News from John White:

DUES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 09-10 IS DUE

Due for the Astronomy Club of Augusta membership for our fiscal year 2009-10 is now due.  We try to keep this as low as possible and in deed is the lowest in our area that we know of.  Only $10.00 per year per family.   $5.00 goes to the Astronomical League Membership which is our national organization.  For that we receive the quarterly publication and become elegible for the various observing awards provided by the League.   Please forward your dues to the ACA Treasurer (John White, 4254 Woodland Dr., Martinez, GA. 30907) or give it to any club officer.  I must submit to the Astronomical League a current membership as soon as possible or you will not receive the next issue of The Reflector (AL's news letter).

OFFICER ELECTIONS FOR 2009-2010

A nominating committen was supposed to be organized in March and present a slate at the April meeting Because of the few members at the meeting, no committee was made.  This was addressed at the May meeting without any volunteers for this task.   A discussion among the current officers was done in an attempt to resolve this situation.  The current officers of the 2008-09 year all volunteered to serve another term in their positions and at the June meeting any nominations for any of the officer positions would be accepted.  

One nomination for the position of VP for Observing and the membership present at the June meeting voted and accepted Mike Bush as VP, Observing.  The other officers were unopposed and will retain their position for another term. 

President: Mark Moffett

VP Programs; Mark Nagy

VP Observing: Mike Bush

Treasurer: John White

Secretary: (Position open)

Web Site:  Tedda Howard

Tedda has agreed to "maintain" the ACA web site. Any information forwarded to her to put on the web site should be in a "final form".  Glen Gorham (one of our newest members) showed an interest to help with web site information.  

OBSERVING OPPORTUNITIES

We will continue to have our monthly observing opportunities.  The officers requested and Stan and Tedda have agreed to have the usual star party at their farm on the Saturday evening closest to the new moon each month (this coming July 25).  A list will be posted on the web site for specific dates.  

There has also been the desire of members to have "additional" observing.  Every Saturday evening the USCA Ruth Patrick Science Center, during the month of July, will be having a special program with emphasis on the 40th anneversury of the Apollo moon program.   Every ACA member is encouraged to attend this weekly program at USCA and help them with the observing program.  Jim Cadieux will be busy in the observatory with the telescope./   Bring your scope and meet the public in front of the center.   Hours about 8 to 10 PM.   This is an excellent opportunity to make contact with new members.  

Additional observing is also available to us at Roger Venible's observatory near Wrens.   What we would like to do is program observing there on the week end before new moon and the week end after full moon.   One month we would go to the Venable site on the Saturday BEFORE new moon, and the next month go the Saturday AFTER new moon.   This would give us opportunities just incase one of the Saturday evenings is rained or clouded out.  We hope to start this with our August viewing sessions.   We will post dates and locations on the web site.