Hi all,

Spoke with Greg Walden this afternoon and Mega Meet is a go for this weekend!  Thanks to Greg and Simon Porter for all their preperations.  Hope to see you there.

Bill

LVAAS members night picnic is moved to Sunday

Due to the expected rain and possible thunder showers Saturday evening the picnic is moved to our rain date on Sunday - same time - 5:00 PM

Hope to see you there

Bill

After 38 years of teaching astronomy at Dierruf High School, Gary Becker has retired this week. Gary's enthusiasm for astronomy and energetic teaching style has left an indelible mark on all that that visited his planetarium and inspired countless students in his years at Dieruff.

As might be expected by all who know Gary, one does not give up a passion easily and Gary will continue practicing his craft by teaching astronomy as an adjunct professor at Moravian College.

Our best wishes go with Gary and Susan on their future endeavors. A video and story on Gary's retirement can be found on The Morning Call website at:

www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-allentown-school-retirement-planet20100622,0,964796,full.story

Hi all,

Our favorite editor, Gwyn Fowler, needs your support! Gwyn is a contestant for Miss Kempton at the annual Kempton County Fair running from June 15th to the 19th. Es Lieblischst Maedel "the fairest girl" will be chosen Saturday afternoon at 1: to 3:00 PM on the main stage. Gwen needs your support and vote.

You can cast your vote by purchasing "Peoples Choice Award Tickets" and depositing them in Gwyn's

ballot box #16. Three tickets for $1.00 and twenty tickets for $5.00. Vote early and often and don't wait. The fair has already started.

Directions and the fair schedule can be found at:     www.kemptoncountryfair.org

Hi all,

We have a special guest for our April 11th general meeting, Lieutenant Colonel Preston F. Smith. Lt. Col. Smith is a full-time Air Force Officer in the Air National Guard and as a Medical Administrative Officer his job has taken him around the world from Mauna Kea to Baghdad and always with a small telescope.

His talk will be "Have Scope, Will Travel". Want to get away from the light pollution and observe under some dark skies? Perhaps you want to bring a small scope along with you on your next vacation or business trip? This presentation will show you how to plan for it! You will learn:

1. What is a Travel Scope “Package” and what do you REALLY need to bring along with you?

2. How to successfully pre-plan for a trip with a Travel Scope

3. Travel tips, concerns, suggestions and lessons learned from someone who has years of experience.

4. And experience some “military humor” throughout the presentation.

Preston contacted us late in January after visiting our website and offered to give a presentation for our general meeting. He's given similar presentations at NEAF, The Mid-Atlantic Astronomy Expo, Eastern Telescope Show (Damascus, MD) and astronomical organizations similar to LVAAS. While reading our website a random photo suddenly appeared on the home page showing Preston's father (Preston Smith Sr.) and Ralph Schlegel in our planetarium. As it turns out, Preston Sr. was an early member and officer of LVAAS. The photo of Preston Sr. and Ralph can be seen at:

http://lvaas.org/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090609215147397

I've also added some photos of Lt. Col. Smith to our gallery in the LVAAS events section of the gallery.  Preston will be accompanied by several long time LVAAS members and will also have with him a very rare Unitron Satellite Refractor.  Hope you can join us to welcome Lt. Col. Preston Smith home to LVAAS this Sunday.

Unfortunately tonight's star party, December 5th, is canceled due to inclement weather.  Hope to see you all at the next scheduled star party, January 23rd 7:00 PM