[Chaos-l] STAY HOME TONIGHT

[Joe Pedit]

I just wanted to provide a couple of brief responses to some of the 
comments about the RAC's observing site.  I am not an officer of the 
RAC, so my responses do not reflect any sort of official RAC position.

> Here are some more ideas for future observing
> sessions. 1) Raleigh club has an aggreement (with the
> jordan lake Gods) that allows them access to a gated
> field.  Perhaps we can come to a similar agreement to
> use that gated field.
> 2) We can join the RAC and have a joint observing
> session with them.  I looked up their website, and it
> mentions that the Big Woods site gate will be open at
> 6.30 pm....so it seems quite straight forward.  And it
> sure would be fun to observe with a large group of
> people.

The RAC has an agreement with the NC Division of Forest Resources to use 
the field at their office on Big Woods road.  Many years ago, I was a 
member of both clubs and was interested in CHAOS also having access to 
the site.  I asked the NC Division of Forest Resources about CHAOS 
having access and was told it was possible, but only through a 
cooperative arrangement with the RAC.  Bill Walser and I met with the 
RAC officers and we were able to reach an agreement on joint access. 
CHAOS was given two or three keys to the gate lock and I maintained a 
mailing list for members of both clubs who were interested in using the 
Big Woods site.

There are three ways in which members of CHAOS can have access to the 
Big Woods site.  The RAC has a monthly observing session at Big Woods 
that is open to CHAOS and the public.  Members of the RAC can invite two 
guests to join them at informal observing sessions held at Big Woods 
(i.e., members of CHAOS need to know members of the RAC to get access). 
  And, yes, you can also join the RAC to have access to the Big Woods site.

Please note that the gate at Big Woods is always closed after 5 PM, even 
during our public observing sessions.  The gate had been left opened in 
the past, but there were problems with non-observers driving into the site.

> In past years CHAOS members had a standing invitation to observe at Bigwoods
> with the RAC.  CHAOS officers even had a key to the site.  I'm not sure what
> became of that arrangement.

> Oh ... and that standing invitation with the RAC?   I've been there a 
> couple of times ... and then (a few years ago) there was some sort of 
> "tiff" between the clubs, and they stopped letting us use it (as I 
> remember) ... which is fair.  If you want to use it, you need to pay 
> dues to the RAC.   They can't use our dark site unless they pay our dues.

As mentioned above, I maintained a mailing list for members of both 
clubs who were interested in using the Big Woods site.  The cooperative 
agreement between the clubs worked reasonably well for a while.  This is 
not to say that there weren't problems with the approach.  The RAC had a 
separate mailing list for discussing club business and other non Big 
Woods items.  Unfortunately, some members of the RAC would use that 
mailing list to arrange informal observing sessions.  Members of CHAOS 
would have no way of knowing about the informal observing sessions 
unless someone cross posted the information on the joint mailing list.

At the time, CHAOS was a small club so only a few members actually used 
the site.  Over time it seemed that hardly any members of CHAOS would 
show up -- undoubtedly a result of its few members and poor posting 
habits by some of the members of RAC.

> I would also point out that RAC has been very friendly of late and wants 
> to join in our observing sessions at Jordan Lake. I believe their Big 
> Woods site doesn't have a gate that gets locked at a particular hour, 
> but also doesn't have such good parking - at least for public attendance.

> The Bigwoods site is gated and locked after hours.  During the day it's open
> to the public and there is an RC club that uses the field for their model
> planes (at least they did when I lived around there).  The Raleigh club
> folks have keys to unlock it for their observing sessions.

As mentioned above, the NC Division of Forest Resources locks the gate 
when they leave at 5 PM.  The flying club can only use the site after 5 
PM and on weekends and state holidays.  They have keys to one of the 
locks on the gate.  The RAC also has keys to one of the locks on the gate.

Public parking is indeed limited at Big Woods.  It is easier to have 
members of the public park outside the gate and walk in as to avoid 
headlight issues.  Parking outside the gate has recently become limited 
due to an effort to grow grass at the entrance.  Public parking is also 
encouraged along the long driveway into the site -- again to avoid 
headlight issues for those observing.   The biggest parking issue at Big 
Woods is due to a lack of pavement.  The place can get pretty soggy 
after a rain, so suitable parking becomes nearly impossible as we try to 
avoid damaging the fields by driving/parking on them when they are soft 
from a rain.

> So it would seem to me that they would prefer to have one special use
> permit for everything .  Also it would seem to me each member could
> have a copy of the permit that could be printed out from the original
> or from an online file.  But as Robert says "who knows".   As an
> option to the Farrington site , CHAOS could contact the powers that
> be to get keys to the Big Woods site that the RAC members use.  I
> think they would have to be convinced that we are a responsible group
> despite our club name. RAC members have about 5 members with keys.
> Any member can use the site any night that at least one key bearing
> member is willing to go unlock and lock up after viewing/imaging.
> Since the site is in the same general area as the Farrington site the
> location should not be an issue.  I'm sure we will be able to work
> something out.  Sims Roy

The information in the above paragraph regarding how the RAC system at 
Big Woods operates is essentially correct.

Good luck in finding a resolution to your observing site woes,
Joe