Hey Kim no need to be respectful, I enjoy a good literary joust. But seriously I think this is a good discussion and there are some good points being made. I just hate to see us scale back what I see as one of SLAS's strong points: public outreach. If in fact the membership is only able or willing to support a very finite number of events or events in certain places then we need to manage to that and perhaps modify the way we do parties. We don't seem to have participation problems for star parties at the National Parks which are far away, expensive and time consuming, so clearly SLAS member will drive, spend money on gas, and even take time off from work for star parties and observing. That doesn't seem to be an issue, we get great numbers for Bryce and Capital Reef, we even did OK at Natural Bridges, it just seems we're very selective on what parties we are wiling to support and participate in. We get hordes of members show up at SPOC, but not down the road a few miles at Camp Hobe. So - to me the evidence and pattern suggests it's not that there are too many star parties but where they are, when they are and what the cause is. Some members clearly do more than their share of the special star parties. Arizona is too far to be any kind of official SLAS event and should be covered by local clubs, and I made that point when I was talking to the rangers from AZ. They should look to their local clubs first which of course they have but they are having trouble getting the level of support they would like. Perhaps there is a national "Telescope Gap", more demand then supply and that may be a credit to our success. I am sensitive to the fact that sometimes we just can't do it. In past years I've attended more events then what I was able to do this year due to increased travel responsibilities at work, I was just wasn't around. That has made me hesitant get more involved with the club, perhaps I need to re-visit that. Let me throw a challenge out to everyone to re-visit that and consider what you can contribute to SALS and at what level you can participate, even if it just means picking up one or two more special star parties each year than you would normally go to. Just a few ramblings. ++++++++++++ Message: 1 Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 09:48:12 -0600 From: "Kim" <kimharch@cut.net> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] SLAS star party commitments To: "'Utah Astronomy'" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Message-ID: <000301c90ea5$a3ef4710$6402a8c0@OFFICEDESK1> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1250" Hi all. I've served on the Board as president, vice president and member-at-large, for a total of six years (I think - memory isn't what it used to be). When I lived in SLC, I attended most public events and more private events than I am now able to do, but I hope my opinion still counts. I must (respectfully) disagree with Daniel and Robert. As Erik points out, the issue is one of having adequate support. It is indeed possible to be spread too thin, such that if multiple star parties are scheduled for a given night or weekend one or more may suffer from inadequate SLAS attendance, or worse, none at all. To paraphrase Robert, if you want to go, if it's not too far to drive, if gas is not too expensive or if you have no other obligations by all means go. No one is under obligation to stay home. However, let's not designate every possible event a SLAS-supported public star party, if for no other reason than it becomes a logistical nightmare for the Board and members who do want to support everything that the club does. I believe that I was between Board service the year that we took on too many star parties, as Erik alluded to. I recall that the few of us who did try to be there all the time were simply worn out. And yes, it did come down to just a few who provided support for the exhaustive schedule. Those who think that it isn't possible to do too many star parties either weren't there or don't recall that it did not work. I remember reading about a very active and successful fundraiser and supporter for some given charity - I don't recall which. Because of his success, he was often asked to help other charities raise money. His reply was educational: "Your cause is important, but it is not my cause." I don't believe that SLAS can or should support every cause, even proposed star parties at national parks. Just my thoughts. Kim