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Member Astronomical League and International Dark-Sky Association

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AAS Membership and Operation

• Introduction
• Profile Of The Membership
• Operation And Officers Of The Society
• Dues And Benefits Of Membership
• How to Join the AAS

Introduction

The Austin Astronomical Society (AAS) is a club for people who are interested in any aspect of astronomy or the space sciences. We exist to provide a forum for like-minded individuals to share their love of the sky and their desire to explore it, both with other club members and with the public.

We are located in Austin, Texas, USA. Through informal ties with the Department of Astronomy at The University of Texas at Austin, our primary meeting and observing sites for many years were on university property in Austin. However, on March 31, 2000, we held the grand opening of our dark-sky site, the Eagle Eye Observatory, which houses the larger telescopes owned by the Society. The observatory will allow us to expand and improve our public education efforts. As part of this project, we have sought and received IRS approval as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations to the Society are tax-deductible.

Profile of the Membership

The 200-plus members of the Austin Astronomical Society (AAS) come from diverse backgrounds, with a wide range of special interests and levels of expertise. Some of our members earn their living as professionals in astronomy-related fields. Others are rank novices. All of our members are friendly, enthusiastic, and eager to share the wonders of the sky with others — with you!  See the personal astronomy/space science Web sites of some of our members.

Operation and Officers of the Society

The Austin Astronomical Society (AAS) is organized with a Constitution and set of By-Laws. All decisions affecting the Society are made by polling a quorum of the membership. The membership may elect to delegate certain decisions to the Executive Committee, which consists of seven elected officers, three elected Members-at-Large, and one elected Junior Member-at-Large.

The Society's elected officers for June 2008 through May 2009 are:

• President - Don Behrman
• Vice President - Cecile Shopen
• Secretary - Ron Carman
• Treasurer - Jack Estes
• Member & Public Relations Committee Chair - Jim Chandler
• Equipment Chair - Sean Leary (interim)
• Events Chair - Joyce Lynch
• Member at Large - Mark Lyon
• Member at Large - Skip Orrell
• Member at Large - Phil Schmidt
• Junior Member at Large - Darcy Phillips

The

Dues and Benefits of Membership

Membership in the Austin Astronomical Society (AAS) is open to all. We especially encourage young people to join the Society as junior members.  (See How to Join the Society.)

Dues.  Dues for regular members are $25.00 per year. Dues for household, junior, and senior members are $15.00 per year. These membership categories are defined in the Bylaws of the Society. Dues for persons joining in months other than September are pro-rated.  Dues for membership renewals are not pro-rated.  (If you wish to join the AAS, see How to Join the Society.)

Member dues provide the funds needed for ongoing maintenance and upgrades of Society equipment and facilities, including the dark-sky Eagle Eye Observatory. Dues also provide the funds needed to print and mail our monthly newsletter, Sidereal Times, to rent special equipment needed for observing at remote sites, and similar expenses approved by the membership.

Benefits of Membership

• Newsletter.  Society members receive our monthly newsletter, Sidereal Times, which contains the latest information about Society activities and articles written by members.
   
• E-mail list.  Current Society members who have e-mail accounts also may subscribe, free of charge, to the Society's internal e-mail list. Users of this list are protected from having their mail addresses published in each note. Any mail you receive from the list is simply addressed to a group address rather than showing each name separately. Persons who are not members of the list may not send mail to it. This offers some measure of protection against unwanted outside mail (spamming). For more information regarding the AAS automated e-mail list, contact us.
   
• Use of Facilities.  AAS members are also entitled to use all Society facilities and equipment.
   
• Optional Subscriptions.  Society members are entitled (but not required) to subscribe to Sky & Telescope and/or Astronomy magazines at reduced rates. For members, a one-year subscription to Sky and Telescope is $33.00 and a one-year subscription to Astronomy is $34.00. (The publishers' regular subscription for both magazines is $42.95.) Members who subscribe to Sky and Telescope also receive a 10% discount on merchandise from Sky Publishing.
   
• Astronomical League.  AAS is a member of the Astronomical League and as such AAS members also receive the benefit of AL membership: Receipt of AL's quarterly newsletter, The Reflector; a discount on books and products ordered through AL; and participation in the many observing clubs offered by AL and receipt of a certificate upon completion of the various areas of study.

How to Join the AAS.  For the steps to join the AAS, see How to Join the Society.