President's Message April 2013
by Ed Haskell
At the March meeting I introduced high school senior Caitlin Wilson who has adopted astronomy as the topic for her Senior Project. I read from her project proposal and asked help from the membership in providing time and material assistance to Caitlin in her endeavor. I am happy to report that Skyscrapers his risen to the challenge and a number of members are providing components from their ‘spare parts boxes’ and that Bob Horton has agreed to mentor Caitlin in her project. As this help came forward Caitlin wrote the following to me:
Good Afternoon Mr. Haskell, I met with Bob on Tuesday, and had a tour of the Ladd Observatory and even had the chance to use the telescope to see Jupiter! Thank you so much for all of your help the past fews days. I really appreciate everything you, and all of Skyscrapers, have done for me. I hope to see you all soon!<br />
Thanks,
Caitlin Wilson
Caitlin is a very impressive young woman and it is a pleasure for us to be able to help her in these academic pursuits.
Without doubt this assistance was rendered for the best of reasons and exemplifies the willingness of Skyscrapers’ Members to help educate the public on matters astronomical wherever and whenever needed. However there is a direct benefit to Skyscrapers from the educational initiatives we undertake of which you may be unaware.
Some years ago Skyscrapers was confronted with property tax bills from the Town of Scituate which today would be about $2,400 per year. Bob Napier appeared a number of times before appropriate committees of the Town and argued that our public observing and educational undertakings were of significant public value and would suffer severe damage if a small society such as ours had to try to raise that kind of money. Eventually the issue was won and we enjoy an abatement of all property taxes in recognition of our contribution to the public in general and to school children in particular.
Last month I wrote of the positive impact on our budget of public viewing sessions. This seems a good opportunity to review the impact of this tax abatement that results solely due to our educational outreach efforts.
The tax bill approximates thirty percent of our annual budget. If we had to include funds to pay the taxes that have been abated then we would have to raise dues by nearly $25.00 per member if spread equally across the member classes. Put in context that would result in a dues increase of 50% for Regular Members and a proportionately larger percent for most other member classes (since their present dues are lower than Regular Membership).
Once in a while I hear from two or three members who grumble that we devote too much time to public outreach and education and who believe those resources could be better spent elsewhere. Since this is a very small percent of the membership I could just dismiss these complaints out of hand but instead the Board takes up the issue whenever raised and considers anew whether we are doing the right thing. Thus far the analysis has come down on the side of no change. I suspect that will continue to be the case, but the right thing is for those to whom you have entrusted the management of the Society to review old practices and policies and update them when the situation is called for.
Since I am writing about budgetary concerns I should point out that the proposed 2013-2014 Budget is included in this issue of The Skyscraper. Your questions are welcomed at any time.
I mentioned last month that my review of the Budget was stimulating a deeper look into a number of related matters. One of these is the preservation of the Society’s assets. Financial assets are primarily the concern of the Board of Directors, real and personal property are primarily the concern of the Board of Trustees, but inevitably the lines may blur slightly. I want to be absolutely clear that I have no present concern about the safety or dissipation of any of the Society’s assets. I do, however, believe that good management reviews periodically its controls to assure that assets are protected in the routine course of operations. To that end I have requested that the Treasurer and the Senior Trustee review their asset control policies and report, at a joint meeting of the two Boards, their degree of satisfaction and how that protection is accomplished. I expect nothing surprising to be reported, this is just good management practice.
The 2012-2013 term is drawing to a close and it is fitting that I thank the membership for the support and encouragement I and the other officers and board members and the Trustees have received over the past twelve months. It takes a lot of effort to carry on the work of the Society but I think it is true that all of us consider it a labor of love.
Ed Haskell President
