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Annual Report Rapport Annuel 2010 annual report rapport annuel 2010 The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada / 2010 Annual Report • La Société royale d’astronomie du Canada / Rapport annuel 2010 1 Table of Contents President’s Message 4 Treasurer’s Message 5 Secretary’s Message 6 Auditor’s Report 7 Annual Meeting Minutes—2010 14 Annual Reports from the Centres 16 Centre Treasurers’ Reports for Fiscal Year 2010 45 Officers and Councils of the Centres—2011 48 2011 Award Winners 52 Edited by James Edgar Translations by Hugues Lacombe Proofread by James Edgar Layout and design by Catherine Berry Front Cover Photograph The gathering is the speakers who made presentations at the 2010 General Assembly in Fredericton, New Brunswick (missing from photo - Dr. René Doyen). Photo courtesy Peter Ceravolo. 2 The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada / 2010 Annual Report • La Société royale d’astronomie du Canada / Rapport annuel 2010 Royal Astronomical Society of Canada—2011 RASC Web Site: www.rasc.ca RASC eStore: www.store.rasc.ca National Office: 203-4920 Dundas Street W, Toronto ON M9A 1B7, Canada Phone: (416) 924-7973 Fax: (416) 924-2911 Email: [email protected] Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Executive Director: Deborah Thompson [email protected] Office Administrator: Fiona Wilson [email protected] Membership & Publications Co-ordinator: Irina Mosquera [email protected] Marketing Co-ordinator Emily Cornford [email protected] Officers Honorary President: Dr. Jim Hesser [email protected] President: Mary Lou Whitehorne [email protected] 1st Vice-President: Glenn Hawley [email protected] 2nd Vice-President: Colin Haig [email protected] Secretary / Recorder: James Edgar [email protected] Treasurer: Mayer Tchelebon [email protected] Past President: Dave Lane [email protected] Journal Editor: Jay Anderson [email protected] Observer’s Handbook Editor: Dave Chapman [email protected] Beginner’s Observing Guide Editor: Mary Lou Whitehorne [email protected] Observer’s Calendar Editor: David Lane [email protected] 2010 - 2011 Committees Awards: Dave Lane [email protected] Constitution: Glenn Hawley [email protected] Education: Ron Macnaughton [email protected] Executive: Mary Lou Whitehorne [email protected] Finance: Mayer Tchelebon [email protected] History: Randall Rosenfeld [email protected] Information Technology: Ryan May [email protected] Light-Pollution Abatement: Robert Dick [email protected] Membership and Promotion: vacant Nominating: Colin Haig [email protected] Observing: Chris Beckett [email protected] Publications: Glenn Hawley [email protected] Green-Laser Pointer Randall Rosenfeld [email protected] Centre Representatives on Council Belleville: Don Town Ottawa: Charles O’Dale Calgary: Robyn Foret Prince George: Robert Nelson Calgary: Greg King Québec: Pierre Desrosiers Charlottetown: Mike Critchley Regina: Christopher Beckett Edmonton: Mike Noble St. John’s: Joe English Edmonton: Luca Vanzella Sarnia: Joe Clements Halifax: Jim Dorey Saskatoon: Rick Huziak Hamilton: Mark Pickett Sunshine Coast: Bill Clark Kingston: Brian Hunter Thunder Bay: Dave Gallant Kitchener-Waterloo: Paul Schumacher Toronto: Eric Briggs London: Craig Levine Toronto: Tony Horvatin Mississauga Bob McCall Toronto: Rajesh Shukla C. F. de Montréal: Hugues Lacombe Vancouver: Bruce McDonald Montréal: Frank Tomaras Vancouver: Mark Eburne New Brunswick: Tim Doucette Victoria: Chris Gainor Niagara: Tracy Schilz Windsor: Michael Mastronardi Okanagan: Bryan Kelso Winnipeg: Mike Stephens Ottawa: Robert Dick The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada / 2010 Annual Report • La Société royale d’astronomie du Canada / Rapport annuel 2010 3 President’s Message This was the year after International Year of Astronomy, and it participated in the consultation and planning process for this should come as no surprise to anyone that the energetic, enthusi- important and forward-looking project. astic, and dedicated members of the RASC continued with increased Other happenings in 2010 include: public education and outreach activities all through 2010. IYA lives * Our new Public Speaker Programme was launched. It on in the many expanded and enriched programmes carried out aims to support our Centres and to encourage knowledge by RASC members and Centres throughout Canada. It is impressive transfer between Centres. There has been good uptake and rewarding to see the number of partnerships that have been on this new programme and we anticipate a vibrant and built and that continue to thrive between the Society, our Centres, successful programme into the future. and non-RASC organizations, in an astonishingly successful effort * The Walter Helm Fund has received interpretation and to provide relevant and enjoyable outreach opportunities for all direction from the Court as to the present and future Canadians. disposition of annual income from the Fund. There is an The collaborative connections between the RASC, the Cana- agreement in place between the Society that administers dian Astronomical Society (CASCA) and the Fédération des Astro- the Fund and the Toronto Centre, which will use the annual nomes Amateurs de Québec (FAAQ) continued to strengthen, most income from the Fund in its activities at the David Dunlap especially through the Beyond IYA national executive committee. Observatory building. This committee met monthly by teleconference, with representa- * The new Investment Management Strategy for the Society tives from all three organizations. The goal is to keep open lines of has been implemented, with almost all funds having been communications between all three groups and to share best prac- transferred to the new professionally managed portfolio. tices between organizations for the benefit of all three. One major * The implementation of the iMIS system has been project of the group was to create a joint national EPO award to be substantially completed and is working well. given annually to one member of each of the three organizations * The Toronto Centre has fully opted in to the national every year. Watch for this award to be announced later in 2011. membership-handling service. Membership-handling It is important to say here and now that the RASC is the benefi- processes are now standardized across the Society. ciary of many generous people who donate time, energy, expertise, * The introduction of HST in Ontario and British Columbia, and money to further the objectives of the Society. On behalf of the and a PST increase in Nova Scotia, resulted in some Society, I thank all those generous donors who support the work of administrative complications that have since been resolved. the Society and help make it the success story that it is. Without you It was challenging to incorporate four different tax regimes and your contributions we would be greatly diminished. into our operating systems. * Newly unified promotional materials were developed this This year of 2010 saw a number of significant administrative year to better promote RASC membership and publications, changes in the RASC. In late June we hired our first Executive and were well received. Look for continued improvements Director, Deborah Thompson. The Society has grown in complexity, in the future as a result of the new marketing and and functions in an increasingly complicated and fast-paced communications plan. external environment. It became impossible for volunteer execu- tive members to attend to the many daily demands of running a During the last half of the year, I was pleased to be able to visit Society that is simultaneously a membership, publishing, and chari- two centres, one on each end of the country. In October, piggy- table organization. Full-time professional management staff was backed on a non-RASC trip, I was able to travel to the Prince urgently needed and is now in place. The last half of 2010 saw many George Centre and meet with Centre members, visit the impressive adjustments in how we conduct business. By the end of the year, Centre observatory, and give a public presentation. In November, improved practices and processes were in place and most of the I visited the New Brunswick Centre, gave a presentation and hurdles had been successfully cleared. The National Office and the enjoyed a lively evening out with Centre members. Visits such as Society are in good hands with Deborah at the helm. these are wonderful opportunities to get to know Centre members, as well as local issues, challenges, and success stories. As always, Early in the year, we also hired a new Membership and Publica- I am impressed by the warmth and friendly hospitality of RASC tions Co-ordinator. Irina Mosquera has proved her worth through members across Canada. You are awesome! many valuable contributions to National Office operations. In conclusion, I thank my executive committee predecessors for November saw the departure of Jo Taylor, our National Office the dedicated work done over the years to build this great Society. Manager. We thank Jo for her many contributions to the Society and Thanks to Dave Lane for keeping a neat and tidy presidential desk wish her well in her new endeavours beyond the RASC. that I am honoured to inherit. My thanks also go to my executive Two major projects undertaken during the second half of the colleagues, on whom I depend for advice and assistance every day. year were the development of a strategic plan and a marketing Also, a big debt of thanks goes to our National Office staff, without communications
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