Planetarium Meetings
Eugene, Oregon
Oct. 5, 2001
Combined Regionals Meeting
3:30 p.m.
The Hansen Planetarium issued
an invitation for the Western Alliance to hold the 2003 meeting in their new
science center, scheduled to open in November of 2002.
Christine Shupla brought up
the idea that we might consider combing the resources of the Western Alliance
regionals to a certain degree. There are several levels to which we could
go, including a common newsletter, common projects, common officers, common
sense, a combined treasury, and a greater variety of scurrilous board games
at conferences.
The question of an appropriate
name for such a super-regional was discussed. A representative from RMPA suggested
the "Really Massive Planetarium Association," or RMPA. A member
of PPA countered with the "Perfect Planetarium Association," someone
else with the "Simply Wonderful Agglutination of Planetarians,"
and yet another seeker after glory with "Gloriously Pliable Planetarium
Affiliation," and the meeting degenerated into a frantic grubbing after
acronyms.
Pacific Planetarium Association
Meeting
4:00 p.m.
The meeting was called to
relative but not absolute order by president Bob Pippin; fourteen members
were present, though not always accountable.
[Elvert] Since Jonn will be an IPS officer
before too long (and several former office-holders immediately expressed their
condolences), he reminded us that we needed to elect a new IPS representative
for PPA, to maintain our immense political power. He reminded us that this
could be an expensive appointment, since PPA only provides support to the
1/3 level for attending meetings, and does not cover any outlay for side trips
to even famous taverns.
Secretary's report
[Johnson] Accepted as previously published, thus preventing him from performing
his prepared act.
Treasurer's report
[Johnson] Accepted as presented with great aplomb and other little-understood
qualities.
Old Business
- Panorama expense. Bob Pippin noted that this
continued to be an expensive operation. He mentioned that we are no longer
able to use bulk rates, since most of us have lost weight since the last meeting.
Alan Gould moved, XX Benjamin seconded
that the Panorama be
posted as a .PDF file, and that members be notified via email that it was
available; those who wish to have hard copy can request same, and Alan Gould
can ship them the requisite stone tablets. This idea has been proposed before.
Passed.
- Tony Butterfield reported on plans for the Houston Conference, Oct. 16-19,
2002. There was considerable discussion regarding the dates, including concern
that we avoid the ASTC and GLPA conferences, and that we not set it too
early so that teachers would have time after school starts to have paperwork
approved. One member also recommended that the sessions not begin before
1 p.m., but that person was suppressed.
New Business
- There was discussion regarding
Shupla's proposal of closer ties among the Western Alliance regionals.
Much of the discussion seemed to approve the basic idea. Interesting notes:
- [Craig] Should it be a “Western
North American” group, to include Mexico and part of Canada?
- [Gould] It might be acceptable
to give up the PPA identity altogether (at which there were heard grumbles
including the phrase “over my dead pointer!”). He noted that the
resulting regional would still be smaller than MAPS and SEPA.
- Gail Chaid was appointed to work
on the idea with the other regionals.
- The Hansen invitation was accepted,
contingent upon reception of an official invitation (the original invitation
lacked the requisite red carpet and singing ballerinas).
Elections
- IPS representative: Gail Chaid
- Secretary/Treasurer: Keith Johnson
- President: Bob Pippin. Bob noted
that he would be leaving the position after two more years, so we only had
a "short time to kick him around any more."
-- Responsively submitted,
Keith Johnson, Recording (well, actually
I used a pen and paper) Secretary