I made a quick site this a.m. for the Utah Star Party with two poll questions. Feel free to take a look. I'll add more later today with places to sign up and with how we can meet and communicate. Central Nevada started one of these for the last two years and that can be seen here: http://tas.astronomynv.org/Alkali%20Star%20Party%20II.htm Rules and Guidelines will follow similar to the GSSP found here: http://www.goldenstatestarparty.org/home/rules-guidelines
Cool idea, Jay. My only thoughts are that a large regional "private" or "paid" star-party, in practice, isn't much different from a large, outreach-type free public star party. The only difference is that you don't feel guilty by denying a view to visitors at your site if you are busy at the eyepiece. You guys will need to incorporate as either non-profit, or LLC if you intend to make money. And a hefty insurance policy is a necessity. Good luck!
On 18 Nov 2012, at 12:12, Chuck Hards wrote:
You guys will need to incorporate as either non-profit, or LLC if you intend to make money. And a hefty insurance policy is a necessity.
Whoa, you're right. I had not thought of that. SLAS finally had to do that for fear of someone coming to a SLAS event and getting hurt and then suing. Fortunately a policy is not that expensive. SLAS's is a few hundred dollars for a whole year so I'm guessing a policy for a weekend event would be some less. But still a sad comment on our time, patrick
Doesn't the AL offer some kind of coverage for member clubs? I know that the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) used to offer blanket coverage for regional events if the local club was a dues-paying member of AMA. On Sun, Nov 18, 2012 at 7:36 PM, Wiggins Patrick <paw@wirelessbeehive.com>wrote:
On 18 Nov 2012, at 12:12, Chuck Hards wrote:
You guys will need to incorporate as either non-profit, or LLC if you intend to make money. And a hefty insurance policy is a necessity.
Whoa, you're right. I had not thought of that. SLAS finally had to do that for fear of someone coming to a SLAS event and getting hurt and then suing.
Fortunately a policy is not that expensive. SLAS's is a few hundred dollars for a whole year so I'm guessing a policy for a weekend event would be some less.
yes they do, as I recall, we found better coverage at a better price separate from them.
If SLAS made it an official event then our insurance would cover it. Seems Jay is doing this outside of SLAS. Doesn't the AL offer some kind of coverage for member clubs?
I know that the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) used to offer blanket coverage for regional events if the local club was a dues-paying member of AMA.
On Sun, Nov 18, 2012 at 7:36 PM, Wiggins Patrick <paw@wirelessbeehive.com>wrote:
On 18 Nov 2012, at 12:12, Chuck Hards wrote:
You guys will need to incorporate as either non-profit, or LLC if you intend to make money. And a hefty insurance policy is a necessity.
Whoa, you're right. I had not thought of that. SLAS finally had to do that for fear of someone coming to a SLAS event and getting hurt and then suing.
Fortunately a policy is not that expensive. SLAS's is a few hundred dollars for a whole year so I'm guessing a policy for a weekend event would be some less.
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You mean the insurance coverage isn't included with the AL dues? It's extra? Hmmm... On Mon, Nov 19, 2012 at 12:59 PM, Wiggins Patrick <paw@wirelessbeehive.com>wrote:
On 19 Nov 2012, at 07:13, Chuck Hards wrote:
Doesn't the AL offer some kind of coverage for member clubs?
They do but SLAS dropped their policy with AL when they found a better deal with State Farm.
On 19 Nov 2012, at 13:03, Chuck Hards wrote:
You mean the insurance coverage isn't included with the AL dues? It's extra? Hmmm...
Insurance is not included in AL dues. That's why there is a separate line item in the SLAS dues structure for insurance. Paying dues to AL is not mandatory, BTW. That change became effective a year or so ago. Traditionally SLAS has just included AL dues in its dues in return for all members receiving a couple of bucks discount on AL dues. However one of the items on the agenda of this year's SLAS transitional board meeting is to see if we (SLAS) want to continue that practice or let individual members decide if they want to pay AL dues or not. patrick
The idea of a Utah star party is not new. We talked about starting a similar activity back in the 80s when we observed from the Bald Mountain site. If I remember correctly, this was before the Texas Star Party started. My memory says that the only private parties were Stellafane, the Winter Star Party in Florida, and Riverside. The idea did not continue because we didn't feel like there was really room for another large gathering. I think times have changed (or we were proved wrong), and I would support the idea of a Utah gathering. Brent
The explosive growth of big regional star parties in the last 25 years, coupled with the incredible diversity of commercial products we see today, is why I don't give much credence to the oft-heard statement that interest in amateur astronomy is dying. It's a rationale for a club's focus on public outreach that doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Public outreach is great, don't get me wrong, but the real reason some amateurs do it isn't to save the hobby, it's because they enjoy doing it. There are millions more amateur astronomers today than when folks like Brent, Ziggy, and myself first started seriously looking through a telescope in the 1960's. I'm not worried about the future of the hobby in the least. On Nov 19, 2012 2:23 PM, "Brent Watson" <brentjwatson@yahoo.com> wrote:
The idea of a Utah star party is not new. We talked about starting a similar activity back in the 80s when we observed from the Bald Mountain site. If I remember correctly, this was before the Texas Star Party started. My memory says that the only private parties were Stellafane, the Winter Star Party in Florida, and Riverside. The idea did not continue because we didn't feel like there was really room for another large gathering. I think times have changed (or we were proved wrong), and I would support the idea of a Utah gathering.
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The internet has caused an explosive growth in just about everything in the last 25 years. I used to think it was as big a change as the invention of the telephone, now I'm convinced it's more like the invention of fire. I'm beginning to wonder if big cities will be needed in the future. With internet access it doesn't matter where you are, you're connected. DT
Food supply and employment will trump connectivity, as far as population density goes. On Nov 19, 2012 5:58 PM, "daniel turner" <outwest112@yahoo.com> wrote:
The internet has caused an explosive growth in just about everything in the last 25 years. I used to think it was as big a change as the invention of the telephone, now I'm convinced it's more like the invention of fire. I'm beginning to wonder if big cities will be needed in the future. With internet access it doesn't matter where you are, you're connected.
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Daniel, the countryside is great, do not get me wrong. But, I grew up in a extremely small town, pop 114 in '42 and now about 150. We were 70 miles from the nearest doctor/hospital. Now, I am not knocking Milford, but, if you had an immediate life-threatening situation, would you rather go to their hospital, or the new IHC facility? Small point perhaps, but one maybe not considered when considering living in the "country". 73 On 11/19/2012 5:56 PM, daniel turner wrote:
The internet has caused an explosive growth in just about everything in the last 25 years. I used to think it was as big a change as the invention of the telephone, now I'm convinced it's more like the invention of fire. I'm beginning to wonder if big cities will be needed in the future. With internet access it doesn't matter where you are, you're connected.
DT
Good luck, Jay. Looks like a lot of work ahead. 73 On 11/18/2012 11:36 AM, Jay Eads wrote:
I made a quick site this a.m. for the Utah Star Party with two poll questions. Feel free to take a look. I'll add more later today with places to sign up and with how we can meet and communicate.
participants (7)
-
Brent Watson -
Chuck Hards -
daniel turner -
erikhansen＠thebluezone.net -
Jay Eads -
Larry Holmes -
Wiggins Patrick