[sac-board] Re: 7.22.5 Board Meeting Agenda

AJ, your comments have some good merit.  While I have not >closely< 
followed all the threads of the present discussion, you may rest assured 
I have gone over this ground several times in the past (25 years) since 
the club was organized.  And I emphasize the word, "CLUB".
I do not see very much acruing benefit from incorporation for SAC, 
UNLESS (and IF) the club took on a large project involving "real" 
property, such as land, a dome, observatory, etc. etc. (This does NOT 
include the relatively small amount of funds and the projection 
equipment, etc. we now control.).  I do not see that in the immediate 
future for the club or its membership's needs.  It is my personal 
opinion that incorporation will not provide much benefit or "shielding" 
from exposure to (possible) lawsuits.  The present insurance policy is 
the best we can do.
Certainly some will argue that having all paying members sign "a waiver" 
as a condition of participation is probably a reasonable idea that >may< 
provide some limited benefit.
I think the club needs to establish a more stringent policy about 
"inviting" non-members to participate in events that are NOT conducted 
on another organization's facilities (such as Glendale, Phoenix, County 
parks, schools, etc., where the club members are -- in effect -- 
"invited guests" themselves and as such are not responsible for 
advertising or conducting the PUBLIC event.  Note that we are already 
adequately covered for our normal events such as the club meetings at 
Grand Canyon U, schools, the Science Center, etc.
It may make a difference as to how we "advertise" events such as at 
Sentinel, Farnsworth Ranch, etc. where we open it up to 
non-members....Can we insist that outsiders be "guests" of paying 
members, who are responsible for their "guests"?  That may not be 
enforceable or even desireable....
In the less recent past, the "scheduled", semi-public monthly star party 
was held at Buckeye Hills Recreation Area (south of Buckeye on the road 
to Gila Bend), which is a Maricopa County Park.  We had good relations 
with the County Parks Dept.  It would be nice if some reasonably dark 
sky site could be located like that.  The other present example is the 
arrangement that EVAC has for monthly star parties with the 
Boyce-Thompson Arboreteum (a State park).
Just my two cents worth, won't trouble you good officer folks any 
further, let's hear your ideas, you have been working this issue very hard.
I hope you can keep the discussion during the regular meeting session 
within some reasonable limits.
Let's not RUSH into this....we are NOT going to find a GOOD solution in 
one night.
Besides, whatever the Board recommends, must be first introduced to the 
members, then advertised via the Newsletter, before any FINAL vote.  And 
as AJ points out, this SERIOUS matter will likely require the advice of 
a lawyer if the solution is going to be a good one.
Gene Lucas (17250)
SAC Co-Founder (1977), JADPM  (just another dues-paying member)

AJ Crayon wrote:

>While I tend to agree with Gene we may need to do some thinking here.  
>In the past neither SAC nor its members had easy access to an attorney 
>of any kind.  No one has announced having access to an attorney - of any 
>kind.
>
>The idea of setting up a corporation for special events may seem worthwhile.
>
>The problem with both of the above ideas puts us farther behind than 
>working the waiver route.  Perhaps we need to continue working the 
>waiver route - for the short term solution.  Then investgate, with 
>reputable attorney, the incorporation senario for a longer term solution.
>
>Looking forward to Board Meeting,
>aj
>
>gene lucas wrote:
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>>I do not think you can proceed that quickly on such an important issue, 
>>as it involves changing the SAC Consititution and Bylaws, which requires 
>>that the issue be announced and then voted upon at a later meeting.
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>>I made the suggestion to Thad the other evening that perhaps another 
>>workable approach would be to set up a corporation for the events such 
>>as the Messier Marathon, rather than incorporating SAC....
>>Gene Lucas
>>SAC Co-founder (and just another paid-up member right now)
>>(17250)
>>
>>Jennifer.T.Polakis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
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