Meeting Minutes November 15, 2024

November 15, 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.

Upcoming Events: 

• November 23 : Prairie Ridge Ecostation
• December 04 : STEM Night: Apex Friendship ES

Astronomy Days at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences

RAC Lead: Chris Cole

Dates: Feb 3rd & 4th, 2025

RAC Exhibit Needs:

Some Leads

Volunteers

Floaters

NCMNS Needs:

Speakers!

Please contact Chris Cole if you can volunteer!

Tonight”s Presentation:

“Thou shall Not Speak Messier”: effectively engaging the public at skywatching events

Speaker: Amy Sayle

NC Statewide Star Party Coordinator, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, UNC Chapel Hill

*Amy’s presentation will be posted on the RAC YouTube channel

Business:

Current Officers & Committee Chairs

Co-Chairs: Naveen Malik, Dana Bostic & Anastasia Vail

Treasurer: Steve Izzo

Secretary: Susan Herring

Committee Chairs:

ALCOR: Dean Herring

Outreach: Steven Blake

Webmaster: Barton Meeks

Loaner Scopes: Rob Parsons

Key Holders: Naveen Malik

Education: Anastasia Vail,

Social Media: Anastasia Vail

Imaging: Chris Cole

A/V: Naveen Malik

Reports:

Membership Update:

• Membership Constitutional change accepted July 26, 2024.
  • https://raleighastro.org/club-policies/ 
  • 13 years minimum age, 15 or younger must be accompanied by chaperone
  • member has one vote, receives club benefits, can hold office
  • additional vote is granted to an immediate family member who meets membership eligibility requirements
  • family members eligible for club benefits
• New “RAC Membership” is live for new members.
  • Fee: $25
  • Can add 4 additional family members.
• Old “Single Membership” and “Family Membership” disabled.
• Existing membership renewal will transition to the new “RAC Membership” for 2025.
• Renewal start December 2, 2024.

Treasurer’s Report: Steven Izzo

Membership: – 564 total.

355 single memberships

120 family memberships with 89 secondary members & 1 cancelled membership

Financials:

Business checking: $963.24
Savings: $23,703.37
Special purpose checking: $0.62

Astronomical League Awards: Dean Herring

• Mohammad Adnan Asif – Messier OP – 70 object Silver Certificate
• Bethany Bennett – 2024 Solar Eclipse Silver Level Certificate
• Dean Herring – Messier OP Certificate & pin
• Susan Herring – Messier OP Certificate & pin
• Doug Lively – 2024 Solar Eclipse – Gold Level Certificate & pin

Outreach Report: Steve Blake

• October 4 – First Fridays with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
  • Canceled due to weather forecast
• October 30 : The Willard Rooftop
• November 9 : Stargazing on Tap Star Party
• November 12 : STEAM Night: Salem ES

Upcoming Events:

• November 23 – Prairie Ridge Ecostation (Raleigh)
  • Joint event with Morehead Planetarium
• December 04 – STEM Night: Apex Friendship ES (Apex)
• December 06 – First Fridays with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
• December 18 – The Willard Rooftop (Raleigh)

Loaner Scope Report:  Rob Parsons

Donation: Orion ShortTube 4.5” Equatorial Reflector Telescope

  To be raffled at “Equatorial Mounts for Beginners” class (12/7).

Donation: Celestron Nexstar 130GT Reflector Telescope

  To be added to the loaner program.

Scopes 

Cassagrains: 6 out / 2 available/ 2 in for repair

Dobsonians: 7 out / 3 available

Maksutovs: 1 out / 1 available

Refractors: 1 out / 1 available

Reflectors: 2 out / 2 available

Binoculars: 2 out / 2 available

Imaging Meeting & Report:

November 21 Imaging Meeting:
Images taken at > 1000mm!

• No December imaging meeting
• Need imagers to present at the next indoor meeting, Imaging Showcase
• Volunteers needed for the Astrophotography exhibit at Astronomy Days in February.

No Reports:

• A/V
• Keyholder
• Social Media
• Webmaster Team

Education Committee Report: Anastasia Vail

UPCOMING CLASSES: Cherry Building at Dix

• December 7, 2024 class will be about polar aligning an EQ mount (official title TBD, led by Rob Parsons).

After meeting Social:

Sammy’s

 

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.