For all those interested, we've put together a new event in honor of the Scottish astronomical regiment - the Caberscope Toss.
http://www.telemuse.net/tac/caberscope.jpg
The advantage is that the mount is most frugal. However, object acquision must be instantaneous to avoid eyepiece lossage.
We hope to introduce a "Dobsonian" expert division soon. :-)
Lynne.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: calastro-bounces@six.pairlist.net
> [mailto:calastro-bounces@six.pairlist.net]On Behalf Of Lynne Jolitz
> Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 9:20 AM
> To: California Astronomy Discussion
> Subject: RE: [CalAstro] Kilts in Astronomy
>
>
> Wow, Dawn. What a great writeup!
> Who'd have thought of crossing the Scottish Games group with
> astronomy? :-)
> Seriously, sounds like you've cracked the code on getting fresh
> blood into these old aging boomer groups - I know, since my kids
> don't find many kids their age involved at star parties, and it's
> important to share experiences with friends.
>
> Maybe we should set up crossbreeds with other groups that have a
> lot of women and kids - like the Renaissance Pleasure Faire with
> astro (I've already got the costumes). And the videos would be
> really cool.
> -Lynne.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: calastro-bounces@six.pairlist.net
> > [mailto:calastro-bounces@six.pairlist.net]On Behalf Of Dawn
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 12:24 PM
> > To: California Astronomy Discussion
> > Subject: Re: [CalAstro] Kilts in Astronomy
> >
> >
> > Actually, the program is just starting out and has been WILDLY
> successful.
> > We have had clubs from Texas, Maine and New Hampshire ask to become
> > satellite groups and the public reaction, especially from
> women, has been
> > phenomenal. It is certainly generating interest and that is why
> > the DSR was
> > created.
> >
> > One of the big benefits we did not anticipate is that we are seeing many
> > more women coming to the organization, finding that astronomy is
> > not nearly
> > as intimidating as they thought. We also just signed our first
> > active female
> > DSR member as well.
> >
> > As far as educating about astronomy goes, at star parties our Dark Skye
> > Regiment members are easy to find for astronomy questions. DSR
> > members have
> > attended school star parties and public events and everywhere
> the reaction
> > has been incredibly positive (much more than we ever expected). The kids
> > think it's cool that they just find a person in a black kilt
> and they can
> > get their astro questions answered. (A grown man and a twelve
> year old boy
> > at a DSR attended event last weekend even asked where they could get buy
> > their own kilts because they saw how the women were reacting.
> :-) We are
> > actually having to turn away members from joining the DSR because
> > we have a
> > 12 member per year addition limit and have had too many
> applicants. LOL.
> >
> > Certainly you are correct, the program is shaking things up and
> > generating a
> > LOT of interest in our club. We have been experiencing a huge
> > growth rate of
> > over 20 new members a month in the past three consecutive months!
> > These new
> > members are VERY active in the club and we are actually having to now
> > conduct volunteer training courses to handle the influx! We have
> > also had to
> > turn away businesses who wanted to sponsor the DSR program. (We want to
> > avoid commercial affiliation with the DSR if at all possible.)
> >
> > Only time will tell how the program weathers but the initial
> reaction over
> > the past few months has been positive beyond our wildest
> dreams. :-) Of
> > course, it is possible that some folks might be a little too
> conservative
> > (actually, the comments on this list is the second possibly
> > negative comment
> > we have had) to be comfortable with it but they are certainly far
> > outnumbered by the positive response both within our
> organization and from
> > the public. Oh course, no one is asking anyone else to do this, this is
> > just something that is working for us. If you have any questions, please
> > feel free to ask me directly. (No, at this moment we are not currently
> > supporting satellite DSR's but we are looking into it as a future
> > possibility if demand keeps up.)
> >
> > Anyway, I have a 32" mirror awaiting some 80 grit, so back to
> work for me!
> > (Back to the grind as they say. ;-)
> >
> > Dawn Baird-Chleborad
> > Optics Babe
> > SVAS Outreach Director
> > Dark Skye Regiment Director
> > SVAS Website
> > Chick who thinks men are HOT in kilts
> > Yada-Yada-Yada
> >
> > www.svas.org
> > 916-457-9115
> > sunwolf ( spacer) at (spacer) chleborads (spacer) dot (spacer) com
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Lynne Jolitz" <lynne@telemuse.net>
> > To: "California Astronomy Discussion" <calastro@six.pairlist.net>
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 10:40 AM
> > Subject: RE: [CalAstro] Kilts in Astronomy
> >
> >
> > > Perhaps this has something to do with the earthquake.-l
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: calastro-bounces@six.pairlist.net
> > > > [mailto:calastro-bounces@six.pairlist.net]On Behalf Of Richard Ozer
> > > > Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 10:26 AM
> > > > To: California Astronomy Discussion
> > > > Subject: Re: [CalAstro] Kilts in Astronomy
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Everyone's greatest fears have now been realized.
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "Steve Sergeant" <stevesgt@effable.com>
> > > > To: "CalAstro List" <calastro@six.pairlist.net>
> > > > Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 10:15 AM
> > > > Subject: [CalAstro] Kilts in Astronomy
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > The Sacramento Valley Astronomical Society Presents....
> > > > > The Dark Skye Regiment
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.svas.org/DSR.htm
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > CalAstro mailing list
> > CalAstro@six.pairlist.net
> > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/calastro
> >
Received on Tue Oct 5 09:41:42 2004
