[SJAAboard] SJAA Loaner Telescope Program

[phil]

Hi
It seems to me there are two distinct reasons for the loaner program.

The first is to allow beginners to experience the hobby without a  
major expenditure.      This includes keeping them from buying "junk  
scopes" at the start.      There are some side issues like teaching  
sky fundamentals and how to use an atlas (deepmap 600 is easy but does  
require some basic knowledge), and probably should include some  
fundamental equipment list suggestions also.    This is what is  
required to get new people into the hobby and keep it vital.

But the second reason is more for the existing members of the club.     
That is to provide a few scopes that could be considered  
"upgrade" (define that any way you want, doesnt necessarily mean  
expensive but can mean larger or different type) so that folks can  
make a informed decision to buy a different style of scope than they  
are familiar with or whether they would be able to handle a (large  
dob, for instance, or set up a GEM and use it (for the existing dob  
owners)).      Even a widefield ST refractor falls into this catagory  
for a large dob owner who wants to see if he would actually use one  
before laying out the cash.    This reason gives observers flexibility  
to "try before you buy" and seems  to me to be a legitimate use of the  
program.

I dont consider those uses to be exclusive of each other but it  
probably requires different types of equipment to some extent.    I  
sympathize with Rich's comment about the "clubs dime" but believe that  
could be alleviated if not eliminated by putting time limits on the  
larger scopes or to experienced observers.    For instance, I have  
stared at medium sized dobs for a long time and drooled at the instant  
set up and use.    However, I am not willing to make the expenditure  
without sampling one and seeing if I found it satisfying.    But since  
I am a "semi" experienced observer, I would not need it for a long  
time.     Just for a couple of dark weekends to see if I actually used  
it and was willing to transport it.    If circumstances dictated that  
I didnt get a chance to make much use of it, I would still turn it  
back at the appointed time and maybe rerequest it for later.      The  
good news here is that because of the limited calendar time  
requirement, it would probably soon be available again.

See you all tonight....

Phil Chambers


On Jun 21, 2008, at 11:19 AM, Rob Hawley (SJAA) wrote:

>> How many people who have borrowed the LightBridge, or are in the  
>> que{sic} to
>> borrow the LightBridge, are experienced observers?
>
> You do not stop being a club member when you are experienced. Our  
> most serious
> loss comes when people fail to transition to regular observers. To  
> keep people
> in the hobby we need to encourage them to grow.
>
> The first was a relative beginner.  The current is a person growing  
> in the hobby
> that is borrowing the scope since his is not ready (one of Gary's  
> points). The
> next is someone growing from a beginner.
>
> I do believe Gary's goals do provide clarity on this matter. This  
> sounds like
> this is just going to come down to votes. I have tried to sway  
> Rich's position
> for a year and have not been able to.  Given how much the experience  
> with the
> loaner program has influenced me I have no intention of changing.
>
> Rob Hawley
>
>
>
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