Folks,
Anything is possible, but who will organize this? The next big imaging conference in San Jose is coming up next month. I assure you that it takes a year of advanced planning to put a program together and about a dozen dedicate people and lots of cash to pull it off for a 1 1/2 day conference for 200 people. BTW, registration is $200 bongo bucks which covers the expenses, including support from sponsors.
Some of the east coast folks are already complaining about having to come out to California for the 2nd advanced imaging conference, so the solution is to alternate coasts from year to year. Perhaps this can be suggested to the NEAF folks.
-jg
-----Original Message-----
From: "Rich N." <RNapo@No-Spam>
Sent: Oct 12, 2005 9:42 PM
To: The Astronomy Connection <sf-bay-tac@No-Spam>
Subject: Re: [TAC] Bay Area NEAF
Yes, Monterey has a lot to offer. It would be fine with me.
Rich
> I agree that a nice location would be key. Napa, Santa Rosa, maybe Monterey. Have
a nice location with a large indoor's exhibit hall with nice lodging and food/wine so
the vendors could feel the love. Attract some big name amateurs to give talks.
Combine visual astronomy, imaging and solar astronomy and we're good to go!
Shingletown, CalStar and Bay Area Neaf!
>Calfornia's got it all!
>
>When do we start?
>
>Dennis
>
>"Rich N." <RNapo@No-Spam> wrote:
>What is the point of having dealers at a star party?
>To see new products? Buying blems for a cheap price?
>
>I'd heard several years ago Astro-Physics didn't want to
>keep going to RTMC because it is so dusty.
>
>A number of Bay Area amateurs quickly buy the latest goodies
>so you can go to almost any TAC star party and see an
>amazing assortment of equipment.
>
>If you want to attract vendors you might consider having the star
>party at a really attractive location. A place that would be almost
>like a mini working vacation for the vendors. A place easy get to,
>a place that's clean and comfortable, etc. It should also be a location
>that would be attractive to amateur astronomers.
>
>Maybe some place near Napa or another part of the wine country?
>
>Rich
>
>
>>I don't necessarily agree with the supposition that RTMC doesn't cover the
>>"star party" aspect. NEAF is pretty much an indoor event unless you do solar
>>(and if you do the Solar Star Party put on by Rockland and Barlow Bob
>>Godfrey is tops) and one could make the argument that the talks at RTMC are
>>right up there. RTMC may not be on many short lists for observing sites but
>>it sure beats the pants off Suffern!
>>
>>Not that the idea for another astronomy expo is a bad idea in any way but
>>the folks who put on the two shows do an absolutely fantastic job. Money is
>>tight for vendors and when you look at the schedule with WSP, NEAF, TSP,
>>RTMC, and maybe Astrofest for domestic shows the travel budget is getting
>>pretty well spent. Then throw in the rest of the larger regional star
>>partays and the dealer events. Maybe the way to approach this is to get the
>>dealers interested and see if that trips any triggers- might be an even
>>tougher sell than to manufacturers though. The lost revenue of sending out
>>sales folks to hit the road is real, covering expenses for a trip just
>>doesn't cut it these days.
>>
>>We have it plenty good out West believe you me. Pretty hard to beat SSP and
>>CalStar and if the folks over there even had an inkling of what we have here
>>we'd be looking at even more traffic.
>>
>>Clear skies,
>>Bill
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: sf-bay-tac-bounces@No-Spam [mailto:sf-bay-tac-bounces@No-Spam] On
>>Behalf Of Dennis Beckley
>>Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 1:05 PM
>>To: sf-bay-tac@No-Spam
>>Subject: [TAC] Bay Area NEAF
>>
>>Spent my idle lunch hour looking at the Cloudy Night's recent review of the
>>Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF). I thought to myself "I probably don't
>>spend enough money on astronomical products. Wouldn't it be neat to have a
>>huge Vendor's get-together here in the Bay Area!". It could be done on any
>>weekend (clear skies not a necessity, exept for the solar scopes). Moreover,
>>the states of California, Oregon, Washinton, Nevada and Arizona could
>>certainly generate the crowds. I dont' think RTMC really adequately covers
>>this missing astronomical "star party" link. Wonder if there's any interest
>>in TAC on organizing an event like this and what it would take to get it off
>>the ground (maybe with the help of several local vendors). We could call it
>>"SWAF" for Southwestern Astronomy Forum, or something like that. Why should
>>astronomers in the Northeast have all the fun?!
>>
>>
>>Dennis Beckley
>>
>>
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Received on Thu Oct 13 13:33:24 2005