Notes on the plenary board session

   On October 15, the board convened in plenary session to discuss a number of matters that had been tabled during this year's planning meetings. We will discuss many of these items in detail in future editions of the newsletter, but here is a brief recap of the afternoon's work.

1) The many officer and board vacancies hitting TVS in 2001 compel us to reexamine the club's leadership structure and responsibilities. Please see details regarding this topic on the following page.

2) Purchase of additional observing equipment that will become part of the loaner program. This may include a club solar telescope or high-quality solar filter to be permanently attached to an existing loaner telescope. Suggested purchases will be discussed by the membership at large following the holiday potluck on December 15.

3) Creation of additional membership categories and incentive awards for donations with dues payments. The board is contemplating a revamped, multi-tiered membership structure. This will be formally proposed in the December newsletter, so that you may come to the holiday potluck and share your opinions on the new structure.

4) Select items of TVS logo wear that members could earn or purchase. Debbie Dyke is working with a copy of our logo that would be suitable to embroider onto polo shirts, windbreakers, and heavy jackets. She will then send this logo to the Land's End clothing company so that the firm may quote logo wear prices. We will provide this information as soon as it is available.

Wanted: Prime Focus back issues

   Club historians Paul Caswell and Debbie Dyke have been very busy collecting TVS memorabilia. One of their goals is to assemble a complete set of Prime Focus editions. Debbie has completed the collection for 1990 through 1995, however later publications are still needed. If you have any back issues of Prime Focus from 1996 through 1999, don't throw them away! Send your copies to Historian, 639 Via Del Sol. Livermore, CA, 94550-6244. Better yet, bring them with you to a TVS meeting.

(Continued from page 2)

Magazine subscriptions return

  Since we are already on the subject of annual renewals, it is appropriate to note that TVS offers discounted subscriptions to your favorite astronomy magazines at this time of year. Fortunately, neither publisher increased prices for 2001, so we are able to offer the same savings again this year.

   A year of Sky & Telescope can be yours for $29.95, or you can enjoy 12 issues of Astronomy for $29.00. In both cases, your subscription should be marked on the membership/renewal application on page 8. This discounted subscription offer will end with the February 2001 general meeting. But why wait? 

Welcome to three new members

   Last month, TVS gained two new member families and one individual. At the general meeting, please extend a warm welcome to the Mark Smith family, the Sunil Mehta family, and to individual member Gary Steinhour.

   If you are reading this newsletter, but are not yet a TVS member, we have good news for you. All membership applications received during the final three months of the calendar year include full membership for the remainder of 2000 and all of 2001. Simply complete the membership application found on the last page of this newsletter, and return it with one year's  dues in the appropriate membership category. Once it has been confirmed by the board, your membership will be valid through December 2001, even if the dues structure is later changed by action of the board of directors.

Loaner scope program expanding

   The board is committed to expanding the loaner scope program to include equipment and accessories of interest to a variety of members. Bring your personal wish list to the December potluck, so that your requests can be added to the list.

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