Just came back from Charlie Elliott. OK we now have gravel in the driveway, so it won’t wash out as much. I spend some time compacting it a little with my truck and still need to distribute the gravel at the beginning of the driveway a bit. It is still too thick. So if you drive onto it, don’t accellerate because it will just spin the gravel on the road. Just let your car coast you up to the field until it is better compacted.
Clear skies
Theo

This Saturday is JAKES Day at Charlie Elliott. We have participated in this event as long as I remember, and we are doing this again this year. We will be showing the Sun to those who want to take a peek through our scopes and inside we will run some movies and show some of the tools we use in our outreach. If you have time, please join us for this event which runs from 10:00 – 14:00. Please come a little early so we have time to setup and let me know beforehand. Also, in the last meeting it was suggested that after the event we will move the Safety Zone signs at the Jon Wood Field to where they need to be. So bring a shovel or pole digger and help us to move the Jon Wood field within the Safety Zone of the Wildlife Center.
Thanks and Clear Skies,
Theo

In the afternoon of the 11th, between the Solar Event and the Evening event with the Yargo Elementary School, Frank and Theo made their way to the Jon Wood Field for some driveway improvements. Frank brought his tractor and scraper and very nicely removed the bumps and gullies out of the driveway, while Theo compacted the loose dirt a bit by driving over it with his truck. Needless to say we needed a shower very badly after this dusty mission. We have a load of gravel scheduled for today, so it does not all wash out again. (I can’t believe how the cost of gravel has increased since I build my house 7 years ago)
This brings us a little closer to the dedication of the field to Jon.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers

After three years as the director of the Chapter I decided not to re-run for the position of Director of the Chapter, but reduce my efforts to maintaining the Chapter’s website, coordinating the Chapter’s Outreach Programs, and represent the Chapter as a board member of the Atlanta Astronomy Club, provided the next board does approve. I believe during the three years we have expanded the chapter substantially and it consists of an active, friendly group of individuals, young and old, that enjoys astronomy and each other’s company, and builds on the experience of those in this hobby for a while. In addition we have created a very active outreach program that is well liked and respected in area schools as well as at the Charlie Elliott’s Outdoor Discovery School. So I am proud to step down as director and leave a healthy and exciting chapter to the next director. I would like to thank Marie and Steven as well as Kenpo for his press releases and Dan and Annette of the program committee for all the help they have given, as well as everyone who has participated in our outreach, or simply has visited us at meetings or at the Jon Wood Observing Field. So let the Chapter grow and keep up the spirit of friendlyness and respect for each other as we go on and reach out to all who share this beautiful hobby with us.
Thanks and Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Outgoing Chapter Director

In the meeting last Saturday the Chapter re-elected Marie Lott as the Chapter Secretary and Steven Phillips as the Chapter’s Observing Supervisor. I stepped down as director and no new director was elected. In the meantime two nominations have been brought forward: Tim Geib and Phil Sacco. The chapter will vote on these nominations in June. As mentioned, I have stepped down, so the rest of the board can act on the next meeting as we have a vacant director position. Please feel free in arranging a speaker for the next meeting and let me know, so it can be posted on the website. And if someone volunteers to coordinate the potluck dinner, the June meeting could be a potluck dinner meeting as it was scheduled to be.
The website has been updated with pictures and a short summary of the last meeting on the Past Events page with links to the presentations which have been provided so far. As soon as we get more we will setup the links so they can be reviewed at will.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers

This is a reminder for our meeting this coming Saturday May 7th. We also will elect a new board of the chapter. So if you are interested in helping out as one of the board members, please send me an email. You can run for Director, Secretary and Observing Supervisor. I am not running this time. However, I will continue to coordinate the outreach events and maintain the website if the new board is OK with this. After three years as the director of the chapter it is time to pass on the torch to someone else.
Hope to see you Saturday!
Clear skies,
Theo Ramakers

Hightower Trail Elementary School in Conyers will have their yearly Space Camp on Friday April 15. This has been a great event ever since we first started participating many years ago. So come on out with your scope and let the kids look at the stars and other Wow objects in the sky. The event starts at 6:00 with inside presentations but they will be coming out when it gets dark to look through the scopes and I’ve been told that this might go on until 11:00 P.M since the next day is not a school day.
Address:
2510 Highway 138, NE
Conyers, Georgia 30013
Please let me know if you will be attending, so I can get a list of people coming to join us.
Thanks and Clear Skies,
Theo

This is a reminder for our meeting and observing for this coming Saturday. The weather forecast is great, so bring your scopes and catch up on what we’ve missed the last time around. Jim Sobelovski will present “Supernova” so you get to know all about these great events.
See you Saturday!
Theo

Telescopes needed for our outreach event at Summerour Middle School for Friday March 11 at 6:30 P.M. – ???
Address: 585 Mitchell Rd, Norcross, GA 30071-4299
We will participate in the classroom presentations and setup scopes at the upper parking deck for students and parents to look at the Universe. As you might remember last year we were only able to let them look at the moon through the clouds. The forcast for this year is much better. So if you have some time to let these kids see what you take for granted, please come out and help us. Everyone will appreciate it.
Thanks and Clear Skies,
Theo

OK, our next meeting is coming Saturday 4:00P.M. at the Visitors Center of the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center just south of Mansfield. This is our quarterly potluck dinner meeting. And this time it is: Dinner and a movie. Join us for some good food and the movie: “To the Edge of the Universe”.  Send me an email what food you will be bringing so I can publish the menu as we go through the week.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers