008 term. Motion passed by the attending members.
Time 20:57 -- Adjournment of Annual Membership Meeting
George McCullough moved/Eric Cederwall seconded, to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed by the attending members.
Minutes taken on 1/09/2008 by Russell M. Heglund, BPAA Secretary
Minutes approved by the BPAA Board on _______________
Attested by:
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