RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes

June 09 2023

Co-Chair Mike Keefe hosted the meeting in-person at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as virtually using the Zoom and Facebook platforms.

26 meeting participants attended in-person (18 signed the attendance sheet), 7 attended via Zoom and 7 attended via Facebook.

Presentation: “Searching for Nuggets” by UNC-CH Physics & Astronomy PhD student Derrick Carr.

Business

Milestones by Co-Chair Mike Keefe

  • Mike Keefe completed observations for the Caldwell Club. Now he needs to finish recording his observations.

2023 RAC Officer Elections by Co-Chair Mike Keefe

  • 5 open positions: Co-Chair (3), Treasurer, Secretary
  • Current nominees:
    • Co-Chair: Anastasia Vail, Mike Keefe, Naveen Malik
    • Treasurer: Steve Izzo
    • Secretary: Dana Bostic
  • Nominations must be closed tonight to prepare for online voting and provide the required voting period before the July 28 indoor meeting, when elections will be held.
  • Motion to close the ballot – Mike Keefe. Seconded – Steve Izzo. Motion passes.
  • Online voting will be announced within the next two weeks.

Outreach Committee Update by Co-Chair Mike Keefe

Outreach report (past events):

  • May 31 – The Willard Rooftop
  • June 2 – First Fridays Under the Stars with TLC at Three Bear Acres

Upcoming outreach events:

  • June 13 – Youth-N-Creation Camp at Blue Jay Point
  • June 28 – The Willard Rooftop
  • June 29 – Summer Blast Off
  • July 7 – First Fridays Under the Stars with TLC at Three Bear Acres
  • July 15 – Astronomy On Tap Star Party
  • August 11 – Perseid Meteor Shower at Howell Woods (overnight camping available)

All First Friday Under the Stars with TLC events in 2023 will be held at Three Bear Acres, until further notice.

The observing committee is looking for volunteers to coordinate events and assist at events with or without a telescope. To join the committee send a blank email to [email protected]. Any club member is welcome, regardless of experience level. To volunteer for an event, register via the RAC Calendar.

Treasurers Report by Treasurer Steve Izzo

Membership – 458 total

  • 284 single memberships
  • 102 family memberships with 72 secondary members

Balances:

  • Business checking: $1135.46
  • Savings: $24898.85
  • Special purpose checking: $0.29

Notable expenses:

  • Upgrade to Groups.io Pro: $200.00
  • Upgrade Google Drive to 100 GB: TBD

Loaner Telescopes by Co-Chair Mike Keefe and Rob Parsons

  • Rob Parsons is now chairing the Loaner Telescope Committee
  • 4 new telescopes donated recently:
    • Celestron 8″ NexStar SCT Go-To – will be checked over and made available soon
    • Orion XT8 Intelliscope and Meade ETX-125 – require new eyepieces
    • Celestron 5″ reflector – needs to be picked up
  • 20 telescopes available for checkout

Upcoming Club Events by co-chair Naveen Malik

  • June 10 – Eyepiece Clinic
  • June 13 – Youth-N-Creation Camp at Blue Jay Point
  • June 15 – Imaging Meeting
  • June 23 – RACOBS
  • June 28 – The Willard Rooftop
  • June 29 – Summer Blast Off
  • July 1 – DLSR + Tripod Astrophotography Workshop
  • July 7 – First Fridays Under the Stars with TLC at Three Bear Acres
  • July 14 – RACOBS
  • July 15 – Astronomy On Tap Star Party
  • July 20 – Imaging Meeting
  • July 28 – Indoor Meeting
  • August 11 – Perseid Meteor Shower at Howell Woods (overnight camping available)

RGAS Meeting – Sammy’s Tap & Grill, 2235 Avent Ferry Rd., Raleigh NC 27606 – 919-755-3880