[Chaos-l] Time for a club loaner scope?

[john.6.miller at gsk.com]

Jon, I think this is a great idea particularly for folks new to astronomy 
who are considering a scope purchase and would like to "get their feet 
wet" before deciding which scope to get.  I do however think it would be 
worthwhile to spend the extra money (if we can come up with it) to go with 
a 6" Dobsonian.  I think this gets you a significantly more versatile 
instrument without sacrificing to much on portability.  In any event, 
great suggestion!

John Miller


 



"Jon" <joncst at earthlink.net> 
Sent by: chaos-l-bounces at rtpnet.org
13-Aug-2006 16:05
 
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Subject
[Chaos-l] Time for a club loaner scope?






Hi all.  Several times over the last month i've heard people ask if CHAOS 
has a loaner scope people could check out.  I know it's been discussed in 
the past as well.  The biggest reason i've heard raised against it was 
logistics: who'd be in charge of it, where would it live when it wasn't in 
use, and so on.  If we got a reasonably compact scope, i'd be willing to 
host it.  Or, hosting it could become one of the duties of the 
Vice-President or Secretary. Or again, it could be come a volunteer 
position like Newsletter Editor or Webmaster.

I was thinking of something like the Orion 4.5" dob ($230)  with a Telrad 
($40), a copy of Turn Left at Orion ($17), and Bright Star 2000 or similar 
($10).  The whole package would come to about $300 plus shipping.  If all 
of the 60-some members of CHAOS kicked in $5, it could be paid for without 
dipping into the club's treasury. 

General questions to list members: 

   o If we had such a scope, would you use it?  

   o If you're not currently a CHAOS member, and the loaner scope was 
      available only to members (fairly standard practice in clubs with 
      loaner scopes), would it be an incentive to join?

   o Do anyone have a similar scope they'd want to donate?  CHAOS _is_ 
      a 501(c)3 corporation, and i think it'd be tax deductible.

Any thoughts on the proposal?

J.
-- 
Jon Stewart-Taylor: jcst at tripod.net
Chapel Hill Astronomy: http://www.rtpnet.org/chaos/
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