Troy,
You should bear in mind we are all somewhat socially dysfunctional, we do stare into space after all. Our SPOC events are generally for the public, new members and curious public are hard to sort out. At meetings they do ask for new people to identify themselves. I would suggest that the private star parties are venues that are best suited for getting aquatinted with folks and making friends. SLAS is very much an open organization and welcomes all. Erik Let me first say that I understand this isn't only a SLAS list. So,
my answers will be specific to all clubs and not just SLAS.
If a new person shows up at a meeting, then I think all boardmembers/leaders should introduce themselves to that new person. Or, tell all the new people to wait after the meeting so the boardmembers could meet them. Ask them why they are there. Find out things about them. Make that new person feel welcome. I have been to a few SLAS meetings and I was only talked to once.
Also, at star parties, make new people feel welcome. I stood around once at SPOC for an hour and was spoken to by one person. I actually left SPOC and went out to Skull valley to observe. Then, I came back to SPOC later around midnight and looked through one of the big scopes. I people running the scope looked at me like I was butting in on their equipment. I left feeling even more unwelcome. I haven't been back to SPOC since.
I know that I have discussed some SLAS and SPOC specific things here. I think all groups could benefit from these comments. Be more open. These clubs aren't elitest clubs. Make people feel welcome; make people feel like they are wanted. Reach out to the new member and make sure they know that they are a part of the group.
As for me, honestly, I don't know if I will go back to a club. I have gone to clubs for the last 13 years, and the only one I felt welcome in was back in San Angelo, Texas. Of course, there was only 20 members so a new face really stood out. :D
++++++++++++++++++ Troy Davidson
On Fri, Dec 18, 2009 at 8:45 AM, Canopus56 <canopus56@yahoo.com> wrote:
Troy wrote -
But, I am serious about the SPOC and SLAS stuff. I don't feel welcome. I know SPOC is open to the public, but the times I've gone I didn't feel like I was part of the group.
Troy,
Just to confirm your experience, IMHO it is a problem that IMHO the club should work on. This also was my experience when first showing up to SLAS urban and SPOC star parties - club newbies will set up scopes and club members will not engage them. Although due to other personal commitments during 2009, I only went to one urban star party, in 2008 I went to several, specifically leaving my scope at home to do "newbie rounds" at star parties - that is figuring out who was new, saying hello, seeing if they needed help getting their scope going. At the one 2009 party that I went to - I saw exactly the same thing happened. There was an older couple who had setup an old Tasco manual EQ backwards and a lot of club members around them just staring at them. I found our president - Dave Bernson - who pointing a couple of members in the newbie's direction. After a few minutes several people were helping them out.
IMHO, the club does need to do a better job on "newbie patrol" at club star parties and your point is well taken. Hopefully, your post here will encourage the club to address the matter.
This public venue may not be the best place to air the matter. I suggest you call the SLAS club president and talk with him by phone.
As to what you can do to make your social experience better, I found it useful when starting out to go to some of the club "advanced training" sessions at Denny's either after the star party or after the club's monthly meetings. Although like many clubs, these after star party sessions involve alot of testosterone laden "boys and their toys" new gear talk, its a good group that is easy to get to know. Taking telescope training at SPOC next spring is another good way to integrate socially into the club. Longer term social bonds typically grow from your "training buddies" during those sessions. This occurs in part because there is a learning curve in this hobby and your "training buddy" tends to be on the same point on the curve and is interested in the same things.
Many of the club members have an ongoing astronomy relationship that covers 15 to 25 years. The effectiveness of this group of long-term friends is evidenced by all the club scopes out at SPOC. If you look at them closely, it's pretty amazing that it was all done with volunteer labor and shoestring donations. That can be a bit daunting when you are first entering the group, but is doable and little different from entering, for example, a new workplace.
My closing question for you is what could the club do that would make new members' experience better? What you would like to have seen beyond the current practice of the club's roll call and introduction for new members at the monthly meetings?
As to the content of this listserv and the SLAS, they are both "big tent" places catering to all experience levels. The only requirements are that 1) you are well-meaning, and 2) you have an interest in amateur astronomy.
The etymology of the word "amateur" is from the French and Latin, from French and Latin: "am tor", lover, and from "am re", to love. If you love looking up, you are an amateur - but you already knew that - and you are welcome here.
Clear Skies - Kurt
P.S. - Utah Astro is not a SLAS newsgroup, although many SLAS members communicate here.
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