Despite valid concerns about politics it should not be that difficult for people with a common interest (Looking up at night) to all pull in the same direction and achieve a lot more than a few individuals. I also fly remote control aircraft, and I belong to the Victorian Model Aircraft Association, through my local clubs affiliation to it. The VMAA is a legal incorpororation, and has a legal constitution, as do the affiliated clubs. It costs me $120 dollars a year to be a member of an affiliated club to the VMAA, and affiliation provides me with 22 Million worth of public liability insurance. The VMAA has also bought our own state flying field near Sunbury. It has good facilities, power, and water, and any VMAA affiliated club member can go and use it. It is also used for organised state and national competitions. The VMAA has also supplied legal advice and cheap loans for affiliated clubs to buy their own land or improve flying field facilities. The VMAA also has an extensive library of videos that are available for loan as well, to any affiliated member. There is also numerous equipment that an affiliated club can borrow to hold events. It also has an education officer that goes around to schools.
Imagine a state / national astronomy association that you could borrow good eyepieces, CCD cameras, mounts, goto's, and other goodies from?
Our local clubs incorporation and affiliation has allowed us, with less than 25 members, to apply for local government community development grants. Last year we applied for a $3000 grant, and got it. Not bad for a club with 25 members. And this year we can apply for another $3000 grant. Imagine what facilities a local group (pun) could get for $3000 a year? Of
course, you can have higher club fees, subscriptions, and other fun raisers, such as raffles, wood drives, camps etc. I would be surprised if an incorporated club with 25 members could not buy a Meade 12" LX200R within 2 years, to share amongst themselves. 50 members could have their own 16" with a bit more work!
And why can't all stargazers get together, form an incorporated state and national association, and do the same for all astronomers, of all standings?
Imagine having association owned state and national observation sites, with good camping facilities, and eventually some really world-class equipment
to use as well? There is no reason why it can't be done.
But on a disturbing trend, why haven't all amateur astronomers been able to band together already, and try and achieve bigger and better things than just all doing it all on their own alone in the dark?
