Dear All,

By most accounts, our SA-IDA Mars party in October was a great
success.  Thanks to all who helped - - - with most special gratitude
to both Barbara and Robert Callanan.  Our next fire-pit party is
scheduled for the next total lunar eclipse.  Sorry for the long
delay, but it will not be until August 2007 !!!!!

For this month's section meeting of SA-IDA: we will be making plans
for next year.  Please send me your suggestions and I will make up an
agenda.  I am certain that next year will be even busier than this past year.

And again: bring a friend along - - - or a few.

For those who have not attended a meeting, we meet in the IDA
office.  Here is the address:

3225 N. First Ave., just North of Ft. Lowell

And here is the starting time:  5:30 PM  (and we do finish promptly at 7:00 PM)


Yours,
John Polacheck
President, SA-IDA

Here is a copy of the "Old Ideas"
list for SA-IDA - - - Many of these
"projects" could still be done, if
anyone is interested and/or has
the time, etc. !!!!

(Updated, but not proof-read)

1. Review of our resources.  Consider hiring a part time work-study student
    from the University of Arizona.  Such a person could help with secretarial
    type chores and/or could also be used to attend star parties or other
    educational events on behalf of SA-IDA. 

    The cost is very reasonable.  Good students are available. 

     Potential problem: liability insurance. 

2. Raising funds from the local professional observatories and/or more funds
    from TAAA.  These funds would be used by SA-IDA for local projects related
    to protecting the dark sky in Tucson and other parts of Souther Arizona.   Also,
    should we seek out more grant funding.

3.  Further evaluation of our mission. 

4. TAAA star parties.  Should SA-IDA have a presence at some or all of the
    TAAA star parties (and/or other such events) ???  Possibilities for other i
    nteractions with TAAA and its members.

These include:  (1) Creating a dark sky society within TAAA similar in
    structure to "TAL", TAAA's society for the Astronomical League. 
    (2) Working with TIMPA and TAAA (and Kitt Peak) to improving the lighting
    near the TIMPA site.

5. Border Issues - - - Again !!!

6. Status of the Outdoor Lighting Code for the City and County.  Also, any report
    regarding billboards ???  There is really lots that could be done here !!!!!

7. Consider a Don Higgins' Memorial  SA-IDA/TAAA project:  having TAAA
    members check their own homes regarding the quality of outdoor lighting
    and to make dark-sky friendly changes where needed.  That would also be
    a good time for TAAA members to check their neighborhoods for the quality
    of outdoor lighting and to establish plans for improving any lighting which is
    not dark-sky friendly.

8. Should we consider developing a different sky brightness/darkness
     measuring device based upon the 4th grade student's ideas as modified by 
     the low vision professor's suggestions ???

     Or, a device using a light sensitive chip ???

9. Should SA-IDA play any role in developing and popularizing other methods to
     quantify light pollution or measure the darkness of the sky at different locations ??? 
     These could include the any following:  (1) Identifying several "easy-to-locate"
     constellations which have different magnitude stars (like Ursa Minor, the little dipper). 
     (2) The use of a standard CCD image of "sky-glow" which could be sent, via an E-mail
     attachment, to a central location for processing and measurement.  (3) CCD photometry. 
     (4) Taking photographic or CCD images at different exposures until the "fog" is equal to
     the dimmest rate-limiting stars.

     IDA is already working idea number (1) above but Tucson has many amateur astronomers
     who are "experts" in some of these areas (not to mention the plethora of professional
     astronomers whom we could consult).

     Should we seek help from TAAA members ???

10. Consider awarding another excellence in outdoor lighting award.
   (St. Mary's Hospital, Lowes, Ace, other possibilities) ??? Others ?????

11. Further follow-up regarding hardware stores: Home Depot, Lowes, and Ace.

     Field reports regarding the Glarebuster at Ace.  Follow-up news regarding the
     availability of other new lighting fixtures in stores here in Tucson stores. 

    Should we design a display for these stores, etc., etc., etc..  Again, there is a
    lots that could be done here !!!!!

12. Hang up a Hubble Shield at the White Stallion Ranch in Marana. Elsewhere ?????

13. Creating a telephone "tree" for SA-IDA.

14. Walgreens: A local survey ???  Should we contact their national office ???
     Also, follow-up regarding the recently installed shields at their store on St.
     Mary's Rd. and Silverbell.

15. Special Arizona license plates - - - progress ???

16. Arizona State legislation

17. Report from IDA: Model lighting code, "seal of approval" for
      outdoor lighting fixtures, Billboard possibilities, "gossip from other
      chapters (Flagstaff and Phoenix, other)

18. Developments regarding outdoor lighting to be installed at the expand
     Christopher Columbus Park. 

     Should we be getting involved at other County Parks or other County facilities,
     for example the Animal Shelter, Sports Park, Old Tucson, etc......

     LOTS OF THE LIGHT POLLUTION IN TUCSON COMES FROM THESE SOURCES !!!!!

     What about a simple program to get these facilities turn off their lights when the
     facilities are not actively being used ?????

19. Should we start a campaign to have business turn off out-door lights promptly
      when they close for the evening, for example automobile sales lots ???

20. The golf park near Costco, Home Depot, I-10. The New Marriott Hotel at Starr Pass.

21. Media publicity for SA-IDA. The possibility of an hour-long radio show.
     Also, other radio and TV shows, Newspapers, TAAA, etc......

     WE NEED MORE ARTICLES FOR THE TAAA NEWSLETTER (ONE PER MONTH)

22. Website improvements and links to other sites. 

     OUR SA-IDA WEBSITE GETS THOUSANDS OF "HITS" PER MONTH !!!!!

23. Glare buster shields from GE. Also, the Bob Goff fund for light
     pollution.  Also, coordination with the Ed Vega fund.

24. The SA-IDA CD.  It's great !!!!  How can we use it better ???

25. Consider contacting TRICO regarding bad outdoor lighting in the
     Three Points area. 

26. Desert Museum, Saturday nights.  Should we consider also going there in the
      afternoons also ??? 

27. Should we try to contact the Audubon Club regarding another presentation,
      for example sustainable lighting ???  Or, participating again at their Ironwood
      festival ???

28. Next year's student science fair, especially planning for publicity. 

      Are we going to design and print a poster ???  Contact schools or
      teachers ???  Project Astro ???  Etc.......

      Also, are we going to become an official sponsoring organization next
      year ???  If so, arrangements need to be made soon (and that assumes
      our continued commitment to awarding prizes and judging).

29. Any thoughts for having more SA-IDA field trip meetings ??? 

30. Follow-up on the high school community service dark sky projects.

31. SA-IDA pens

32. SA-IDA handouts at local astronomy stores.

      Also, national (international) distribution).

33. Participation at national star parties in the Tucson area by SA-IDA.

34. Do we want to do anything special for next year's IDA International
      Annual Meeting ???  Presentation{s) ???  Tour{s} ???  Display{s}  Etc.

35. Inviting members of the University of Arizona's undergraduate astronomy
      club to attend SA-IDA activities.

36. Follow-up with light pollution issues near the Vega Bray Observatory. 
     Could Benson become another Dark Sky City ???  What about Oro Valley ???

37. Members night at TAAA. What should we present ???  Also, suggestions for articles
      in their newsletter. 

38. Progress report from the SLC, the Sustainable Lighting Committee.

39. Kitt Peak docent training

39. Electrical energy saving ideas, especially as if pertains to out-door lighting

40. Sound Bites and Hooks for SA-IDA

41. Should we consider attending some TAAA Star Parties ???

Should we again ask TAAA for help ???

42. Again, should we consider "paid" volunteers (scholarship students) ???

43. Problematic outdoor lighting at the Starr Pass Marriott, Church's Fried
     Chicken, and Ironwood Avenue

44. Planing for next year's Saturday evening Ironwood Picnic Area Celebration,
     the so-called "Harvest Moon" Nature Party  

45. Follow-up on the new Rio Nuevo site.  Should we help monitor the plans
     and/or new construction in the area ??? 

46. Follow up meetings at the Benson City Council and the Oro Valley Zoning Board.

47. Continued follow-up from the Tucson Airport.

48. An "honorable mention" award to Temple Emanuel for their quick response to a complaint.

49. A letter to the fashion store on St. Mary's Rd. (at Silverbell)

50. Any new obtrusive lighting complaints and/or follow-ups. 

     HOW CAN WE HAVE BETTER FOLLOW-UP ON THESE NEXT YEAR ????

51.

52.

53............................