President's Letter December 2004

Greetings NHAC members!

It is the end of another great year for our club which just keeps getting larger and larger every month. The last count was around 147 members. My personal welcome to all of the new members out there. To new members, that are also new to astronomy, the club offers a variety of ways for you to get started.

Novice program with a question & answer session before each monthly meeting
“What’s Up Doc?” – presentations during every meeting
A loaner telescope program complete with binoculars and small and larger telescopes – personal instruction is available
“New Member’s Kits” – includes important membership information
Name Tags – so we can all learn each other’s names
Group instruction at the “Neal Site”, the club’s dark-sky observing site
Four club BBQ/Star Parties throughout the year
Netslyder communications network to keep you current with club decisions and announcements and information exchange among the membership on various astronomy topics.
www.astronomyclub.org, the club’s website, is also a valuable resource for information.
The “North Star” newsletter is also available for reading, downloading and printing every month from the club’s website. The North Star is full of information and meeting and observation schedules.

Speaking of BBQ’s, our last attempt at a November “Bollide” BQQ was rained out on both scheduled nights. We will be coming out with the 2005 BBQ schedule soon. Dan Gava, is the BBQ coordinator this year and despite his inability to direct the weather he is to be given our appreciation for having everything organized and ready to go for the November event.
Thanks Daniel!

At the December meeting we will elect the 5th Executive Board for the club. The board consists of officers and committee chairpersons. It is the Executive Board that organizes club functions and learning activities. The following individuals have been nominated:

President – Juan Carlos Reina
Vice President – Bill Leach
Secretary – Sue Wheatley
Treasurer – Robert McMillan
Editor – Lorrie Patel
Webmaster – Ed Knapton
ALCor – Aaron Clevenson
Program Committee – Jessica Adams
Observation Committee – Henry Norton
Membership Committee – Geraldina Reina
(Nominations will also be accepted from the floor)

The December meeting is also our annual holiday celebration complete with special goodies to munch on, Santa hats and frivolous singing and good times. Don Pearce, “Captain Comet” will be thrilling attendees with a presentation on “Comets”.

There are two board members that will not be running for office again this year. They are Jeff Winship, 2004 Observation Committee Chair, and Don Taylor, club Webmaster for several years. Jeff took over the observation committee when Matt Wotipka had to resign in order to attend classes at the University of Texas in Austin. Jeff and his committee orchestrated some of our most successful BBQ’s, that is, if we promise not to mention the BBQ Jeff had in the pouring rain. Jeff’s team organized our equipment container at the “Neal Site” and named it “NGC 1”. Jeff’s most impressive accomplishment was his acquiring permanent restroom facilities for the site which has been named “Le Messier”. Thanks to Jeff and all his hard work and efforts. Don Taylor has been the webmaster for the club for more than two years. His efforts at creating a top notch website were rewarded by the Astronomical League when he won their “Webmaster of the Year” award this past year. My special thanks to Don also for helping make our club as good as it is. Thanks Don!

Just a reminder to members to register their Randall’s card with Club # 9298. NHAC receives a small kick back that helps to supplement our budget. Also, if you want to keep up with the latest information on club activities and decisions then you need to sign up on the NHAC Netslyder list server. It’s easy:

Send an e-mail to: imailsrv@netslyder.net
Your message should read “subscribe nhac Bill Leach” (substitute your name)
To send a message to the group send a e-mail to:
nhac@netslyder.net

I am also coming to the end of my current role as club president. It has been a great year of growth and excitement and I have many members to thank for all their support and efforts. I will be running for the office of vice president where I plan to put a lot of effort into creating one of our best novice programs yet and maybe we can get started on some more advanced presentations running concurrently with the novice program. Juan Carlos Reina has been with the club since its inception and he should make an excellent president offering the club a different perspective. Good luck JC!

William W. Leach
NHAC President 2004