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As I write this presidents letter
the holiday season is approaching and beyond that
the New Year and all that will bring. As far as
the OCA is concerned one of the first things to
occur in 2002 will be the Board Member elections
at the meeting in January.
For those of you who were present
at the December meeting you will already be aware
that we have a fair number of additional board members
standing for election to the 11 positions next year.
You should all receive a special Sirius Astronomer
Ballot mailed first class in good time to allow
you to consider your vote and post prior to the
January meeting. Please do refer to the web site
if you can where you will find prominent links to
full information on each of the board members who
are standing for election. here
Several board members including
Bob Gill - our current vice president - have decided
not to stand for re-election in 2002. I am very
sad to see Bob step down - but you will be pleased
to hear he will still be helping us with all things
to do with the clubs Kuhn telescope.
This year has been my first as
the president of the OCA and I feel that to a great
extent although we have accomplished much - I want
to accomplish so much more in this next year.
I am firmly committed to ensuring
the OCA continues to attract new membership while
at the same time ensuring that we have a significant
depth of programs and activities that loyal members
continue to get the benefits they have come to expect
and more.
On the new member benefits side
- I know that our beginners' class continues to
be a huge success. Many of the non-members who go
to this program run by Antonio Miro are taking full
advantage of the offer to visit Anza each month
- and everyone of these beginners that I have met
at Anza are intending to become or have already
become new members. Our outreach program is also
very successful at spreading the word. I meet many
new members who have joined us after experiencing
the OCA at a school outreach led by Jim Benet and
our other regular volunteers.
We had a great AstroImage 2001
conference this year - and I can tell you now that
a whole new AstroImage is being planned for 2002
that will take this conference to a new level. All
of the planning and management of this is being
handled through the dedicated AstroImagers group
led by Greg Pyros, Garth Buckles, Pat Stocker and
others. The group now numbers more than 60 online
members of which around 20 regularly meet at my
offices every month. This group is an example where
there is something for everyone. The membership
ranges from people who have been members less than
a year - to members who have been with us for nearly
all of the 35 years or so we have been around. Indeed
one of the members - Carlos Flores - is now a lifetime
member of the OCA who lives in Georgia and joined
the club just because of this one group.
I have now had the pleasure of
running three Star Parties at Anza by running the
clubs telescope - including hosting two Outreach
events at the site for students and guests from
Irvine Valley College. I feel entirely too privileged
to be able to utilize such a magnificent asset as
the clubs 22.5" Kuhn telescope. I intend to
make full use of this wonderful resource in the
coming year and hope that many other members will
also enjoy the benefits of being a Star Member.
Come on 2002!
"every day we are connecting ever more photons
of light from distant galaxies to the eyes, hearts,
minds and imaginations of our members and others
in our community."
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