e-Pulsar - Dec 97

e-Pulsar Dec 97 - Jan 98

1997 BOARD MEETING, PT 1

From Dana Berry & Don Davis

The Board Meeting was called by our President, Dave Hardy, and organized after much e-mail discussion over many months, taking place in Pasadena at the wonderful recording studios of Mark Mercury.

Vice Prez Joel Hagen was the prime mover behind the splendid gathering at the subsequent ‘practice workshop’ attended by various members at a desert research center near Mojave. This is not far from from Joshua Tree National Monument, among the darkest sky locations in California. Like the seminal 1983 Death Valley workshop, we would end our journey at Edwards Air Force Base.

On Saturday, 11 Oct, our get together began as we met for breakfast in Pasadena, from which we drove to Mark Mercury’s fantastic studio for the board business in insulated and comfortable surroundings.

Attending were David Hardy, Jackie Burns, Mark Mercury, Don Davis, Joel Hagen, and Dana Berry. Kara Szathmary and Michael Carroll were absent, though Mike later joined us at our desert destination. At 11 A.M. a quorum was declared and we got down to business.

The items were quickly considered and dealt with one after another, each one unanimously voted. Agenda items and discussion results are as follows:

1. UK Incorporation. We resolved that IAAA set up an independent UK corporation for the purpose of fundraising providing IAAA parent organization retains control and all legal requirements are met.

2. Letter of Welcome. We resolved that the IAAA make a "Welcome Pack" which reflects our re-dedication to astronomical art and includes at least the following: a welcome letter, statement of advantages of being online, statement of our history, our aims, a generalized description of astronomical art, sample art, obligations of members, benefits of membership, (exhibitions, Pulsar, workshops), professional guidelines, dues, resources (bibliography), guidance from experienced IAAA members regarding administrative activities, workshop kits, an organizational chart, and the latest edition of Pulsar.

3. Project Coordinator/streamlining work. Whereas the IAAA is a volunteer organization, we resolved that a new post be created, "Chief Project Coordinator," on a one-year pilot basis, who’s duty is to facilitate and coordinate the volunteer activities of the membership.

4. Purchase of a CD-ROM writer. Themotion to buy a CD-ROM writer was tabled, because a writer is already potentially available to the membership. Ernie Blair proposed a Bryce resource disk , which the board discussed. It was concurred that it is not in the interest of the IAAA to be involved with this and other proposed group projects in an official capacity, but we offer our blessings to people wishing to undertake such projects.

5. An educator’s workshop. We resolved that to enhance the public awareness of astronomical art, the IAAA shall host a teacher or promising art student at one of our future workshops provided there are measures in place that indicate a high potential for good publicity. This endowment shall include room, board and conference costs only.

6. Exposure for Space Art. We resolved that to enhance the public awareness of the IAAA and astronomical art, we shall establish the post of Public Relations Director.

7. An Internal Video. Joel Hagen and Don Davis will make this, compiling footage from different, past workshops. No resolution.

8. IAAA T-shirts. Dismissed by unanimous vote.

9. Kim’s proposal for a collective video. Davis explained that it should be a collection of CG animation sequences. As a courtesy, the IAAA should be credited in any of these projects but discussion orbited around whether or not this should be discussed at the board level, concluding that no decision should be made at the organizational level.

10. IAAA Color Brochure and 11. Price Guide/Professional Guidelines. Folded in #2.

12. Video monitor. We resolved that motion graphic imagery should be included in future IAAA exhibitions, we shall investigate the most expeditious means of doing so.

13. IAAA Corporate Credit Card. Credit card idea is rejected.

14. IAAA Corporate Shipping Account Shipping account is to be explored further.

15. IAAA Domain Name. We resolved to purchase the domain name, "www.iaaa.org" and establish an independent, autonomous web site.

We moved to appoint the next president and vice presidents as members of the board.

We resolved that the IAAA rededicate itself to its original founding goals, namely: the study, practice and promotion of astronomical art.

We resolved that the Secretary shall record and archive the minutes of on-line board business. "Minutes" are a summary of the business transacted, not a running transcription.

We resolved that, provided there are no legal constraints, we shall change the name of our organization from the "International Association for the Astronomical Arts" back to its original name, "International Association of Astronomical Artists." Since the meeting Kara Szathmary has confirmed the feasibility of the return to our original name, and is attending to the legal paperwork.

After discussing board correspondence and item consideration, the board maintained the practice of considering all issues concerning the body. Don Davis volunteered as Secretary, archiving board e-mail discussion, with Jackie Burns providing backups.

We moved to draw up an IAAA general release and liability waiver form for all participants of future workshops. For each workshop, each participant shall sign this release. It shall be the responsibility of the workshop coordinator to collect these forms prior to the the workshop.

We agreed to conduct a membership survey, content of which will be discussed on-line.

We discussed a color brochure. Jackie suggested that we have a single sheet "leaflet." The consensus was that Jackie would print them on her color printer, rather than color litho. Discussion about content will be handled on-line. Joel volunteered to write the text.

Business cards and letterheads standardization was discussed, as was the appointment of a PR person both in America and in the UK.

After the board business was adjourned at 3:45 PM, PDT, 12 Oct 97, Mark Mercury and Dana Berry went their own ways. The next day, with David Hardy and Jackie Burns as passengers, Joel Hagen and Don Davis drove to the desert preserve.

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