[pasmembers] Re: Scope Rentals?
- From: "" <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> (Redacted sender "insanas@xxxxxxx" for DMARC)
- To: pasmembers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2014 16:16:04 -0400
Terri, one sentence that is a must in the agreement is that the scope must
never be used to view the sun. Even with a solar filter, PAS does not want to
risk the liability for a slip up. Sam
-----Original Message-----
From: Terri <starstuff@xxxxxxxxx>
To: PAS Members ListServ <pasmembers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Fri, Oct 3, 2014 12:21 pm
Subject: [pasmembers] Re: Scope Rentals?
Alex,
That's interesting info. Yea she probably knows what to do.
oh that reminds me, what Bruce has planned for the lender scopes is a class
before we lend out the scope.
With a check list, which is why we haven't finished this project yet.
the check list is
do you know where the knobs are and what they do and that you have to release
this one or that one before moving the scope, and how do you handle the
eyepieces, how to you assemble the scope, etc.
we believe that even if you own a scope, just because you know how to work your
scope doesn't mean you know how to care for this one, that you are borrowing.
So, there's a class involved before we will let the scope leave Bruce's house.
And a page of check listed items, plus a complete list of what was borrowed,
and then Bruce has to set up a return date and time that works in his schedule.
although winter months are easier, because he is in phoenix, where as for the
next 2 weeks or so, he is still in flagstaff over the weekends.
So, yea, we have it figure out, but haven't done it yet and like i said, as
soon as we do, anyone in the club may borrow a scope, but let's say you own a
dob... you aren't know know the ins and outs of how to operate a SCT. Believe
me, even William has a challenging working my scope. Anyone can work a dob but
i don't think we have any dobs for borrowing. I think they are all SCT and that
means, a little training is needed. And that also means that if you wanted to
borrow the scope for tomorrow, it isn't happening. it has to be a date and time
that both Bruce and the borrower can get together, and an evening time so that
they can do the set up of the scope, and make sure the borrower knows how to
care for it. its a lot to set up but we will get it done before the end of May.
That's the plan.
i'm guessing that since January is kinda slow for evnets with PAS as well as
for other things Bruce and i have going on in our lives, that that's when we
will work on it the most.
Along with the check out papers, i also have to design a nice looking page of
what is available for check out. That is the other thing Bruce and i have to do
before we can lend out the equipment. This page will be part of the check out
process, listing what is available and then marking what was borrowed, right on
it. Makes it easier for the check out process. and then we will post that info
to the site in the Members section and i can keep it updated as scope equipment
comes and goes (goes or gets sold for better equipment).
If anyone has input as to what to put in the agreement, how to word it or if
anyone wants to proof it to help out and give suggestions, i can start
designing it soon and wound love your input. Let me know!
Everyone have a spectacular day!
I didn't remember we have 7 scopes, Mike and Rodney tonight. That's a large
number of our scopes at one event. I get to see you guys again tonight! That's
so exciting. My favorite people!
Terri
On Fri, Oct 3, 2014 at 11:45 AM, Alex Vrenios <axv@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Terri,
The "agreement" is probably a good idea in the long run.
For the record, however, I looked her up online and found out that she works in
Seattle as an accountant. She is a past president of the Seattle Astronomical
Society and is currently one of their trustees.
SAS has a similar arrangement with their members regarding loaner scopes. All
of their scopes are loaned out except two. One is a solar, like William's, and
the other had a bad GPS card. Contacting us (and SAC and EVAC?) was probably a
last resort.
She doesn't look like much of a risk to me :)
Alex
On Oct 3, 2014, at 11:35 AM, Terri <starstuff@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Yes, but the scopes, i don't think are ready for borrowing.
We'd have to ask Bruce and he is out of town this weekend.
Bruce and i are working on setting up a rental agreement, and a fee for
borrowing, that is returned upon return of the scope in the condition it left
in. We haven't gotten that done yet but that is one of the goals this school
year. Since no one has needed or asked, who is a current PAS member, to borrow
a scope from the club, we haven't gotten it done yet, but I will be working
with Bruce to get that all figured out.
We need some paper work saying the scope is ours and it has to come back to us
in the shape it left, plus have a place to check out eyepieces, etc. And a
holding fee, probably in cash, in case the scope gets damaged or not returned.
I believe Bruce has 2 scopes almost ready. At one of the meetings, we were
discussing repairs of some of the club scopes, and the sale of other scopes and
parts, and that's all i believe we accomplished so far. A discussion, but not a
completion of. So, let's get with Bruce to find out the status, and I will work
on the check out forms.
Terri
On Thu, Oct 2, 2014 at 3:45 PM, Alex Vrenios <axv@xxxxxxx> wrote:
If she joins PAS for the year she'll pay $25, which would allow her to "borrow"
a scope. That membership fee is just about what I would expect to pay for a
rental scope for a few days.
Alex
On Oct 2, 2014, at 10:36 AM, Terri <starstuff@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Leah (input to your question, not aimed at you, but in response to your
question and written for the group to read),
When we (a couple of the members and myself) did research to find out if anyone
in the Phoenix area, or the USA rented scopes to people, we found that only one
place back east did scope rentals to people not in their club.
PAS has scopes to borrow, but you have to be a PAS Member to do so, and right
now, they may not be ready to borrow, as Bruce is still doing repairs on some
of them. Soon as they are ready, members can borrow the scopes, or sets of
eyepieces at no cost.
However, the idea to go out and do a star party with this gal, is ok, but if it
is a private showing, meaning her and the scope person, that has a fee
attached. No freebees. And for that, she should go through me to set it up.
The other idea is to have her attend, for free, any public event we have coming
up around the date she is in town.
If anyone in the club wants to lend out their scope, still go through me,
because the booking doc is your agreement with Judy, that she will pay you for
the use of your scope. Plus, that way there is insurance (liability) just in
case. It doesn't replace your scope, though, so if you lend out your scope,
even with pay involved, you have to put up with someone who might break
something on the scope and PAS insurance doesn't cover that.
Personally, no one touches my scope. But, i'd be willing to rent myself out,
with a scope, to take her on a night tour, for $$$. As would a few of you.
Leah, you can share the above ideas with Judy. And if she wants to borrow
someone to give her a night sky tour, have her contact me to set it up. : ) I
won't be the one doing it, probably Eric or someone else with a larger scope,
so she really gets her money worth. But I will need a booking doc from her. And
the fee, if you want to let her know is $150 for 2 hours.
I read above that she wants to go camping with your scope, should you lend her
a scope. That worries me. So much can happen with camping and that could mean
leaving the scope out over night at the location and not covering it in the
daytime, etc... there are all sorts of factors that "I" will not lend my scope
for.
Just my thoughts on this. And some of us do not have insurance on our
equipment, should something happen to it. I'd be sure it is insured, because if
you don't have your equipment, you can't do events for / with PAS until you can
afford to replace it.
Have a super day, Leah, and everyone reading this!
Terri
On Wed, Oct 1, 2014 at 11:39 PM, LPhxAZ <lphxaz@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
does anyone have any suggestions for Judy? (see message below)
I don't know if there are any scopes for rent, but maybe someone would like to
go out observing with her, and bring a scope.
----- Original Message -----
From: Judy Wokoun
To: Astronomy-Questions@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2014 6:19 PM
Subject: Scope Rentals?
Good evening.
I'm a part of the Seattle Astronomical Society in Seattle, WA and I have a
trip to Phoenix planned around the new moon in April. I don't trust the
airlines at all to handle my scope so I was wondering if there are any places
in the area, or possibly even your organization, that rent out scopes for a few
days? I plan on camping for a few of the days that I'm there to do some
general observing and would love to have a scope as opposed to just binoculars.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Judy
--
Good friends are like stars. You don't always
see them, but you always know they are there.
Terri Phoenix Astronomical Society Event Coordinator
Visit the P.A.S. Facebook Page & My Facebook Page
Visit my Music Page: Private Music Instructor & Music Facebook Page
--
Good friends are like stars. You don't always
see them, but you always know they are there.
Terri Phoenix Astronomical Society Event Coordinator
Visit the P.A.S. Facebook Page & My Facebook Page
Visit my Music Page: Private Music Instructor & Music Facebook Page
--
Good friends are like stars. You don't always
see them, but you always know they are there.
Terri Phoenix Astronomical Society Event Coordinator
Visit the P.A.S. Facebook Page & My Facebook Page
Visit my Music Page: Private Music Instructor & Music Facebook Page
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