Good morning Star Tours members,
We - the Star Tours Team - need to discuss a few things that have been on
my mind and have *you* really follow what needs to be, to be part of the
Star Tours Team. This is for all Star Tours events - going forward......
1) This first item, may be considered a STRIKE if it becomes a habit by any
Team Member, so please read it carefully. Lately, it has come to my
attention that some of our members haven't been arriving early enough at
events to have their scopes set up on time. I realize that if you have a
new scope you aren't familiar with, or you have some issue that is going on
with your scope, that you might be delayed in being totally set up by a
specified time.... however, if our contract, and this goes for Schools,
Scouts, any paid event, including DBG Lumi events - says be set up by
5:15pm, you NEED TO BE set up by then.
That doesn't mean you have to have your scope aligned. Set up to me means,
if you can... do it all and be ready to show something to the attendees.
However, I am aware that sometimes our set up time, and start time, puts us
at a time when there are no alignment stars, and so having your scope
totally aligned, on time, is only a Dream for some of us. But, YOU NEED to
be *done assembling your telescope* so that all you have left to do is an
alignment, the moment you get a chance to do it. *If you are still
assembling your scope at the designated "READY" time, you are NOT
considered set up.* Your scope should be set up, your area picked up and
looking presentable (so if you have cases, tables, other stuff in your
viewing area because you have to (such as at DBG where we don't have access
to putting cases back into the car for the event), you have no where to put
it, make sure you viewing area is all cleared of hazards to the public who
isn't watching where they are walking, plus, your scope needs to be ready
so that the moment your alignment stars show up, you can then start
aligning the scope.
You also need to be able to talk about how your scope works, and point out
a few objects in the nights sky - with or without a green laser - that you
or other team members may wish to show that night, so that we look
intelligent about the night sky, and stay professional. If you get a line
of people who insist on hanging out while you are doing an alignment, that
is their choice, but if you could talk to them while they do hang with you,
that would be even better, especially if you can describe what you are
doing, and why it is necessary to do it, while doing the alignment.
But, as far as assembly, please BE SET UP BY THE DESIGNATED HIRED TIME and *for
DBG Lumi, that is 5:15pm.* The contract I signed says my Team will be set
up and ready for the public by 5:15pm. It doesn't say we have to be aligned
because that would be silly on most of the nights we are there and it is
still bright outside. They don't know anything about scopes, but we do have
to be set up, area clear of hazards, and ready to have Patrons visit our
observing area.
So, if you are unable to make it on time to the event and get set up, with
set up having to be done 5:15, you need to contact me and the Back up Scope
to take your place at the event.
2) RSVP's for events. Due to a few mishaps recently, I'd like to request
that the RSVP's taking over for me, when i am not at that event, please
stay until everyone has packed up and the last car has started and is
rolling out of the parking lot. Now, that also means that the last car
needs to be sure the RSVP has also started their car and is rolling. Don't
leave anyone behind. If the RSVP has to leave early, announce it to the
group and find out who the last 2 vehicles will be to leave, and those 2
vehicles must make sure they start their cars and leave together. We don't
leave anyone behind. So, an example would be.... Last night at Country
Meadows, Sam was RSVP and Awesome! Roger and Pete were cleaning up from the
night and Sam said he stayed behind an extra half hour to make sure that
Roger and Pete could start their cars, after loading their scopes, and
drive out. What Sam could have done, with the info I put above, is tell
Pete and Roger he had to depart and make sure they had his phone number in
case they couldn't get their car started, and then designate them as the
last 2 cars to leave that night and remind them to make sure each car
started before they drove away. But, because Sam was RSVP and this is what
RSVP does, he stayed behind to make sure eveyrone got out of the event
successfully. So, going forward, it is the responsibility of the RSVP to
stick around to make sure all vehicles have left, or if the RSVP is there
but has to leave earlier, and there are 2 vehicles left to leave, remind
those 2 vehicles to pack and leave together. No one gets left behind. The
RSVP is in charge, so always make sure your TEAM is ok before you depart.
3) While we are on the topic of RSVP and DBG Lumi's, I need to bring up
another thought i've had... the Runners. If you are a Runner for an event,
but NOT RSVP for that event - the Runners in general are there up to the
end of the event. For DBG Lumi's that is 9:30pm. Once 9pm has come, the
Runner should make the final rounds to make sure eveyrone has had a break
that needs it, and if eveyrone says they are good and they can make it to
9:30 without a Break, the Runner is free to leave for the night. So, at
Lumi's, if you need a break, you have to contact the Runner prior to 9:30
in order to take that break while the Patrons are still possibly at your
scope.
But if the Runner is also the RSVP for the night, they need to make sure
everyone gets out of DBG that night, and picked up by the Carts. I'm
requesting that if you take RSVP for the night, and you are the Runner, you
do your normal Check with everyone before 9:30, but also, make sure all of
our Team has made it out of the DBG grounds and to their cars. Since there
is enough activity at DBG, if a car didn't start, one could call the DBG
Rangers number, that's the carts number I provided the other day in email,
and get a jump for their car from them. But it is best if the RSVP is still
there to make sure all cars are loaded and headed home, or designate 2
scopes that are packing up, to check on each other and leave together
before departing. I appreciate my BU RSVP's taking over for me, when i'm
not there. Let's work together to be sure eveyrone is out of DBG before
leaving. If you know that someone is still behind at DBG when you are
dropped off at your vehicle, remind the cart driver to go pick them up...
example Mike.
If any of this doesn't make sense, let me know and i'll try to explain it
better. What it amounts to is BE ON TIME, and DON'T LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND,
and do your part to make PAS look PROFESSIONAL AT ALL TIMES!
Thank you for reading this. A copy of it will be in the private forums.
Actually i put it in 2 places, since this isn't just for DBG Lumi events...
Let's work together to make all Paid events Super for the Attendees and PAS
and the Hiring Organization.
Terri, Event Manager
--
Good friends are like stars. You don't always
see them, but you always know they are there.
Terri Phoenix Astronomical Society <http://www.pasaz.org/> Event Manager
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