Hello Iss members,
Dale Gorman here,
I feel the need to reply to many of you who have seen fit to send info in regards to my original request about John Dobbson visiting Australia next year.
My original post recieved some succsess after some time, as I am now aware of, and it seems over time, that many of you have seen fit to put you your own fine additions in as well, to those of you of the likes of Matt,Mike,Ric,Kal and Jarrod I extend my warmest thanks and would say to you all that I am appreciative of your efforts.
It is however relevant to mention that on my initial thread reply there was a text ref to a site that had info on JD's visit and in an admission on my behalf being new to this type of forum, it appears that my lack of experience was evident with direct result being it was not picked up!
There is no doubting the fact that my innexperience and the delay in getting direct responces initially,(my own fault) caused me to go elseware,specifically to a site called, My astro space , I have to admit that I found the direct feedback on that site to be more suited to the enquiry style that I had been using and want to point out that it bares no negative reflection apon the ISS site directly other than my own shortfalls in being familiar with the pros and cons of navigating and interpreting the information at hand.
It does however concern me that in reply to a post I made,in frustration, at MAS regarding the lack of initial direct feedback from ISS, that I was then informed by ISS that the original request would have recieved more attention if it were not in the thread that was related to Australian sky and telescope,and that because the information that was required was in, and I quote, "a competitors magazine" I would be less likley to get a result?
I understand that it took time for my request for info on JD's visit to filter through to the members who's reply's I am more than thankfull for but I have to say I,m concerned by the immpression that I am given to believe that, because Aust Sky and Telescope are so called by your own admission "competitors" you would see fit to inform me that I would be better to look outside of that criteria.
I guess in short, I,m dissapointed that Aust Sky And Telescope would not be full of info on the arrival of such a renown astronomer as John Dobbson in Australia,If I bought a copy today!.... would I not find anything at all about him just because a competitor magazine has taken interest in the visit and is running with it.....I wonder?
If so, I can,t help feeling that they would be letting the vast majority of thier readers down, and the whole Australian astro community in general.
It seems to me that some things are more important in the big scheme of things than having a single focussed agenda on what is GOOD and what is NOT for Australian astronomy based on sponsor ship rivalry,maybe its time to collaborate and rely less on where the sponsorship dollars come from and focus more on the bigger picture of advancing Australian amatuer astronomy as a whole and not as a subscription list!
To this end I am resigning my membership at Iss and wish to point out that it is in no way a bad reflection on the Members or administrators of the site who have been helpfull in any event.
I base this decision to leave on the belief that my current membership with other groups who have a different outlook and perspective on the direction of amatuer astronomy in Australia, will be better serve me in the future.
Thanks again to all members who repliedto my posts, and remember One Thing!
We are all dedicated to our passion under the same sky's, follow it the way you feel is the best!
"John Dobson Heading down under"
