committee to help Chuck secure speakers for each monthly meeting. Every club member is invited to participate in this effort. The committee could appoint one or more individuals to serve as program chair(s) for the remainder of 2001. This topic will be discussed at the business meeting following the June barbecue.

So many star parties, so little time...

      Summer Solstice Celebration 2001: Valley of the Moon Observatory Association and Heart of the Valley Winery Association offer a solstice blowout on Saturday June 23. Events include a daytime Planet Walk, pre-twilight astronomy lectures, a catered dinner, and solar and stellar viewing. Tickets are $75 per person if reserved by June 1. Contact Al Heppe of VMOA at 707/996-1246, or gesco vom.com. If you wish to attend, by but are reading this after June 1, ask Al about "waiting list" arrangements.

   White Mountains: Our annual low-oxygen star party will again convene this summer at Barcroft Laboratory, 12,435 feet high in the White Mountains northeast of Bishop, CA. We will begin the event on August 16 at Grandview campground to acclimate to the altitude. August 17 through 20 will be evenings at Barcroft. Room and board costs $45/day/person,  (except for the evening at Grandview). Priority will be given to those staying three or four nights. Call Dave Rodrigues at 510/483-9191 or send a check (payable to Dave) for  $45 per person per day. Also include an emergency -contact name and phone number, your name, and home and work phone numbers. Dave's mailing address is 1633 Graff Ct., San Leandro, CA 94577-3938.

Davis Star Show: More than a dozen astronomical clubs and vendors have joined to sponsor the Davis Star Show: A Festival of Science and Astronomy. On Friday August 24 (4 to 10 p.m.), participants will hear a guest-lecturer presentation, and they can attend a teachers' workshop and astro trade show. Solar scopes will be available for daytime viewing.

   On Saturday August 25, DSS runs from 10 a.m. through midnight, with the star party beginning at
8 p.m. The featured program includes speakers, the trade show, a variety of workshops, solar viewing, and special exhibits. During the evening star party, telescope stations will be dedicated to viewing the constellations, deep-sky objects, the Moon, and all the

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Cash talkin'

   At the May 14 planning meeting, treasurer Mike Anderson reported our financial standing as follows.

   Checking    $1,558.40
   CD #1         $3,739.40 matured 5/17/01*
   CD #2         $2,915.06 matures 7/6/01
   CD #3  $2,309.41 matured 5/27/01*

*Mike will update these two amounts at the June 11 planning meeting. CD #2 holds the club's dark sky site key deposits against claim by members who surrender keys. In May, TVS renewed its membership in the International Darksky Association, paid its annual liability insurance premium, and paid the non-profit corporation filing fee. The newsletter printing expense for May 2001 was $121.31.

Two donations arrive in May
   Our thanks go to Wes Clark, who made a cash donation to help TVS continue to produce a print newsletter. In addition, a generous anonymous member donated the delicious desserts we enjoyed at the May general meeting. TVS appreciates the support of both these fine members!

Miscellaneous news and notes

   Hidden Hill Observatory: Both TVS locks at the observing site have been replaced. On the hill, a new key lock now operates smoothly. At the road, the combination lock is brand new, but the numbers remain unchanged.

   Unfortunately, the company originally slated to service the outhouses has declined the work. The combination of distance from town and a lack of running water at the site discouraged the vendor. Vice president Gary Steinhour will continue looking for a solution to our privy problems.

   Program committee anyone? Club president Chuck Grant could use help arranging speakers, mentoring new members, and organizing our next public star party at Yosemite. At the planning meeting in May, the board discussed appointing a program

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