[ATMoB-discuss] Fred Ward's Dome Raising - What a weekend!

[Bruce Berger]

We had a very successful dome replacement at Fred Ward's this Friday and
Saturday. This is a thank you to all who showed up and put some sweat and
brains into the operation.

On Friday, Dave Wilbur, Dave Prowten, Fred and I moved the 14" RCX400 and
Mitty Wedge to a lower level, and then carefully lowered each piece of the
12' clamshell dome to the ground. We were treated to a great lunch and
dinner. Both Dave Prowten and I stayed up in New Hampshire overnight. The
motorized dome is in great shape and will serve an equally greater purpose
at the clubhouse.

On Saturday, Dave, Fred and I were joined by Gary Jacobson, Mike Hill, Steve
Beckwith, John Maher, Sidney Johnson and Sergio Simunovic, as well as Ruth
Ward's brother Arnie who was visiting from Sweden.

The amount of work accomplished on Saturday and Sunday could not have been
completed without the help of everyone mentioned in this email. Thank you
all for giving up a workday and/or a Saturday. We all had fun, some good
food and camaraderie, and many of you got to see Fred & Ruth's beautiful
home and observatory for the first time.

Steve Beckwith, Dave Prowten and I took lots of pictures. During the work
party each day I shot one frame per minute from a tripod-mounted camera. The
interval shots will make a pretty good movie that we can show at the next
meeting. Stay tuned for a new gallery on the ATMoB website showing this
amazing fete.

There is still a bit of work to complete, including some exterior clips, the
motors and mechanics for rotation and the observing hatches, the MaxDome
computer control boxes, and control wiring back to the house. Of course we
also have to remount and polar align the telescope. So if you couldn't make
this weekend's gig, there'll be a couple more days, afternoons or eves where
we'll need an extra brain or muscle.

Sincerely,

Bruce Berger