[SJAAboard] Draft letter to the pols

[phil]

Comments on your draft:

I would make a specific sentence with the URL for SJAA in it.   You  
refer to the "site listed above" but there is no specific URL.

I would in parens tell them what a 501(c)(3) is as you dont know the  
knowledgebase of the readers.

I would mention somewhere in the description of the public star  
parties that it is one of the items that "raises the quality of life"  
in San Jose.  You have to give the pols some "sound bites" to use with  
their associates.

Phil



On Jun 24, 2008, at 3:48 PM, Rob Hawley wrote:

>
> Dear xxx						6/24/08
>
> I am writing to introduce you to the San Jose Astronomical  
> Association.  We are
> one of the users of Houge Park which has been designated a reuse  
> site by the
> April council vote. We notified PRN that we intend to respond to  
> their RFP.
>
> SJAA is a 501(c)(3) that offers Telescope Viewing (aka "Star  
> Parties"),
> Beginner's Classes, and lectures from leading experts in astronomy  
> to the
> general public for Free.  Our organization has been around for 54  
> years. We have
> been based at Houge Park since 1992.
>
> Houge is a unique and difficult to replace site.  Since looking at  
> the sky is
> our primary activity our events occur after dark (9:30 PM to  
> midnight this time
> of year).  Houge is located far from light sources such as shopping  
> malls.  The
> park lights allow us to darken the area we use, but keep lighting in  
> the rest of
> the park.  This allows us to show the public a remarkable number of  
> astronomical
> objects even though we are located in the city limits. Many people  
> from the
> local community are able to walk to our events.
>
> During our Telescope Viewing volunteers bring their scopes and allow  
> the public
> to look through them.  Public attendance at sessions varies, but is  
> typically
> around 50 non-members on a clear summer night.  It has approached  
> 200 whenever a
> comet, Mars, or other event is in the news! Many organized groups  
> such as cub
> scouts and community groups are frequent visitors.  One of the local  
> colleges
> sends their students to us as a lab exercise to support their class  
> work.
>
> SJAA is entirely autonomous.  We conduct all of our events without  
> city
> personnel.  We carry our own liability insurance and indemnify the  
> city. All we
> need from the city is continued access to Houge Building 1.
>
> We hope the city will design the Reuse process so that we can  
> continue to serve
> the public without interruption.
>
> Thank you for your time and you are always welcome to come to Houge.  
> We will be
> happy to show you the sky.  We publish our schedule on our website  
> listed above.
> Do note we are subject to weather cancellations if the sky is not  
> clear.
>
>
>
>
> Rob Hawley
> President, SJAA
>
> Rob Hawley
>
>
>
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