Annual Report Rapport Annuel 2011
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annual report rapport annuel 2011 The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada / 2011 Annual Report • La Société royale d’astronomie du Canada / Rapport annuel 2011 1 Table of Contents Royal Astronomical Society of Canada—2012 3 President’s Message 4 Secretary’s Message 6 Treasurer’s Message 7 Auditor’s Report 8 Annual Meeting Minutes—2011 15 Annual Reports from the Centres 17 Centre Treasurers’ Reports for Fiscal Year 2011 45 Officers and Councils of the Centres—2012 48 2012 Award Winners 52 2011 Certificates 52 Front Cover Photograph Ron Berard (Winnipeg) Edited by James Edgar Translations by Hugues Lacombe Proofread by James Edgar Layout and design by Catherine Berry 2 The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada / 2011 Annual Report • La Société royale d’astronomie du Canada / Rapport annuel 2011 Royal Astronomical Society of Canada—2012 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: Renata Koziol [email protected] Membership & Publications Co-ordinator: Fatima Riaz [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: Paul Gray [email protected] 2011 - 2012 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: Roland Dechesne [email protected] 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: vacant Calgary: Robyn Foret Prince George: Brian Battersby Calgary: Greg King Québec: Pierre Desrosiers Charlottetown: Mike Critchley Regina: Christopher Beckett Edmonton: Mike Noble St. John’s: Garry Dymond Edmonton: Luca Vanzella Sarnia: Joe Clements Halifax: Pat Kelly 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: Rajesh Shukla Mississauga Leslie Strike Toronto: Laila Zichmanis C. F. de Montréal: Hugues Lacombe Vancouver: Mark Eburne Montréal: Frank Tomaras Victoria: Chris Gainor New Brunswick: James Ayles Windsor: Michael Mastronardi Niagara: Tracy Schilz Winnipeg: Jennifer West Okanagan: Richard Christie Ottawa: Robert Dick The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada / 2011 Annual Report • La Société royale d’astronomie du Canada / Rapport annuel 2011 3 President’s Message RASC Continues to be a Leading Astronomy Organization cient office that worked smoothly to advance our mission. We now To inspire curiosity in all people about the universe, to look forward to a period of stability in the office and a renewed share scientific knowledge, and to foster collaboration effort to continue the work of setting our business affairs in optimal in astronomical pursuits. order with improved practice, procedure, and customer service in all aspects of work at the National Office. This is our vision statement, and the RASC lives up to it in count- less ways. I remain completely amazed with the energy, creativity, Solid Progress on Many Fronts and drive of our members and Centres, and the many expanded The following is a short list of Society business matters that trans- and enriched programs carried out by them throughout Canada pired throughout the year: and beyond. It is impressive and rewarding to see the number of • After the sudden death of Brian Segal, our JRASC designer, partnerships that have been built and continue to grow and thrive in early 2011, the Society issued a Request For Proposals between and among the Society, our Centres, and non-RASC organi- to find a new designer. Of the five submissions, three zations, in an astonishingly successful effort to provide relevant and were serious contenders. The successful bid came from, enjoyable astronomy outreach opportunities for everyone. and a three-year contract has been awarded to, the team Working Together to Further Our Mission of Mike Gatto and Grant Tomchuk of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Michael Gatto is the designer of Skyways/Explorons, our The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) membership and publications brochures, and our ads in encourages improved understanding of astronomy SkyNews Magazine. for all people, through education, outreach, research, • The Society also contracted with Dave Lane, to include publication, enjoyment, partnership, and community. a special edition of his ECU software with the 2012 The collaborative connections between the RASC, the Canadian Observer’s Handbook. Astronomical Society (CASCA) and the Fédération des Astronomes • RASC also “went shopping” for the most cost-effective price Amateurs de Québec (FAAQ) continued to strengthen, most espe- to print the 2012 Observer’s Handbook. The switch to a cially through the Beyond IYA national executive committee. This new printer resulted in an annual $4000 saving. committee is now administering a second three-year joint NSERC • Our complicated publication price matrix (including PromoScience grant, which purpose is to further develop and shipping, handling, and taxes) and our ordering processes deliver the bilingual interactive online educators’ seminar program, underwent a complete review and restructuring to Discover the Universe / À la découverte de l’Univers. The program streamline the purchase process. is meant to help outdoor interpreters (parks, camps, youth groups, • RASC is now on Twitter and Facebook. Other social etc.) and teachers to provide interesting and innovative astronomy media opportunities are being investigated as potential programs. The initial pilot program was very successful, and we communications and recruitment vehicles for the Society. look forward to expanded programming in two languages in the • RASC participated at the Toronto The Word On The Street coming years. event this year. Toronto Centre volunteers stepped up to help out. It was a successful event from the standpoint One significant new collaboration for the RASC is the estab- of raising our profile in the community, but it was not an lishment, jointly with CASCA and the FAAQ, of the Qilak Award economic success. We lost several hundred dollars at WOTS. for Astronomy Education and Public Outreach / Prix Qilak pour • RASC has a new fundraising guide, prepared by Executive la communication en astronomie. This new national award is Director Deborah Thompson. This new guide is provided as intended to recognize individual Canadian residents, or teams of part of the Centres and volunteer support program outlined residents, who have made an outstanding contribution either to in our new strategic plan. The main purpose of the guide the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy in Canada, is to help Centres understand their roles in relation to or to informal astronomy education in Canada. The award is also fundraising, and to give volunteers a process for developing intended to encourage EPO activities among the members of the fundraising plans. sponsoring organizations. Each of the three sponsoring organiza- • Additional insurance coverage was arranged to provide tions will offer a single award each year. Centres with more insurance options to help them better Qilak is the Inuit word for sky, or celestial sphere. The name was meet their insurance needs. These extra options are chosen by the BIYA representatives, and approved by the Awards available for an additional fee to the Centres that want or Committees of all three organizations, because it is distinctly Cana- need more coverage. dian, and spans Canada’s entire northern sky. • RASC developed and produced a new EPO resource, the National Office Changes Moon Gazers’ Guide. The first print run included 50,000 English and 30,000 French Moon Gazer Guides. This was Our staff at national office has been hard at work making things a joint project, with costs shared between RASC, CASCA, better for our members, Centres, partners, and customers. Unfortu- FAAQ, and the BIYA committee (through its joint NSERC nately, 2011 saw the resignation of two of our staff: Irina Mosquera PromoScience grant). (membership and publications clerk), and Fiona Wilson (office • The Society applied to register the phrases, “Dark-Sky administrator). We thank them both for their valuable contributions Preserve” and “Urban Star Park,” in both English and French, and wish them well in their new endeavours.