RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes

28 January 2022

Co-chairperson Mike Keefe hosted the online meeting using the Zoom platform.

47 participants

RAC Announcements

  • Upcoming Events
    • Astronomy Days schedule/events
    • Feb 5 – Skywatching Session at Prairie Ridge – CANCELLED
    • Feb 11 – Next RAC Club Meeting at Morehead Planetarium – Statewide Star Party
    • Feb 17 – Imaging SIG meeting
    • Feb 25 – RACOBS
    • Mar 2 – Stargazing on the Willard Rooftop, Downtown Raleigh
    • Mar 11 – RAC Club Meeting (TBD)
    • Mar 17 – Imaging SIG meeting
    • Mar 25 – RACOBS
    • Mar 28 to Apr 3 – Staunton River Star Party
    • April 1 – NC Science Festival at White Deer Park in Garner
    • State-wide Star Party Events:
      • April 8 – SWSP at Prairie Ridge
      • April 8 – SWSP at Annie Wilkerson
      • April 9: – SWSP at Williamson Preserve with Triangle Land Conservancy (East Raleigh)
    • May 15 – Skywatching at Dix for Lunar Eclipse (9:30pm-Midnight)
    • Subscribe to club calendar and check Facebook for more info
  • Open club positions (1 Key Holder open, Club Historian, any other positions or needs?)

Presentation: “James Webb Space Telescope” by NASA Solar Ambassador Tony Rice

Business

Member Milestones – any?

Treasurer’s Report by Steven Blake

Membership – 415 total (7 new memberships)

  • 298 single memberships
  • 70 family memberships with 70 secondary members (47 registered)
  • 26 cancellations/inactive members removed

Balances

  • Business checking: $ 945.39
  • Savings: $ 21570.25
  • Special purpose checking: $ 960.36

Outreach Committee Update by Matt Lochansky –

Re-cap of RAC Announcements. Prairie Ridge event on Feb 5 has been cancelled. Might reschedule this event later. April 1 event at White Deer Park coincides with Staunton River Star Party.

To join the Outreach committee, send a blank email to [email protected].

RAC Meeting at Morehead Planetarium by Amy Sayle

Feb 11. Masks required. No eating or drinking permitted.

Education Group Update by Phyllis Lang

Request fir volunteers to demonstrate planetarium software (e.g., Sky Safari, Stellarium) for about 15 minutes each.

ALCOR Update by ALCOR Doug Lively

Added a webpage on the RAC website with details about AL observing reports as well as a list of AL programs and reports that RAC members have completed.

https://raleighastro.org/observing-programs/

Loaner Telescope Update by Mike Keefe – to provide update on web site and new equipment

We have received a few new donated telescopes. The website has been updated.

https://raleighastro.org/loaner-telescopes/

Update on Sites and Key Holders by Mike Keefe

There is one open key holder slot. We encourage more use of Big Woods for impromptu observing sessions.

Webmaster Update by Matt Lochansky

Bringing on a few additional webmasters. Volunteers welcomed.