Brent wrote:

As an author of the constitution, may I state that the purpose of Article X was never to assure compliance with 501 (c)(3). The purpose of article X was to eliminate political activity from the club.

Respectfully, that may have been your personal intent as the document's author, but that is not what is written in Article X, and as a club member in good standing, I am entitled to rely on what is written in the document. Not acting also is be very divisive to the club membership, and resolution of such an important issue should not be left to hot internet postings. Considering the increase in light pollution in Utah since the club was formed in the 1970s, I suggest that another temperature read of the club's membership is in order, and that the matter should be put up for a vote that January meeting. I for one am tired of driving over an hour to get to dark sky, and I do not look forward to driving 2 or 3 three hours in another 10 years, which is where inaction will lead to. I suspect that other club members feel the same. Since the club December party is in a few days, I will drop the discussion at this point in the interest of club fraternity and congeniality. It is the holidays. If you feel that Article X reads how you interpret it, you are free to offer up an amendment to Article X expressly barring any and all political activity, and not allowing such activities as long as they are not ``substantial'' to the point that they come to dominate and diminish the club's purpose. That latter is what Article X states. The former view that Article X means a complete bar might not be in the club's interest, since for example, applying for a government grant might be seen as a political activity that seeks to influence politicians to make a public expenditure, and, under your view of Article X such an application might be seen as being barred by the club's constitution. Thanks for a calm, reasonable response. Again, I will drop the thread in the interest of the holidays, but I ask that the new 2012 board members put the matter on the calendar for January's general meeting, as Bob Taylor, a 2012 board member suggested, in part, up thread. Best wishes and Clear Skies - Kurt