[Atmob-discuss] Plates

Sun Jan 10 20:14:18 EST 2010

Weren't they going to be thrown out originally? 
If that was the case then why not take them and offer the to club members? If though, they are looking for a safe home then perhaps it is too much work to act as curator. 

I don't remember the original ask.... 

-sjf 
__________________ 
Steven Feinstein, CISSP | Corporate Systems Engineering | RSA - The Security Division of EMC 
- sent from my blackberry. -

________________________________

From: atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org <atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org> 
To: gdjacobson at verizon.net <gdjacobson at verizon.net>; atmob-discuss at atmob.org <atmob-discuss at atmob.org> 
Sent: Sun Jan 10 19:32:45 2010
Subject: Re: [Atmob-discuss] Plates 

Gary,

Your email was very direct and to the point so my response will be in kind.

The plates have a historical significance and this is the only reason the ATMoB  considered taking the plates.  Since they would be kept at the clubhouse, I discussed with John Reed,  the pros and cons of having the plates and that discussion is summarized below:

1.       The use of these plates for astronomy, has been superceded by planetarium software that uses quite a few data bases that are more complete than the Palomar survey.    Even without the a planetarium SW application, one can access the survey via the internet (http://archive.stsci.edu/dss/).

2.       The plates should be kept  together as breaking them up would take away from their historical value.  Therefore, breaking up the set and passing them out to members was considered counter to the reason we would have accepted the plates – i.e. maintaining their historical value.   

3.       Making them available  may have  requiree bending, folding  of the 18”x24” plates – an undesirable solution.  Sending plates out to a copying company (Kinko’s, etc.)  would require both time and volunteer effort. 

4.       A volunteer would need to be responsible for the plates in the terms of safe storage, keeping track of them, managing  the checking in and out of them by members (if we went this route).  

a.       This is “the long pole” in the tent,   as the club and the clubhouse committee already has more work than volunteers.  Coupled with  the fact it’s always the same people doing the work in the club, this was just an extra burden that didn’t make sense for the club to accept.  .

Per your specific statements:

“Since there was considerable interest expressed by club members, and I am aware of additional interest by others who did not chime in on the discuss list, I would like to hear on what basis it was determined not to accept the plates.”

 It’s a shame I didn’t hear from you or the people you refer as I only heard from the following people:  Steve Feinstein saying we should get the plates and later suggested selling them in frames and Mike Bova and William Shakalis,  said they wanted individual plates.     Hearing more voices may have resulted in a different decision.   

“I think we should have taken the plates if available and distributed them to the members who are interested.”     

Who did  you mean by “we”?   Once again, this activity would have meant a volunteer actually making this happen.   Either I do it myself or  I beat the bushes to find volunteer to take ownership of the plates.  Ownership means picking- up the plates by the end of the week,  taking them to a meeting, distributing them to members who wanted them and probably doing the same at the clubhouse.  Kudos to Pete Bealo to offer to pick-up the plates but a lot more work still was needed.     However, by informing the club that we weren’t taking the plates,  anyone  truly  interested in them had the opportunity to followed up with Tom Bauer at Wellesley College on their own.   Perhaps they did.  

Steve    

 President

Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston

From: Jacobson [mailto:gdjacobson at verizon.net] 
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 4:59 PM
To: 'Steve Beckwith'; atmob-discuss at atmob.org
Subject: RE: [Atmob-discuss] Plates

Steve,

Since there was considerable interest expressed by club members, and I am aware of additional interest by others who did not chime in on the discuss list, I would like to hear on what basis it was determined not to accept the plates.

I am also interested to hear on what basis it was decided that "If the club picks-up the plates – they will not be for dispersion the club members.  Rather they will be kept at the clubhouse as a complete set for all members to use."

If club members are interested in the plates, and the clubhouse committee or others decide that the clubhouse does not want to be the repository for them, I think we should have taken the plates if available and distributed them to the members who are interested.

This looks like a very nice opportunity missed.

Gary Jacobson

	-----Original Message-----
	From: atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org [mailto:atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org] On Behalf Of Steve Beckwith
	Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 11:14 PM
	To: 'Steve Beckwith'; 'Don Price'; atmob-discuss at atmob.org
	Subject: Re: [Atmob-discuss] Plates

	I’m following up on yesterday’s message to let everyone know that the club will not be taking the plates so graciously offerd by Tom Bauer of the Wellesley Observatory.

	Regards,

	-          Steve

	Steve Beckwith

	President

	Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston

	From: atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org [mailto:atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org] On Behalf Of Steve Beckwith
	Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2010 6:27 PM
	To: 'Don Price'; atmob-discuss at atmob.org
	Subject: Re: [Atmob-discuss] Plates

	Dear Don, 

	If the club picks-up the plates – they will not be for dispersion the club members.  Rather they will be kept at the clubhouse as a complete set for all members to use.

	The club’s decision hinges on the room available at the clubhouse to safely store/display the plates.  I’ve already spoken to the one of the clubhouse committee chairpersons (John Reed) to make a recommendation on whether we should take the plates.   

	If the club decides not to take the plates, then its involvement with the plates will end.  

	I’ll keep everyone informed via atmob-discuss on the decision.

	Regards,

	-          Steve

	Steve Beckwith

	President

	Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston

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