[sac-board] Re: Fw: Re: FW: Important suggestion re: Sentinel site on AZ Clear Sky Charts
- From: "Richard Harshaw" <rharshaw2@xxxxxxx>
- To: <sac-board@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:53:13 -0700
You will always have a say in this club, Jenn (if I have anything to do with
it). I'll post the notice to SAC Announce right now. Good idea!
Richard Harshaw
Cave Creek, Arizona
Brilliant Sky Observatory
-----Original Message-----
From: sac-board-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-board-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Jennifer Polakis
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 11:59 AM
To: sac-board@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sac-board] Fw: Re: FW: Important suggestion re: Sentinel site on
AZ Clear Sky Charts
Importance: High
Exactly--
I think the board meeting notice should be posted on SAC-announce as well
with every intention to have as many of SACsters present as possible.
I'm currently not on the board so probably don't have a say--but as a
SACster, Board Member Emeritus, and a Board-inlaw of the VP:-), I really
really think we should encourage participation and ideas from all of us.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Harshaw" <rharshaw2@xxxxxxx>
To: "Jennifer Polakis" <m24@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 8:58 AM
Subject: RE: [sac-board] Re: FW: Important suggestion re: Sentinel site on
AZ Clear Sky Charts
> By the way, Jennifer, I am not advocating that SAC disassociate itself
> from
> our dark sky sites. I am only advocating that we be prudent and wise with
> regards to public safety at all of our sites, and the Sentinel site is
> becoming more and more embroiled in a route for illegal activity, and with
> it, the potential of danger.
>
> I don't like having to yield prime dark sky sites to bad guys any more
> than
> you do-- hell, this is my country, and I can't even use parts of it
> anymore
> because people with ill intent don't care who they kill or harm. But I
> also
> don't want someone going to a site thinking it will be wonderful and find
> themselves in the middle of a pack of renegades with bad intentions. They
> need to go forewarned and prepared. That is what I am proposing we say--
> not
> "Don't use this site" but rather, "Use this site with prudence; check with
> the county sheriff before you go so (a) you can be sure it is safe and (b)
> the sheriff will know you are out there."
>
> The Sentinel site is one of many we use, and so far, all quite safely. But
> I
> don't want to be called some Monday morning by someone to report that a
> member was found dead at a remote site with evidence of violent activity
> at
> the site.
>
> Preparation is the key. Knowing the environment and its hazards, folks can
> make their own judgment about whether or not they wish to hazard the site.
>
>
> Richard
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sac-board-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:sac-board-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Jennifer Polakis
> Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 3:29 AM
> To: sac-board@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [sac-board] Re: FW: Important suggestion re: Sentinel site on AZ
> Clear Sky Charts
>
> I'd like to voice my objection to disassociating SAC from our dark sky
> sites.
>
> We're running out of near-enough/dark enough places to go observing and I
> think it's more important to look to a remedy and support a solution to
> this
>
> temporary problem than to just flat out disassociate ourselves from it. I
> mean to say that it's more than important, it has become incumbent upon
> astronomy clubs to do what we can to keep as many dark-enough sites
> available to as many folks as possible. To just bow out of the situation
> like we haven't been observing from the South side of Interstate 10 and 8
> for the last few decades is just wrong.
>
> Danko does mention something on the Vekol chart about contacting local law
> enforcement before heading out...and if it would make some of us feel
> safer
> or less liable or whatever, maybe you can mention the same for Sentinal
> and
> on our web site but please don't have SAC disassociated from any observing
> sites in Arizona on the Clear Sky Charts--a site that has absolutely
> nothing
>
> to do with perceptions of border safety. And please don't make any
> Arizona
> dark sky observing place disappear from our web site.
>
> We should be putting more energy toward bringing dark skies nearer.
> Disassociating ourselves from observing sites for any reason other than
> too
> much light pollution is definitely a huge step in the wrong direction.
>
> For what it's worth, we sponsor the Vekol DSC and will continue our
> support
> of Mr. Danko and his amazing idea and ability to chart sky qualities
> across
> N America just for people like us and that doesn't mean I'll pay your
> doctor
>
> bills if you get bit by a rattlesnake or get hurt trying to defend
> yourself
> from your own bad judgment while you're observing there.
>
> Jennifer Polakis
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve D." <fester00@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "SAC Board" <sac-board@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 11:02 PM
> Subject: [sac-board] Re: FW: Important suggestion re: Sentinel site on AZ
> Clear Sky Charts
>
>
> I live here and have never seen any problems.
>
> I think you're all overreacting to right-wing fear tactics.
>
> Just my opinion.
>
> What's the difference if the site is still listed on DSC? I use the Vekol
> DSC for my own observatory. Remove it, and you remove me. Rosie and I go
> to Sentinel regularly and have never had a problem. Ever.
>
> Steve Dodder
> Chairman, SAC Novice Group
> Coordinator, Grand Canyon Star Party, North Rim
> Director, Stone Haven Observatory
>
> fester00@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
> http://www.stonehavenobservatory.com
>
>
>
>> From: rharshaw2@xxxxxxx
>> To: sac-board@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [sac-board] FW: Important suggestion re: Sentinel site on AZ
>> Clear Sky Charts
>> Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:39:53 -0700
>>
>> Folks, I agree with Gene on this. Unless anyone voices an objection, I
>> will
>> contact Danko over the weekend and have SAC disassociated with Sentinel.
>> We
>> may want to also review removing it from our web page maps.
>>
>>
>>
>> Richard Harshaw
>> Cave Creek, Arizona
>> Brilliant Sky Observatory
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Gene A Lucas [mailto:geneluca@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 5:54 PM
>> To: Richard Harshaw
>> Subject: Important suggestion re: Sentinel site on AZ Clear Sky Charts
>>
>> I recently suggested to David Douglass that perhaps the Vekol Rd. site
>> on AZ Clear Sky Charts should be removed or at least the EVAC
>> recommendation be deleted, and he has taken action. You might review
>> the current listings of the Arizona Clear Sky Charts:
>> http://www.cleardarksky.com/csk/prov/Arizona_charts.html
>> ...And see the modified listing for Vekol... Perhaps a similar listing
>> for the Sentinel site would be in order, in re: the illegal traffic that
>> has been reported.
>> (At least modify the SAC connection...)
>>
>> Send a note to Attila Danko, the Clear Sky Charts honcho, if you
>> concur...
>> mailto: danko@xxxxxxxxx
>> http://www.cleardarksky.com/index.html
>>
>> Just my two cents. (Sorry it has come to this....)
>> Gene Lucas
>> (17250)
>>
>>
>
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