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                             ASTRONOMY Network News
                AN ON-LINE NEWSLETTER FOR ASTRONOMY CLUB OFFICERS

Issue #9 - March/April 1993

        Published by ASTRONOMY Magazine
        PO Box 1612
        Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
        414-796-8776, Fax [phone]
        Compuserve E-Mail: 72000,2704; Internet:
[e-mail]

        Network News is an on-line newsletter for astronomy clubs
uploaded approximately every two months by ASTRONOMY
magazine. It is designed to provide a forum for clubs to share news
of their accomplishments and innovative programs, as well as discuss
issues all clubs have in common - how to raise funds, attract new
members, publish an interesting newsletter, among others.
        We hope the ideas in Network News will help other clubs
provide the best possible services to their members and to their
communities. Address comments, articles, and news of your club
activities to the editor, Tom Gill, at his address below, or contact
ASTRONOMY magazine via mail, e-mail, or the Compuserve
Astronomy Forum.

        Tom Gill, Editor, 1391 N. 72nd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53213
[phone]

        From The Editor
        The lead article in this issue discusses a subject that I've
wanted to address ever since we started this venture. As editor of
the Network News, I'm fortunate to have access to your newsletters
and the gems of information contained therein-our success stems
from your experiences and resourcefulness.
        But my role of editor of my club's newsletter is a completely
different matter. I empathize with others who face the monthly
challenge of trying to fill their newsletters with pertinent, interesting
material without doing it all alone. Hopefully the article will generate
even more ideas which I will then pass along in a future issue.
        During the moonless nights in March, many clubs conduct
Messier Marathons and galaxy hunting expeditions. I'd enjoy hearing
of any unique ways your club celebrates the spring observing season.
        Regarding this year's Universe '93 in San Diego, I urge you to
attend if possible. At last year's conference in Madison, Wisconsin I
was really impressed! I had but two regrets: my inability to be at
several places at once (there were so many excellent speakers it was
hard to choose) and not saving up enough money beforehand to take
advantage of the many excellent products at special show discounts.
        IMPORTANT: This is the last issue of the Network News that
will be published on paper and sent directly to officers. Future issues
will be available "on-line" only (for details, see below). This change is
necessary to streamline the publication and distribution process so
we can continue to provide this service.

        Dear Editor, Newsletter mania? Don't do it alone!
        Your gaze is focused on a blank page. It's the end of the month,
the mailbox is empty except for bills, and 100 club members are
expecting a 4-page newsletter in their hands within a week. You take
a deep breath and start typing...
        Sound familiar? Thanks to those who responded to my call for
submissions, I can pass on the advice and ideas of other editors who
have been on the keyboard end of an approaching deadline.
        Personally, I consider it an honor to be trusted with creating
my club's newsletter. I could sense similar pride in the letters I
received from other editors across the nation. Stephen Smith, editor
and guiding force behind the Comet Rapid Announcement Service
and Shallow Sky Bulletin summed up a lot of problems when he
wrote that it gets harder to find volunteers for submissions if you
continually demonstrate that you can produce the newsletter without
their participation.
        To break that pattern, he suggests approaching the officers to
write regular columns: the president, the observatory director,
librarian, etc. Ask for copies of meeting notes from the secretary.
Talk to the members. You will likely find people with the expertise
and talent to write something. Also, you may be surprised if you ask
for cartoons, puzzles, original artwork, poetry, quotes and the like.
Variety adds spice! If you need some ammunition to approach
people, see issue #1 of the Network News for a comprehensive list of
potential columns/features.
        Stephen reminds us that there are plenty of sources to help fill
your newsletter with useful information: Publications from the AL
(national and regional branches), ALPO, IOTA ASP, AACVSO, and The
Planetary Society, etc. Most allow reprinting as long as credit is
given.
        Stephen's general newsletter tips: Don't publish rumors, avoid
editorializing except when clearly stated and don't hesitate to edit
submitted material-you are the editor after all!
        Trudie Brown, of the Astronomy Section of the Rochester
Academy of Science (NY), finds it effective to "butter up" individual
members who have special talents, and ask them for specific articles.
She keeps after them until they respond and then sends them a copy
of "Granny Trudie's Special Thank-You" which is a 4-panel cartoon
illustrating her joy at receiving something other than junk-mail. "At
last!," the cartoon-land editor proclaims,  "Worth reading! Worth
Printing!"
        Alister Ling of the Royal Canadian Astronomical Society of
Edmonton suggests you may find it easiest to get material from the
observers in your club. And to make it easy for them, he suggests
you start by asking for half-page submissions. By describing one
event from an observing session or a personal reaction, the writer
may feel more comfortable. 4 lines for an introduction, 8 lines for a
description, and 2 or 3 lines for a conclusion. Viola', a relatively
painless half-page! He says to remind members that it's not what you
observe that counts but the act of observing itself-the smell of the
air, the darkness of the sky, "just being there."
        Alister felt it was critical for editors to be truly involved in
club activities: accessible at meetings and afterward gab sessions,
and present at group observing outings.
        He said by listening to the crowd at group encounters you will
hear talk about equipment, books, computers, the sky, light pollution,
etc. He suggests you interject with "that's interesting - why don't you
jot it down in a small article for the newsletter?" He also encourages
humorous pieces, perhaps an April Fool's issue. Most people have a
light-hearted anecdote to share.
        Alister cautions against a common method to fish for articles:
Don't beg! It's self depreciating and sounds like whining. He finds
face-to-face contact best for getting a commitment-it's too easy to
say "no" on the phone. When a new writer comes forth, he gives
positive reinforcement and a prominent mention in his editorial
column.
        For non-writing chores, Alister suggested forming a
"Publication Team" to help assemble and distribute the newsletter.
This gets more members involved in creating the newsletter. "Many
hands make a light task."
        Robert Davidson of the Westchester Amateur Astronomers said
that he has found enough newsletter material from a few prolific
club members, Astronomy Forum members on CompuServe, or his
own concoctions. "After a day at work," he said, "most club members
don't want to be bothered with ready a long copy-laden newsletter.
One small article and club events is all they want!"
        Robert's comments raise an important question-what do your
members want? A simple survey addressing newsletter form and
content could provide you with insight and a few new ideas. And
once you get going, anything can happen. Excitement is contagious!
        Consider swapping newsletters with other clubs to uncover a
wealth of "new" material, especially if there are commonalities
between the clubs (location, equipment, special interests, etc.).
Request that the newsletters are sent directly to you-as editor you
are best able to recognize what is valuable to reprint. I also noticed
several newsletter editors who started a "Letters to the Editor"
column receive a fair amount of short submissions. Anyone can write
a letter, right?
        If you're still not sure how to generate some new mail, throw
the dog a bone! The Columbus Astronomical Society (OH) offered a
free one year subscription to the Observer's Guide for anyone who
had three articles published in the newsletter. The incentive
approach could be adjusted to fit any club budget.
        Keep in mind that what works for one club may not be
appropriate for yours. And finally, for those times when comments
about typos outnumber compliments and artistic "white space" is the
best you have to offer, remind yourself that you are a volunteer and
this is supposed to be fun!

        The UNIVERSE Comes to California
        What promises to be one of the year's biggest events in
amateur astronomy is coming to San Diego this summer. UNIVERSE
'93 is a two-day national astronomy exposition and fair with popular
talks from world-famous astronomers, "how-to" seminars on amateur
astronomy, and exhibits of telescopes, accessories and software from
major manufacturers.
        Co-sponsored by Astronomy magazine and the Astronomical
Society of the Pacific, UNIVERSE '93 is set for July 10 and 11 in the
Aztec Center at San Diego State University. At press time, the speaker
line-up included:
        - Sallie Baliunas (Cycles of the Sun)
        - Richard Berry (CCD Imaging).
        - David Crawford (Light Pollution)
        - Terence Dickinson (Amateur Astronomy)
        - Alan Dyer (Choosing a Telescope)
        - Stephen Edberg (Eclipse Chasing)
        - David Eicher (Future of Amateur Astronomy)
        - Timothy Ferris (Big Bang Theory)
        - Andrew Fraknoi (Debunking Astrology)
        - William Hartmann (Exploring the Solar System)
        - Ed Krupp (Ancient Astronomy)
        - David Levy (Comet Hunting)
        - Jack Newton (Astrophotography)
        - Sally Ride (the U.S. Space Program)
        - Stephen Sanders (Magellan at Venus)
        - Harding Smith (Quasars)
        - with more speakers still to come!
        Over 60 manufacturers are expected, many with show specials.
The program includes a star party at the Reuben H. Fleet Science
Center and an optional Monday tour of Palomar Observatory.
        The event is open to the public and advanced ticket
reservations are recommended. Contact Astronomical Society of the
Pacific at [phone] or FAX [phone] or write:  Summer
Expo, ASP, 390 Ashton Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112. See you in
San Diego! n
        - Alan Dyer

        COSMIC CORNER
        Irony-
        You have a hard time convincing someone that the UFO they
know they saw last night was really Venus-they can't believe that a
"mere' planet could be that spectacular.

        Satisfaction-
        You show them Saturn in your 'scope.

        CLUB NEWS BITS
        ...the Prairie Astronomy Club (Lincoln, NE) wanted the table
centerpieces for their for their annual banquet to have an
astronomical motif. They invited members to enter a contest to
create small scale models of famous telescopes (with a materials
budget not to exceed $10). The top three winners received awards
and the model 'scopes were given away as door prizes.
        ...to honor present and past award recipients, the Central
Arkansas Astronomical Society plans to create a display for their
clubhouse. Past presidents will also be so honored.
        ...the Chicago Astronomical Society (IL) has created a
publication called the Cosmic Quarterly  Published every three
months, it includes information on upcoming lectures, public
observing sessions, Moon and planet information, and a brief
synopsis of club activities. The front page has "FREE-TAKE ONE" right
at the top and would-be star-gazers are invited to join the society via
the membership application on the back.
        ...recruiting new members can be profitable for someone in the
Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (PA). The first
member to recruit five new members by the end of 1993 gets next
year's dues for free!
        ...the Rose City Astronomers (OR) have planned an unusual
marathon for spring. Members participating in the upcoming "Mirror
Marathon" will attempt to grind and polish a 12.5-inch f/6 mirror in
24 hours! Short time slots will allow anyone who wants to lend a
hand take their strokes on this group project.
        ...I notice that many of the member clubs of the Astronomical
League regularly include the AL emblem somewhere in their
publications. It looks good and reminds readers of their affiliation
with other astronomers on a grander scale. The same applies to
regional emblems.
        ...I'm not sure where I first saw this next tip because I've seen
so many variations in your newsletters: For those who don't print a
daily calendar, the handy graphic below takes up little room and
keeps members in sync with the phases of the Moon.

        Network News Now Available "On-line"
        Starting with the next issue (#10), the Network News will no
longer be sent directly to club officers and will instead be
"published" electronically on two bulletin board services.
CompuServe (a commercial service) or Stargate BBS (a service of the
Astronomical League).
        This change will make it more efficient and economical to
create and distribute the Network News. It was also necessary to do
away with the time consuming task of continually updating changes
made to club officer positions.
        As a text-only file, the look of the Network News will change
but the focus and content remain the same. Also, articles will no
longer be constrained by space restrictions.
        To insure that officers in your club continue receiving the
Network News, I advise designating one member (with a computer
and modem) as the official distributor. If your club lacks the
necessary equipment, perhaps another club in your city or region
would provide you with a photocopy of each bi-monthly issue.
        Here's where to get the Network News from now on:
        CompuServe's ASTROFORUM. If you are not familiar with
CompuServe, you can call their customer service line at 1-800-848-
8990 for more information. Monthly and connect charges apply.
        STARGATE BBS at 1-214-578-7618, 24 hrs/day. No connect or
monthly charges apply, just the cost of a long-distance call. Supports
300-14,400 baud (8-N-1). Sysop is John Wagoner who said he'd
enjoy hearing from you!
        You may now reach me electronically on Compuserve by
writing Tom Gill, ANN Editor, c/o Astronomy Magazine, address
72000,2704 (or on Internet [e-mail]). And of
course, as before, via U.S. Mail.

        Club ProfileAstronomy Section-RAS, 14 Cutter Drive Rochester,
NY 14624-4413
        Founded: 1932    Members: 119
        Dues: $25 ($10 goes to the academy)
        Contact: Paul Gregory, Chairman
        It's called a "section" because it is one of six science-related
factions of the Rochester Academy of Science-a local organization of
the natural sciences.
        Members in this 60-year old club are quite active, assisting
with public viewing each Tuesday and Thursday, May-October, on
the roof of the local planetarium. In Spring the club brings the word
to future astronomers on Astronomy Day and then moves their "Star
Road Show" to a regional Jr./Sr. High School science fair.
        The club's future is 25 miles away at the member-built Wolk
Observatory. Nearing completion, the building was funded by
generous members and benefactors and built almost entirely by
volunteer labor. The observatory will house the club's 12.5-inch
reflector (and possibly another as yet unnamed instrument) when
done.
        Members and the public keep in touch with 24-hour access via
a computer bulletin board. A separate phone information line gives
callers information on upcoming meetings and sky phenomena.
        New directions for '93 include starting special interest groups
and a phone directory to help put members in contact with others
willing to share their time and expertise.
        One of the club's most successful traditions is the "Annual Brag
& Boast Night." Started as a short time put aside at club meetings for
quick and informal talks, the idea caught on and now one meeting a
year is wholly dedicated to sharing experiences and ideas. This past
December the interest level was so high that talks had to be limited
to just a few minutes each!