New Astro Club

[ballaratdragons]

Hi all,

Just to inform anyone in the western part of Victoria that we have a new Astro outfit.

The 'SNAKE VALLEY ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION'

It is open to all ages and you don't really have to live in Western Victoria to join, but it makes it a bit hard to attend all the viewing nights and get-togethers if you don't, but hey, your welcome.

We are not an association of 'meetings about viewing'. We 'View!'

We are putting together a library of interesting accessories and books, so members can borrow EP's, magazines, books etc from the library. Helps kids get to use better EP's than DSE provide.

If you would like to contribute to our library, feel free to send any accessories you believe kids could use to enhance their viewing experience and stay with our great hobby. Old scopes, EP's, Astro books etc. To send any items please PM Darren (wombat-in-space) or myself.

We already conduct Astro fun days in the local schools, and we will be holding open nights as weather permits.

Don't forget to check out our website too: http://snake-valley-astro.homelinux.org/index

[gaa_ian]

Good on you Ken :thumbsup:
I am sure you will be very successful

[RAJAH235]

Well done Ken & Darren. Hope it's a great success. :2thumbs: :D L.

[iceman]

Congrats Ken!

What do the Ballarat astro society peeps think of your new club? Is there any ill feeling? I hope you can live harmoniously.

Are you going to incorporate and do all that boring "stuff" that usually comes with the territory, or is it mainly an informal gathering?

Good luck with it!

[ving]

boring stuff? lol

on ya ken! and cograts! :thumbsup:

[davidpretorius]

great website guys!

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks Guys.

We are going to every length to avoid the 'Boring' stuff. We are simply a group of 'viewers' that want to formalise the group for insurance reasons. Never know, little Johnnie might visit a viewing session and bang his scone on one of the scopes, or trip over a mount.

Because kids are interested in Astronomy (before they become 'cool' teenagers) we want to help them 'see' objects with better equipment, that's why the accessories library. And kids like to 'belong' to something, not just do it occasionally.

No, the Ballarat Society doesn't know of us yet, but I have been asked by 2 members of BAS to let them know when we start one so they can be involved.

It isn't an association of meetings and building maintenance and who is putting the rubbish out next week. We get together and look thru our scopes, talk EP's, compare equipment etc. In other words, we do astronomy, not just have meetings about doing astronomy.

Our Mayor is right behind the whole project, and has offered to find land around Snake Valley to start the ball rolling for an observatory in our lovely dark town.

It is exciting times indeed.

[ving]

your getting an observatory? :eek:

[ballaratdragons]

Yep Vingo.

Built my locals. Ideas are already being thrown around Council Chambers. Lysette has wanted this for years, and now that she IS the Mayor, it is finally starting to happen.

[h0ughy]

Congratulations ken glad to see that you got things of the ground. You will have to get the council to install cut off lighting structures on all Street lights, install signs at the beginning of town for drivers to dim their lights.LOL Best wishes, will you be having any affiliation with other astronomical Society's?

[fringe_dweller]

Onya Ken! Good luck with it all - you seem to move in high circles there?

[33South]

Sounds great Ken, good luck.

[Dave47tuc]

Good luck with it all Ken.

My 2c, keep it simple.

[Miaplacidus]

Sounds great. Very original concept. Hopefully the idea will catch on at other astro clubs. Good luck with it all.

Cheers,

Brian.

[RAJAH235]

We W.A.A.C.ers wish Ken n Darren all the best for the future of the Snake Valley Astronomical Association. We've had the same outlook & agenda since we started our club in 1999. 'KISS'. No big meetings or legal stuff n cheap memberships. Best way.... :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :D L.

[janoskiss]

Sounds great, Ken. You certainly have the skies for it and sounds like you have the will of the people too. Best of luck! ;)

[astroron]

Good on ya Ken, all the best in the world, I hope your observatory gets of the ground:thumbsup: :astron:

[Roger Davis]

As Dave said, keep it simple! That way you will achieve the best results!
Love the idea of observing! Too many get lost in the science of construction and talking about it to actually do it!

[danielsun]

Great stuff Ken!! ;)

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks everyone for your best wishes.

The reason I left another society (among many many other members that left) is because all they had was meetings, and talked about observing, not actually doing the observing.

We are already getting enquires about membership and we don't officially start until next month!

Daniel, you are close enough to be apart of this (hint, hint).

The website is being upgraded by Darren (wombat-in-space) and will be ready for re-launch in about a week or so, so keep an eye out for it.

[asimov]

Thats great to hear Ken! All the best with it mate :) :thumbsup:

[danielsun]

Yes Ken count me in!
I'll be keeping an eye on the site for dates and info and be keen to get up there any chance i can. ;)

Is the 8th of may kickoff meeting going to be an observing night also?

[ballaratdragons]

Daniel,

the inaugural 'official' get-together on the 8th May is a night for any people interested to come along, join, meet each other, organise a local viewing spot, and if the weather is in our favour, show the newbies thru some scopes from the grassed area across the road which is not an ideal viewing location, but it is good enough to show most objects.

You are certainly welcome and I hope you can make it.

[ballaratdragons]

Just to inform you all that the Snake Valley Astronomical Association Website is now fully up and running in it's NEW look.

A Big thank-you to Darren (wombat_in_space) for all the work he has put into it, getting it to look so terrific.

Have a browse through. http://snake-valley-astro.homelinux.org/

[RAJAH235]

A great looking site, Ken & Darren. Well done & congrats for all the hard work..:D L.

[h0ughy]

congrats

[ballaratdragons]

You can't tell me people don't have an interest in Astronomy.

We don't officially start our Association until tonight (our 1st get-together to formalise) but I just had a phone call from an 'Historic Society' asking if we could come along to their meeting in July and do an Astonomy talk and viewing night!!!!

Seems the word is out already! Cool!!!

[ving]

good luck with your first meet ken!
MTFBWY...A
:)

[astroron]

Great job Ken all the best for the future:thumbsup:

[venus]

Congratulations Ken on the new Astro Association, may it be all that you dreamed it would be and more!

[ballaratdragons]

UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!

We had our very first official get-together/info night tonight for the SVAA.

It was a great night with all sorts of Astro discussions flying around the room. Unfortunately no viewing coz of cloud but a great first night.

Results: 12 new members signed up tonight bringing the total to 21 (10 Adults and 11 kids), plus 7 more adults interested in joining, but being unable to make it along tonight!

A lot was resolved in just one night!!!! Where and when especially.

It was such a great night without viewing, can't wait till we get together next week for viewing!!!!

[danielsun]

Thats great Ken,
Sorry i couldn' make it there for the opening but the way the day panned out i had no chance.
Though i'm still be keen to sign up and get up there any chance i can.

[ballaratdragons]

cool Daniel. Looking forward to you making it up.

Got another 2 members today!!!

[janoskiss]

Sounds like the club is a great success, Ken. Congratulations! :clap:

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks Steve,

and it's only 24 hours old!!!!!!

fantastic reponse from such a small town like ours.