[SJAAboard] July 19 2008 - Draft SJAA Board Meeting Minutes

[Gary Mitchell]

Mark Wagner wrote:

> On Sun, July 20, 2008 12:14 am, Rich N wrote:
> 
> 
>>Please note: IMHO, if TAC/LCO and the SJAA wanted to have the SJAA
>>take on the legal liability for CalStar I would not have a problem with it as
>>long as TAC/LCO handled the administration of the star party.  They would
>>report to the SJAA board regarding CalStar just the way they did in the beginning
>>with the SJAA and the first CalStar.
> 
> 
> 
> Right.  That is how it was.

But why would TAC want to be subordinate to the SJAA when
it comes to these particular star parties?  For the insurance?

> Gary wanted to know specifically who would have the liability, would it be SJAA.  It had been my
> understanding before the board meeting that what you were proposing was what you have stated
> above.  However, Gary's questions at the board meeting showed a fight was about to ensue, and I
> was already prepared to put it on LCO to provide its own liability coverage in order to avoid the
> conflict.

I wasn't aware I had the power to be such a nuisance to two
astronomy groups at the same time.  I've only been trying
to understand what was really going on and to make sure we
didn't jeopardize our liability insurance.

Years ago liability insurance was easy to get and we paid
less than $300 per year.  Today, very few offer such
insurance and it costs $1200 per year.

So, I'm sorry if my being vigilant on these things is such
an inconvenience to everyone.  Maybe you'd be happier if I
didn't give a damn.

(I'm personally looking at two options here.  I'm not sure
I have a thick enough stomach lining for the first...)

>  What this means is that the SJAA will be completely removed from any association with
> CalStar after the 2008 star party, and LCO will need to collect $5 per attendee to pay for
> insurance beginning with the 2009 event, raising the overall cost of the event.  A lose-lose.

Do they charge $5 per head for insurance for the GSSP
star parties?

>   But
> sometimes that's worth the price, even though the intention had clearly always been to give SJAA
> some prestige among California amateur astronomers and clubs through its
> association/sponsorship/partnership with a large star party.

So THAT's it?  It's the prestige you were giving the SJAA?

And how does this differ from the prestige the SJAA gets
by doing CalStar on its own these past few years?

Gary