[SJAAboard] loaner program goals

[Mark Wagner]

Hi Lee,

I don't think of it as controversial, just talking out some of the finer points.

I like your vision of the program, generally, but think it is certainly more difficult to manage,
and to make keep vs dispose of choices as new equipment comes in via donation.  I'm equally
interested in manageability, having equipment that is most likely to stay in working order or be
easy to repair, and serving the membership.  I also don't think of it as a try-before-you-buy
situation, otherwise I'd be recommending scopes larger than 10" as well.

Mark


On Wed, May 21, 2008 1:28 pm, leebizz at aol.com wrote:
> Hi all,
> ???? I feel the loaner program can be simple, and doesn't need to be so controversial.? Since we
> are a nonprofit group, we sometimes receive donated telescopes and accessories.? Over the years we
> have accumulated a selection of various sizes and types of telescopes.? These become the pool of
> telescopes which we loan out to members.
> ????? If, over time we get many duplicates of the same type, we should sell them and use the
> proceeds for club purposes.? I don't feel we need to target the loaner progam to any level of
> expertise, such as beginner or intermediate.? We should loan the most suitable telescope available
> at the time and make sure the loanee knows how to assemble and use it.? Period.? We should not
> attempt to be a "try before you buy" service.
> ?????? Since?this is not a money making?telescope rental service. ? I? feel the club should, only
> on rare occasions,?use it's money to buy specific telescopes strictly to put in the loaner
> program. ?I don't?think we have to try to maintain a selection of all types of?available
> telescopes. ?Again we should loan out what we have.? The loaner program should be self-sustaining
> and exist on donations- that includes everything from a 60mm Tasco refractor to an 18" Dobsonian.
> ???? Lee
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gary Mitchell <wb6yru at aenet.net>
> To: Business list for SJAA board of directors <sjaaboard at sjaa.net>
> Sent: Wed, 21 May 2008 12:08 am
> Subject: Re: [SJAAboard] loaner program goals
>
>
>
> Mark Wagner wrote:
>> Good job Gary!
>
> Thanks.  After the past discussion, I'm glad we actually
> weren't that far apart.
>
>>
>> Gary Mitchell wrote:
>>
>>>OK, here's my first draft:
>
> Reading it over again, I just noticed a couple of things:
>
> At the risk of stating the obvious, maybe I should have
> added something to the effect that those storing a scope
> are not forbidden to use it.
>
> And I probably should have defined the term "reasonable."
> I'd say a "reasonable number" is whatever the club and
> those maintaining the program feel they can handle.
>
> (It was a first draft, after all.)
>
> Gary
>
>>>
>>>========================================================
>>>The SJAA loaner telescope program's goals, in order of
>>>precedence, are:
>>>
>>>1) To provide a reasonable selection of telescopes for members
>>>to borrow that are appropriate for those relatively new to
>>>astronomy.  The target members are primarily those who don't
>>>own a scope, especially newer members, so they may get started
>>>without first having to spend hundreds of dollars.
>>>
>>>2) To provide a small but reasonable variety of telescopes
>>>for members to borrow who may already own one type of scope,
>>>but want to become acquainted with different types of scopes
>>>without having to buy them first.
>>>
>>>3) To provide a small but reasonable variety of telescopes
>>>for members to borrow who occasionally have a need for a
>>>type of scope that they don't own, but may not use often
>>>enough to justify purchasing it.
>>>
>>>The loaner program is intended to provide scopes for short
>>>term loans, meaning weeks or months, not years.  This does
>>>not apply to members who are merely storing loaner scopes
>>>for the club between loans.  In those cases, the stored
>>>scope(s) must be made available as soon as practical upon
>>>notification that a borrower is waiting for the scope.
>>>
>>>========================================================
>>>
>>>How about that as a starting point?
>>>
>>>Gary
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>SJAABoard mailing list
>>>SJAABoard at sjaa.net
>>>http://sjaa.net/mailman/listinfo/sjaaboard_sjaa.net
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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