Book Reports

       Jim Alves

Questionnaire Guidelines


   Please notice the annual members' questionnaire on the following page. The board is particularly interested in learning which club programs and activities interest the greatest number of members. The Mentoring Program is now in its second year, and we are looking for ways to help new amateur astronomers.

   Your ratings of the club and general astronomy activities or services listed at the top of the questionnaire's second column will determine the direction of TVS in 2000. Similarly, if you have comments or concerns about Prime Focus, please note them as well.

   For the two sections that ask you to rate entries from 1 to 5, you may use any number more than once.

   Complete the questionnaire when you are submitting your 2000 membership renewal. If you wish to think about the questionnaire and return it at a later time, mail it to our post office box address shown on page 2.

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destruction. The monitor is nice because of its larger display and color, but is not required to use the computer. I'll keep it in storage for use at club meetings, if necessary. The computer battery appears to hold a charge at least for a few hours, but failed at the January general meeting. The CMOS battery appears to be holding. The hardware appears unaffected by Y2K. The system clock was reset on January 3 and shows no related problems.
   The software also appears unaffected by Y2K but requires some tinkering. I will look on the web for downloadable patches. The system and software should do well for us unless we wish to make upgrades to the operating system. The system runs on a 486 chip, 200 MB of storage with limited RAM (3 MB I think!) and Windows 3.1 operating system. That's right, a 486 with Windows 3.1! At this time, I see little reason to upgrade for library purposes, but a newer laptop could serve the club in other ways. TVS would, of course, welcome the donation of an enhanced laptop.

Library "to do" list
   Once the tasks that Chris Cody began are completed, things should run more smoothly and require less effort. Library "to do" tasks include:

  • Inventorying  the stacks and updating the computer database.
  • Finishing the stack catalogue, applying catalogue numbers, and labeling new selections with TVS stickers.
  • Sending late notices for all delinquent selections (three-plus months overdue).
  • Printing a current list of library selections as a "desk copy" resource for members at the meetings.

Future projects
   I wish to propose a new shelving system. The current system, though functional, is far from efficient. A better system would set up and close down quickly and easily, transport and store easily, make better use of space, protect the inventory, and provide easy access for members. Between now and the March Solstice library clean-up, please let me know it you have shelving system ideas.

Project ASTRO recruits

   Project ASTRO is searching for amateur or professional astronomers who would like to work with teachers in grades 4 - 9. Astronomers are paired in one-on-one partnerships with a Bay Area teacher at a nearby school. Together, astronomer and teacher partners attend a free two-day summer training workshop where they learn effective hands-on astronomy activities and receive a copy of Project ASTRO's 800-page curriculum resource book, The Universe at
Your Fingertips. During the school year, astronomers make at least four visits to their adopted classrooms. Some partners go beyond the classroom to organize stargazing events, field trips, or astronomy clubs.
   Astronomer application forms are available from Project ASTRO, 390 Ashton Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112; tel. 415-337-1100 ext. 101; email astro@aspsky.org. Forms may also be downloaded from
www.aspsky.org/astro/volunteer.html.

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