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EMS Meeting 16.12.2009


Doc

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EMS Meeting 16.12.2009

A basic summary of what happened at our EMS Meeting 16.12.2009

In attendance were:

Doc

Glider

PhilJ

Rusty Strings

Red dwalf

Steve922

Ibbo

Brantuk

BazSenior

Bryndalf

*****

Before the meeting Glider got confirmation from Mr Coaker, regarding the use of the dark site at Sawley, Long Eaton. Mr Coaker will allow us use of the field as long as it's outside the times of the Model Aircraft Clubs flying schedule. We get two keys and must keep off the grass runway and stay within the hard standing which is the car park. The price of the above is £250 to be paid every year on the 1st January, both sides have a one month cancellation policy.

The meeting started talking about our possible new site and describing the pro's and cons of the site. It then went on to how we are going to fund this £250 a year dark site. At this stage forming a club was mentioned that would give EMS the money required to proceed. A figure of £25 per year was agreed upon which by my calculations we need 10 members to each pay £25 by the 1st January 2010.

We agreed this will be a very basic club and at this stage will be just myself and Glider running to day to day duties, if we do expand then it might in time have a proper committee but this is a long way down the road.

We also discussed public liability insurance and affliating ourselves with FAS, Glider and Ibbo will be looking into costs involved and if this is practical in regards to the size of the club

*****

We then discussed possible monthly meetings and where to stage these meetings. After a while we decided on Village/Church halls. I do know the rough cost of hiring a hall is about £6.50 per hour, so say we had a 2 1/2 hour meeting that would cost roughly £17. It was suggested that maybe one meeting per month at a regular destination still to be confirmed would be ideal.

It was then discussed what would happen at these meetings and the general feeling was a place to talk amongst friends, Glider has access to a projector and screen so anyone with photo's from the previous months astrophotography sessions can plug in their laptops and show us. Also help can be given regarding such things as collimation for example. And tea and coffee will be available.

To pay for the above we either attract more members or just pay a couple of pound each on the night. But to run some costs by you the hall to rent for 12 monthly meetings will cost £250. So once again 10 members paying £25 each covers this.

So basically if we could attract 20 members paying £25 each we will have a club that has access to a dark site and 12 monthly meetings and no other costs will be needed.

*****

We then discussed future meetings such as:

Kelling Heath 2010 where we have 12 pitches dates are 10-12th Sept 2010

Astronomy Fest London 5/6th Feb 2010

SGL5 in Herefordshire 15-118th April 2010

*****

The final topic of the night was do we need our own website. Glider had volunteered to design one but the group decided that it was not needed .

*****

So the meeting was finished by agreeing that a club was needed to finance the dark site and that I would give the 10 members that turned up on the night two days to consider the above and then would e-mail each member asking if they would like to contribute £25 to secure this site for the club’s use.

I will also post this basic summary on the EMS forum and see if anyone else would like to become members. Remember if we can attract 20 members then this club will be secure for a whole year.

43 Comments


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Count me in for a fiver too, one question though, do we have to specify the scope and mount or does it cover any astro gear that goes to the site?

John

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Thanks for the info Steve and Martyn. I agree it's not very dark but it ticks alot of boxes and as we have found nothing else I think for just £25 each for the year it's worth it. It will be great to be able to meet up annd look through other peoples scopes and not feel threatened or be disturbed.

As for specifying which scopes John I think Noel will look into this.

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2 more arrived today, so that's 9, plus confirmed 2 more in the post.

1 more covers field, FAS and insurance.

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Yes, still waiting to see copy of insurance schedule as to what it does and doesn't cover.

If Doc's scope fell on you you would certainly know about it!!!!!

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So...its the start of the year

how many dark site "members" do we now have?

Are there any plans to meet up again?

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Yes, lets meet again for a stocktake and a natter. How about a pub off M1J28 ? Er... after the big freeze ends; which won't be until next weekend at the earliest!

Steve

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Hi, is this a closed group by way of invitation only or can newbies like me join?

I have been on astronomy course at sutton observatory and they are full up at the minute and with me just browsing on here came across this and would love the chance to join. I live in basford at the minute so not sure how far sawley marina is but it would be worth the money for me to join a few knowledgable lads in my quest to learn more about the skies above its very hard from my back yard under all the yellow glow :(

Anyway whoever is in charge pm me if you want to and let me know, I wont be able to join officially till end of month as kids have skint me over xmas lol so pay day it will be at least you know now so I am not messing you around :)

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Hi and welcome.

The group is open to all but is only really of interest to people in the area. There is nothing to pay.

Use of the dark site which we are talking about at Sawley will be only available to those of the group who have chipped in as mentioned above.

HTH,

Steve

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Going to the bank today to cash the 8 cheques (and 1 Paypal) that I have received over Christmas.

2 cheques still outstanding in the post, waiting to see if they arrive this am before going to the bank.

Will contact land owner again re draft letter. He wasn't sure whether I would get it before now anyway. I think we should meet up and you all see it before I send off the cheque with our signed copy.

Waiting to hear back from FAS re insurance cover schedule and where to send the money.

At the moment as it is mainly waiting to hear from other people out of my control. Plus, this all kicked off just before or during the Christmas holiday. Still, everyone is back at work now!

Next week J28 M1 sounds fair.

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Cheers Noel for keeping us updated, I've asked Steve922 to seek out a nice quiet pub, we don't want any bands playing like last time.

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Land owner just called to confirm draft letter is in the post today.

Another cheque is promised in the post so that now makes the full 12 we needed to cover field, FAS and insurance.

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Another cheque in the post this morning (plus my spanking new Stayfocused mask!) so that's 11 in the hand, one in the post.

I've directly emailed all of those who I have received money from, so if you think you've paid but haven't had an email receipt yet check with me it's not lost.

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Lletter from the land owner re use of field arrived this morning. Will email scanned gif for discussion at meeting next wednesday, should be a good one.

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