RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes
July 26, 2024
Co-Chair Dana Bostic hosted the meeting in-person at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as virtually using the Zoom platform.
21 meeting participants attended in-person, 11 attended via Zoom.
Presentation: Exploring Saturn’s Moon Titan by Presenter Michael J. Malaska
Business:
Upcoming Events:
- 8/2/2024 – First Fridays with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
- 8/7/2024 – The Willard
- 8/16/2024 – RAC Indoor Meeting
- 8/17/2024 – Artspace Summer Celebration (Raleigh)
- 9/6/2024 – First Fridays with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
- 9/7/2024 – RAC Class
- 9/27/2024 – RAC Indoor Meeting
- 10/4/2024 – RACOBS
- 10/11/2024 – RAC Indoor Meeting
- 10/12/2024 – RAC BBQ
- 10/30/2024 – The Willard
Current Officers & Committee Chairs
Co-Chairs: Naveen Malik, Dana Bostic & Anastasia Vail
Treasurer: Steve Izzo
Secretary: Susan Herring
Committee Chairs:
ALCOR: Dean Herring & Dana Bostic
Outreach: Steven Blake
Webmaster: Barton Meeks
Loaner Scopes: Rob Parsons
Key Holders: Naveen Malik
Education: Anastasia Vail, Dana Bostic, & Naveen Malik
Social Media: Anastasia Vail
Imaging: Chris Cole
A/V: Naveen Malik
Reports:
Treasurer’s Report: Steven Izzo
Membership: – 526 total.
321 single memberships
118 family memberships with 87 secondary members, 1 cancelled membership
Financials:
Business checking: $821.44
Savings: $25,326.17
Special purpose checking: $0.65
Expenditures:
Astronomical League PayPal payment $2649.16 400+ primary members
Astronomical League Awards: Dean Herring
No report
Outreach Report: Steve Blake
Recent Events:
June 7 – First Fridays with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
June 19 – The Willard Rooftop (Raleigh)
June 29 – Astronomy on Tap Star Party (Cameron)
July 5 – First Fridays with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
Upcoming Events:
- July 13 – Praire Ridge Ecostation
You can always find Outreach Committee reports at the Outreach Reports link on the Members Portal page of the RAC website
Loaner Scope Report: Rob Parsons
- Looking for a co-coordinator! (a role description will be sent out to members soon)
- All Meade ETX scopes have been taken offline
- Current Status:
Cassagrains: 6 out / 3 available
Dobsonians: 10 out / 1 available
Maksutovs: 1 out / 0 available
Refractors: 1 out / 1 available
Reflectors: 1 out / 2 available
Binoculars: 1out / 3 availab e
Key Holders Report: Naveen Malik
Applications for Big Woods open thru end of July
Education Committee Report: Anastasia Vail
Next Class:
Saturday August 10, 2024 @3:00 PM
Introduction to RAC Star master 20 Telescope
Social Media, A/V & Imaging – No Reports
Constitution & By-Laws
No new proposed revisions for member review.
Constitution:
Summary of changes:
- Update territorial limits for membership from “City of Raleigh or surrounding communities” to “United States of America and its territories”
- Remove dual membership types, replace with single membership type.
- Members have one vote and may hold office if other criteria are met.
- Immediate family members are eligible for Club benefits.
- Members 15 years old and under must be accompanied by a chaperone at least 18 years old at RAC events.
- Treasurer duties include presenting an annual budget each May with a goal of ratification each June.
- The Executive Committee may accept officer nominations that do not meet all prerequisites and present the nomination to members as a part of the officer election process.
By-Laws:
Summary of changes:
- Expenditures are managed against an annual budget that is approved by members. Note: General Policies v1.3 states that the Executive Committee votes on any expenses more than $150 over any approved budget.
Officers Elections:
Current slate of nominees:
- Co-chair: Dana Bostic, Naveen Malik
- Treasurer: Steve Izzo
- Secretary: Susan Herring
Voting: 16 Yes (in person) 9 Yes (Zoom) for a quorum of 25 in approval of the changes to the Constitution & By-Laws of RAC. Members also approved voting on the officers without a full state (no nominations were submitted for the 3rd co-chair position)
Officer elections to be held on August 16, 2024 at the business meeting
After meeting social:
Alamo drafthouse 2116 New Bern Ave Ste D. Raleigh
All First Friday Under the Stars with TLC events in 2024 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.
