Meeting Minutes February 21, 2025

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes

February 21, 2025

Co-Chair Naveen Malik hosted the meeting

Upcoming Events:

  • Feb 22 – Stargazing on Tap Star Party (Cameron)
  • Mar 3 – Sanderson High School Astronomy Class (Raleigh)
  • Mar 6 – Math & Science Night: Washington ES (Raleigh)
  • Mar 7 – First Fridays with TLC at 3BA (Creedmoor)
  • Mar 8 – Astronomy NIght at Joyner Park (Wake Forest)
  • April 4 & 5 – Statewide Star Party

Tonight”s Presentation:

TOPIC: Stone Structures In New England and Archaeoastronomy

Speaker: Russell F.  PInizzotto, PhD

Business:

Current Officers

Co-Chairs: Naveen Malik, Dana Bostic

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

NEW Committees

Safety: Steven Blake

Social: Susan Herring

Reports: 

Treasurer’s Report: Steven Izzo

Membership:

  • RAC memberships: 483
  • Past due memberships: 65
  • TOTAL memberships: 418

Financials:

  • Checking: $1,228.91
  • Savings: $30,431.65
  • Special Purpose: $24.49

Astronomical League: Dean Herring

Feb 8 Class: 10 Awards!

Hubble 35th Challenge Silver January OP Certificate

  • Dana Bostic 
  • Blair Groden 
  • Dean Herring 
  • Susan Herring 
  • Naveen Malik 

Dana Bostic – Outreach – Stellar/Master – cert framed and pin

M. Adnan Asif– Solar System OP – cert and pin

Al Hamrick– Solar System OP – cert and pin

Tonight:12 Awards!

Hubble 35th Challenge Silver January OP Certificate

  • Kevin Fowler
  • Michael Keef
  • Doug Lively

Hubble 35th Challenge Silver February OP Certificate

  • M. Adnan Asif
  • Dana Bostic
  • Kevin Fowler
  • Al Hamrik
  • Dean Herring
  • Susan Herring
  • Doug Lively

Dean Herring – Variable Star OP – cert sleeve and pin

Dean Herring – Stellar Evolution OP – cert and pin

 

Outreach Report: Steve Blake

Cancelled:

  • Jan 23 – Buckhorn Creek ES (Holly Springs)
  • Feb 7 – First Fridays with TLC at 3BA (Creedmoor)
  • Feb 8 – Astronomy Night at Joyner Park (Wake Forest)
  • Feb 15 – Stargazing on Tap Star Party (Cameron)
  • Feb 19 – The Willard Rooftop (Raleigh)
  • Feb 20 – Morrisville Community Library (Morrisville)

Loaner Scope Report:  Rob Parsons

Prepping: Celestron Nexstar 130GT (5” f/5) Reflector Telescope

Prepping: Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 (6” f/12) Maksutov Telescope

Prepping: Accessories (Observing Chairs, Skyris Camera, Camera Adapters, Solar Filters, ASIair Plus, Books, …)

Available Now: 

Four Big Telescopes!!!

Scopes:

Cassagrains: 7 out / 2 available/ 1 in for repair

Dobsonians: 9 out / 2 available

Maksutovs: 1cout / 1 available

Refractors: 0 out / 2 available

Reflectors: 2 out / 2 available

Binoculars: 2 out / 2 available

Keyholder Report:

  • No report

Imaging Meeting & Report:

  • No Report

A/V Report: 

  • Volunteers needed to help with A/V

Education Committee Report: Anastasia Vail

Date: Saturday March 15, 2025

Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Location: Cherry Building + Zoom

Topic: “Ask the Astronomer/Astrophotographer”

Instructors: Naveen Malik, Jim Presley & Dean Herring

Social: 

For the March 21st indoor meeting we will be having a pre-meeting gathering with refreshments. A reminder email will be sent out with more details before the 21st!

No Report:

  • Social Media
  • Webmaster Team
  • Safety

After meeting Social:

Sammy’s

 

All First Friday Under the Stars with TLC events in 2025 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.

 

 

RAC is a non profit organization

Please send general inquiries to [email protected]

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