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David,<BR>
<BR>
Thanks so much for the eloquent reply! I was a little stunned and at a loss for words as to how to respond to Billy's last statement. I started to question my interpretation of what this forum was all about.<BR>
<BR>
Billy, I still appreciate your views, though I don't agree with them. I did understand your point, but as Dave explained, there are those of us that prefer to observe and make our contributions on our own ways. I'll continue to do that. <BR>
<BR>
Fred<BR>
<BR> <BR>> Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:40:09 -0700<BR>> To: lvas@lvlug.org<BR>> From: Yahoo@awit.com<BR>> Subject: Re: [Lvas] Sawmill Trailhead<BR>> <BR>> As the current EOP coordinator, I must point out that the LVAS email <BR>> list is available to any and all members of LVAS. The club <BR>> encourages exactly what Fred did, that is, invite like-minded persons <BR>> to join him for an evening of observing. Regardless of what other <BR>> "offers" are on the list or event calendar, everyone needs to make <BR>> their own choice according to their own interests.<BR>> <BR>> There are several dozen members of LVAS, but less than ten have ever <BR>> shown an interest in EOP, and another ten (most different than the <BR>> first ten) show an interest in Red Rocks. Then there is yet another <BR>> dozen who want to go out on dark nights, safety in numbers and all <BR>> that, to observe. These groups have a love of astronomy and <BR>> observing in common. The application of that observing is obviously different.<BR>> <BR>> Let's not start any in-fighting about "resources" available to the <BR>> various functions of the club. We all joined to share who we are and <BR>> what we like to do, but we're not required to contribute beyond what we are.<BR>> <BR>> -- David<BR>> <BR>> At 09:01 PM 8/14/2009, you wrote:<BR>> >Fred,<BR>> ><BR>> >I look forward to meeting you some day, as I am very much impressed <BR>> >with your achievements in astronomy and the related support <BR>> >activities that you have conducted or participated in. Having read <BR>> >your response to my concern, it shows that you missed my point or <BR>> >chose to skirt it. I'll take it upon myself to ask you to please <BR>> >consider refraining from sending out an invitation addressed to <BR>> >"All", particularly when the leadership of the LVAS has made request <BR>> >for support. Therein lies the conflict. Here's hoping that you will <BR>> >remain an active contributor to the LVAS.<BR>> ><BR>> >Respectfully,<BR>> ><BR>> >Billy<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> >In a message dated 08/14/09 20:38:45 Pacific Daylight Time, <BR>> >rayworth1969@hotmail.com writes:<BR>> >Billy,<BR>> ><BR>> >Though I'm not particularly offended with your comments, I DO want <BR>> >to set the record straight about why I do what I do.<BR>> ><BR>> >I am an observer first, a club member second. Always have been, <BR>> >always will be. That's just the hard cold facts.<BR>> ><BR>> >However, I am a club member and as such, I DO support the club in my <BR>> >own way, the best way I can. Because I don't come to a specific <BR>> >event does not make me disrespectful, and I find that comment <BR>> >ludicrous. However, since you used to be the education outreach <BR>> >coordinator, I'm sure you've dealt with the frustration of trying to <BR>> >get people to participate.<BR>> ><BR>> >I support the club in many ways. I have done two presentations in <BR>> >the two years I've been a member, plus I am working on a couple of <BR>> >more I may do if Rob lets me. I participate almost daily on this <BR>> >forum in an effort to get people to chime in and get interested. I <BR>> >and Rover Ivester started an observer's challenge program to spur <BR>> >interest in visual observing and Rob has been our biggest supporter, <BR>> >along with many other club members.<BR>> ><BR>> >When I was in the smaller club in town, I used to go to every <BR>> >Astronomy Day event where we'd set up at the Galleria Mall in <BR>> >Henderson and show the Moon and Jupiter for hours on end.<BR>> ><BR>> >I even did one of my presentations at Red Rocks last year.<BR>> ><BR>> >I use photos of me with a telescope on Classmates, FaceBook, <BR>> >MySpace, and even the writer's forum I'm a member of. I have <BR>> >astronomy calenders at work and photos of my and my telescopes on <BR>> >the wall. Every time I go to a meeting or go out to observer, I post <BR>> >it on FaceBook.<BR>> ><BR>> >I've written dozens of articles about amateur astronomy.<BR>> ><BR>> >I have done presentations with other clubs including several at the <BR>> >Okie-Tex Star Parties in the mid-nineties.<BR>> ><BR>> >Being a visual observer, I have to go out and actually look through <BR>> >an eyepiece, which means, I am totally dependent on observing <BR>> >conditions. There are only two&nbs<BR>> >p;Saturdays a month where there is no moon, which is about 24 days a <BR>> >year that I'm able to attempt to go out. So far this year, I've been <BR>> >out four times since January because of weather. That's not a very <BR>> >good track record. So, my dark nights are precious and few. When the <BR>> >club schedules a public event on a dark night, as this Saturday is, <BR>> >I just cannot justify wasting a potential dark night in an area <BR>> >where the sky glows so much you can practially read without a light. <BR>> >As I told Rob in an earlier e-mail, if he can get the Red Rocks <BR>> >nights changed to when the moon is up, I'd gladly participate when I can.<BR>> ><BR>> >So, though I respect your opinion, I think it is a bit misguided. If <BR>> >not showing up to Red Rocks this Saturday makes me a bad club <BR>> >member, I'll be glad to resign my membership. However, I don't <BR>> >believe that, and I don't think anyone else in the club does either <BR>> >(at least I hope not!).<BR>> ><BR>> >I appreciate you expressing your feelings. I've done that myself <BR>> >here and got some flack for it.<BR>> ><BR>> >One more thing. I've made it very clear to Rob and anyone that will <BR>> >listen that my priority is observing. I've mentioned it many times <BR>> >that our public events should be on moon weekends. However, the <BR>> >schedule just didn't work out that way this year, but I'm not <BR>> >complaining. It's just the way it worked out.<BR>> ><BR>> >Fred<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> >----------<BR>> >Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:05:46 -0700<BR>> >From: b1outdoors@aol.com<BR>> >To: lvas@lvlug.org; lvas@lvlug.org<BR>> >Subject: Re: [Lvas] Sawmill Trailhead<BR>> ><BR>> >Rob, I would certainly join you and other faithful club members in <BR>> >support of the Public Star Party and Education Outreach at Red rock <BR>> >tomorrow night, but as you know, I have been hampered with cataracts.<BR>> >Night time driving is a real challenge for me, and seeing faint <BR>> >objects is practically impossible. But, I remain hopeful that I will <BR>> >rejoin the LVAS group early next year, after my next surgery (left <BR>> >eye) sometime in November or December. By the way, I have never met <BR>> >or communicated directly with the gentleman, Fred, who posted an <BR>> >announcement to go to Sawmill on the same night as the Red Rock <BR>> >event. This was a circumstance when I served as the Education <BR>> >Outreach Coordinator; that is, having individual club members to <BR>> >"splinter off" when there was a need to support a previously <BR>> >announced club sanctioned event. If I make it out to the next LVAS <BR>> >general meeting on September 3rd, I plan to voice my opinion <BR>> >regarding this matter. In other words, club members or associates <BR>> >need to show some respect for the mission and goals of the LVAS <BR>> >objectives to reach out to the public. Please pardon me, if my <BR>> >expressions have offended anyone. Have a great night at Red Rock.<BR>> ><BR>> >Billy<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> >In a message dated 08/14/09 14:52:56 Pacific Daylight Time, <BR>> >scopegeek@gmail.com writes:<BR>> >Sorry Fred. I'll be at Red Rock tomorrow night for the public star<BR>> >party. I'll try to schedule them in the future for 1st quarter moon<BR>> >evenings instead of 3rd quarter. Maybe that way you'll be able to join<BR>> >us at the Red Rock and I'll be able to join you at either Redstone or<BR>> >Sawmill.<BR>> ><BR>> >Rob<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> >Fred Rayworth wrote:<BR>> > > All,<BR>> > ><BR>> > > I was considering Redstone Saturday night, but some of my friends are<BR>> > > going to Sawmill so I guess I'll take a chance on the winds and try<BR>> > > there again up on the mountain.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > Does anyone else want to try it?<BR>> > ><BR>> > > Fred<BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>> > > Get free photo software from Windows Live Click here.<BR>> > > <BR>> > <http://www.windowslive.com/online/photos?ocid=PID23393::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_PH_software:082009> <BR>> ><BR>> > ><BR>> > > -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>> > ><BR>> > > _______________________________________________<BR>> > > Sent via the Lvas mailing list Lvas@lvlug.org<BR>> > > Set options or unsubscribe at http://lvlug.org/mailman/listinfo/lvas<BR>> > > The LVAS discussion list is hosted courtesy of LasVegas.Net<BR>> > ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> >----------<BR>> >Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. <BR>> ><http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_BackToSchool_Cashback_BTSCashback_1x1>Try <BR>> >Bing now. =<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> >_______________________________________________<BR>> >Sent via the Lvas mailing list Lvas@lvlug.org<BR>> >Set options or unsubscribe at http://lvlug.org/mailman/listinfo/lvas<BR>> >The LVAS discussion list is hosted courtesy of LasVegas.Net<BR>> <BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> Sent via the Lvas mailing list Lvas@lvlug.org<BR>> Set options or unsubscribe at http://lvlug.org/mailman/listinfo/lvas<BR>> The LVAS discussion list is hosted courtesy of LasVegas.Net<BR><br /><hr />Express your personality in color! 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