Your thoughts please?

[bloodhound31]

G'day all!

I just thought I would bounce something off the fine brainpower of the IIS community so here goes....

Ron (Tailwag) has been madly developing my site for me is adding in some new ideas of his and mine. The site just keeps getting better and better!

This is my idea. (Placed neatly in a box by Ron) I would like to try to network later and enlist the services of volunteers from all over, as the site and a few services develop. The idea is to give a "first time" helping hand to the new amateur astronomer or first scope purchaser. And get this.....for free......!!!

Have a look at the "Astro Services" page and let me know if anyone is interested in helping out the amateur community, outside of their clubs, (and I'm thinking "World wide") once in a while.

I think it's a very nice idea and I for one, would love to help others out, to a limited extent, and spur them on in the spirit of amateur astronomy. If anyone would like to lend a hand with this idea, I think you would find it very gratifying and most fulfilling, when you leave someone armed with a little more astro-ammo, and a big smile on their face, to get them started.

Baz:D

[h0ughy]

don't we sort of do this with this forum, or are you talking hands on? Local astro societies sort of do this at the moment, I know ours does. we help where and when we can.

NIce idea, right direction, great thought...........

[bloodhound31]

Thanks Houghy, Yes I do realise that a great deal of info and assistance is available on the web, forums and clubs.

I am talking hands on. A bit of a more personal touch.

Baz.:D

[bloodhound31]

Anyone else?

Baz.

[[1ponders]]

Hey I already do that here (when newbies can find me :lol: ) so I'd be in it for my area + 50Km

[bloodhound31]

Thanks Paul, Ive sent you an email mate.

Baz.:D

[astroron]

I also do that as well, I have had at leaste seven newbies attend meetings here at Cambroon as well as going to peoples places who for whatever reason cannot come here.

[DobDobDob]

Hi all, just to throw my two bobs worth in (yes it was called a florin, I know, I used to spend them).

We all seem to know that there are forums (none better than right here on IIS), there is the net at large, and of course Societies and clubs. These will be and should always be the first port of call on the astronomy voyage of a beginner.

However, given that societies by-and-large seem to be associated with large population areas, and that it's possible for many people these days in remote or small population areas to purchase their first telescopes via mail-order out of a catalogue.

In those cases, if there was a reputable register of suitably qualified people to contact who could drop in and show the beginner how to perform the most basic functions, plus a couple of nifty semi-advanced tricks (Colimination comes to mind, as well as focusing, cleaning, storage and handling), it would be a good thing.

There could even be a need just to talk to a real person about astronomy in general, there doesn't need to be a problem per se.

I guess when your car breaks down you like to go to a mechanic that is accredited and has a tick or badge to say he is part of some association or that he has undergone some basic form of training, up to a certain level.

In the realm of amateur astronomy there is sense of people helping other people for free and in the main that is a good thing, however should you jump in your car, drive across town, take several hours to fix some minor problems and generally give of your experience and then drive back, should you at the very least be compensated for your expenses, such as fuel and time?

There is not a profit motive herein, it's not about making money, there are other far more profitable paths to tread, if you were depending on earning a living from aligning peoples new telescopes you would soon starve. The question of compensation is an important one however and IMHO does not fly outside the general sense of giving freely of ones self to others simply because it's astronomy.

Probably the greater majority of people reading this remember the free help they got and have no problem helping out others, that just might be the thing that made you a long term amateur astronomer.

However, it might also be true that many people who were more-or-less on their own and didn't land in the right forum or meet the right people and did not have an easy entry into astronomy, dropped out after awhile and are lost to us. It wasn't that they lacked passion or enthusiasm, it might just be that they felt frustrated because in their isolated place they felt there was no hope - no help. There are a lot of lonely people in the world, who don't live in cities.

So in summary, If the right checks and balances were in place, and the help were given for the right reasons and a small but modest fee given in return to recover your personal expenses, I see nothing wrong with Barry's plan, in fact I think it's great.

As a last thought, most amateur astronomers after awhile get to know who's who, and what's what, so if someone on the list was discovered to be doing the wrong thing, it's wouldn't take very long for everyone to find out. In a way, the tight knit amateur astronomy scene in Australia is self regulating, so a register of volunteer people (with the possibility to recoup expenses), seems like a very good idea.

Disclaimer: I have no vested financial interest whatsoever in this project, I honestly and sincerely think it's a good idea and the work I am doing with Barry is because he is a great bloke and I am pleased to help him if I can.

[matt]

I didn't see any mention of charging fees in Barry's posts:shrug:

[DobDobDob]

You're right Matt, we had discussed that off forum, and I was introducing it into the thread, as I said these are my thoughts only, you may agree or disagree with them. :)

[bloodhound31]

I don't intend charging one red cent. If someone insists on giving me a small donation or token, I will graciously accept, but this is certainly not expected, nor is it my aim.

I am thinking of putting a click-able map on my site, with radius zones around certain areas where I have a volunteer in place. When a person in need clicks on a zone and decides they want help, a message will come to me and I will consult my volunteers. If there is no volunteer close by, then it will be up to the person in need to get themselves to the nearest zone in order to gain some assistance.

If someone contacts me for help and they are outside my radius, i will then contact a volunteer in the appropriate area and ask if they are willing to assist. If not, I will find the nearest and ask the person in need if they can make their way to that zone and I will contact that volunteer instead.

This is just an idea at the moment, but that is something like how it could go.

Its all strictly volunteer basis and no one has to do anything they don't want to.

There is no financial implications in this venture. It is strictly in the spirit of helping people and doing a small, but nice thing.

I for one, am excited about it! I love helping people. It is very rewarding and leaves me with warm fuzzies!

I wish I had had this kind of help when I bought my first scope!

Baz.

[matt]

Sounds good, Baz:thumbsup:

[bloodhound31]

Can anyone else offer any thoughts, ideas, suggestions or even criticisms?

Baz.:D