Dear NHAC Members,

I hope everyone is having a Happy New Year and I am wishing you all the best year ever!! I always enjoy a New Year; putting the past to rest and looking to the future, just seems to excite me and make me feel refreshed.

This past year has not been the easiest for many of us personally and the club has felt a few hits it’s self.

On an extremely sad note, our dear Captain Comet, Don Pearce, passed away during the holidays. I am still in shock, as I am sure many of you are. Don was a great supporter of NHAC and the Astronomy Community. I was very fond of him. I soothe myself by thinking of him riding on the back of a blazing comet with a red cape with a “CC” for Captain Comet, shooting through the universe saving the day for aliens in need. That picture in my mind makes me smile and laugh; rather than cry. He will truly be missed.

We lost our dark site when the Magby’s made their move; we are still on the search. If you know of somewhere or someone please send along the contact information to our Observation Chairman, Dave Clark, and he will check it out. Hopefully, we can get this resolved soon as I am sure we are all in need of a BBQ!

On a better note, the club still has a board. Wahoo!! We will present the new board at our January 22nd meeting. I hope you will attend and don’t forget to bring along a friend or two.

President-Lorrie Patel
Vice President-Bruce Pollard
Secretary-Alan Wilson
Treasurer-George Marsden
ALCor-Aaron Clevenson
Webmaster-Ed Knapton
Editor-Joe Wagner
Program Chairman-Tom Rice
Observation Chairman-Dave Clark
Membership Chairman-Bill Leach
Membership Co-Chairman-Stuart Davenport

I want to welcome all of our board members; especially, Alan Wilson who is new to the board; welcome! And to Tom Rice who has been on the board before; welcome back! I am looking forward to working with this board again. They truly make my life easy. Thank you, guys for all your efforts!

Well, one of my decisions for the New Year is to write a President’s Letter each month. I am not sure how much I have to say, but I have done a fine job this month. Yap, Yap, Yap…:) So enough for now.

Till we meet again,
Lorrie Patel
President, North Houston Astronomy Club