All,

--Feel Free to Forward this Message--

In case you're not aware a Statewide Cooperative is to be formed amongst the astronomy clubs in PA. Much like other statewide cooperatives with similar benefits, such as the United Clubs of New Jersey, etc.

An organizational meeting for the Pennsylvania Astronomy Club Cooperative is to be held at 1 PM on Saturday April 3, 2004 at the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg's Naylor Observatory in Lewisberry, PA. ALL clubs are welcome to send delegates to the meeting, refreshments will be available as well as friendship. RSVP's were requested by March 8 and as of that date we received several committments from clubs but we also received tentative information from several clubs (CPO, ChesMont, CCAS, AHAS, Bucks-Mont, AELC, etc.) If you're in that list, please contact me and let me know if you are coming. Even though the RSVP date has passed as long as you contact me within the next few weeks we can still get you in for the meeting.

I've been in contact with all of the Astronomy Clubs of the State and Currently have a large percentage of the clubs in the state signed up to attend the meeting. Currently representatives from the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg, the York County Astronomical Society, the Starlight Astronomy Club, the Oil Region Astronomical Society, the Delaware Valley Amateur Astronomers, the Berks County Amateur Astronomical Society, the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society, the Erie County Mobile Observers, and the Lackawanna Astronomical Society are slated to attend.

Are you a member of a club in the state that isn't listed there? Please contact your astronomy club officers and remind them of the meeting and encourage your club to attend.

Together there is a lot we can accomplish in the state together and in a way that is does not drain a clubs finances to have an affiliation and promote astronomy on a higher level.. We want clubs to see unquestionable benefits of this, not just a newsletter every now and then. We can foster observing across the state through programs and cooperative observing nights, foster camaraderie amongst clubs, promote and collaborate on research projects, keep each club up to date as to what others are doing, have statewide events, work with the POLC and other organizations to promote proper lighting, and work with the fine folks at DCNR to open up more sites for observing across the state to amateurs astronomers. Public wise there is much we can do to promote the clubs the state offers and promote astronomy and astronomy education as well as keeping people informed of events going on throughout the state and More!

There are so many more benefits and all of this is to be discussed at the organizational meeting. Make sure your club brings its ideas to the meeting and before you come think of some things you'd like for YOUR club to get out of a statewide cooperative.

Please if you are a club in the state that isn't on the list of attendees contact your officers or if you are an officer, contact me at president@astrohbg.org to have your club signed up to attend the organizational meeting.

Otherwise, after the meeting I will post and get in touch with all clubs in regards to the outcome.

Thanks to all of you for your support! Together we can make things happen in PA astronomy wise!

Regards,
Ted A. Nichols II
President - ASH
www.astrohbg.org