CAAS Board Meeting Minutes 21 October 2017

( Pending approval at the next Board Meeting.)

Present: Bruce McMath, Darrell Heath, Carl Freyaldenhoven, Chris Lasley, Danny Flippo, Jeff Robertson, Ed Swaim, Steve Block, Jim Dixon, Perry Norwood, Rocky Togni, Nathan James

Approval of 15 April 2017 and 15 July 2017 Board Meeting minutes

Motion to approve the minutes for both previous meetings carried.

Item 1

2018 Budget

Motion to approve budget as presented and consider amendments if needed for items 2 and 6 on the agenda. One immediate change to be made, increase organization dues from $300 to $400 to cover $100 International Dark-Sky Association dues.

Motion carried

Item 2

What to do with surplus club money

Motion to give Treasurer discretion to look into CDs for investing surplus funds, amount to be determined by Treasurer.

Motion carried

Item 3

What to do with Club telescopes: Refractor and 14″ Dobsonian

Motion for Darrell Heath to select a team to develop a plan for housing the 14” Dobsonian.

Motions carried

Item 4

Question of whether to add a CAAS Facebook Group in addition to the CAAS Facebook Page

Motion to set up a Facebook Group as a place for club members to share information, member to member. Nathan James to set it up.

Motion carried

Item 5

Loaning club equipment

Motion to loan the Club 4” refractor to Steve Block in exchange for his 6” refractor, end date to be determined.

Motions carried

Item 6

Security camera replacement

Motion to amend the budget and allocate up to $511 to the Property Maintenance allocation for 3 Ubiquiti cameras and necessary cabling to be used to monitor the Observatory grounds. Danny Flippo will manage this project.

Motion carried

Item 7

Update on A/C unit status. During the 15 July 2017 Board Meeting the Board authorized up to $850 in funds to be allocated in the event the unit needs to be replaced. The approved 2018 Budget did not include this change; Jim Dixon will update the budget document with this previously approved change adding the amount to the Property Maintenance allocation.

Item 8

Memorial Garden upkeep

Motion to approve the plan of the Observatory Committee formed at the 15 July 2017 Board Meeting for moving the memorial monument to the memorial garden area and making improvements to memorial garden to provide consistent visibility for monument.

Motion carried

Meeting adjourned

CAAS Board Meeting Minutes 15 July 2017

(Minutes approved at the 21 October 2017 Board Meeting.)

Item 1

Proposal to approve a plan to locate a radio telescope dish at RRO. All conditions in the plan must be met before the dish can be moved to RRO. The proposed plan should include the following details.

  1. Fund raising, round 1 — moving the dish, modifying the mount, and constructing a new pier at RRO.
  2. Plan for moving the dish.
  3. Make modifications to the mount.
  4. Move the dish and mount it at RRO.
  5. Create a research plan.
  6. Fund raising, round 2 — (if needed) Purchase receiver and electronics.
  7. Set aside funding for removal of dish should the need arise.
  8. Preliminary location is behind the big observatory building

Motion carried by unanimous vote.

Item 2

Placement of memorial stele on RRO grounds.

Move monument to the memorial garden and make improvements to memorial garden to provide consistent visibility for monument. Observatory Committee to come up with plan, perhaps with a bench.

Motion carried by majority vote.

Item 3

(Bruce) CAAS to become a friend of natural skies and responsible lighting on the AR-IDA chapter website and add CAAS logo with link to CAAS site on th AR-IDA web site.

Motion carried by unanimous vote.

Item 4

Authorize up to $850 in funds to be moved to the appropriate budget line and spent  to replace heating/cooling unit in the club house should Doug Wilson not be able to fix the existing unit.

Motion carried by unanimous vote.

Monthly Meeting & Star Party at Pinnacle Mountain: 7 PM Saturday August 26

 

August 26 Star Party at Pinnacle Mountain
Join us at the Pinnacle Mountain Visitor Center at 7 PM Saturday August 26 for a combined regular monthly meeting and Star Party afterwards. Instead of our usual Supper Bowl we’ll have light snacks starting around 6:30 until they are gone. Lots to see and do so bring your friends and family!

6:30
Setup and snacks
7:00
Monthly Club Meeting

  • Eclipse Show & Tell: share your favorite moments from the 2017 Eclipse and if you have some photos bring them on a USB drive (or email them to njamescaas@gmail.com beforehand) and we’ll share those
  • Constellation of the Month presented by Jim Dixon

8:30-9:30
CAAS Astronomy Art & Writing Contest

Open to all ages. Perry Norwood and Gretchen Cobb will host this unique creative program. The best entries (judged by CAAS members) will receive a small (very small) award! Art and writing supplies will be provided. Create a mini masterpiece based on something you observe at the Star Party, or write a short piece related to something you’ve observed or another Astronomy-related topic. We’ll have a few art and writing topics available to help you get started if you need inspiration!

8:30-10:30
Star Party (weather permitting)

As always, meetings of the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society are open to the public.