MINUTES SA-IDA MAY 8, 2002  MEETING 

1. Meeting called to order by acting President John Polacheck at 5:32 pm.  Members present (10) introduced
themselves. 

2. Earth day at the University of Arizona was a success. There was a telescope for solar observing present. Two
hundred or so students were able to see sun spots. Good lighting brochures were handed out. One worry was the
lack of help.
 
3. The Ironwood Festival will be this Saturday at 8751 N. Thornydale. SA-IDA's exhibit will include material
on dark skies and light pollution as well as a telescope for observing. Several members present volunteered to
assist, Scott Davis is coordinating the IDA effort (scott@darksky.org). They will arrive between 1400 and 1430
hours to help set up the exhibit. 

4. Dean Koenig will air a promotion for SA-IDA on the LETS TALK STARS radio program. It needs to be in
the form of a public service announcement (www.letstalkstars.com) . 

5. The idea of telephone trees to get information to members without e-mail was discussed. This would be for
meetings or events occurring without much advance notice. Joe Frannea and Dick West volunteered . The goal
is to have enough volunteers so that no more than 4 or 5 telephone calls will have to be made by each person. 

6. John Polacheck brought up a sound idea first suggested by Eddie Vega. It will be an article on lighting in one
or both of the weekly newspapers. This will be followed up on later. 

7. Mark Meyer has been compiling data on billboards. There are at least 300 or so in the city and county which
are non-compliant.  Eller has been fined $10,000 dollars for one near Armado. He was fined another $3,000 for
one near Dodge and Ft. Lowell. He had 60 days to comply on this later one but has not. Mr. Meyer is asking for
help in cataloguing these awful billboards. The help will be driving Mr. Meyer around for 2 or 3 hours an
evening while he writes down data on these billboards.  John Polacheck, Josie LaFalla, and Dick West will
assist. More volunteers will be needed. More on bad lighting and compliant forms below.

8. A strategy for getting an exhibit on light pollution, lighting, dark skies, and astronomy was discussed. The
aim here is to involve as many schools as possible. Consequently Sheila Tepper has been corresponding with
Mr. Jack Johnson. SA-IDA needs to forward a letter of intent, provide judges who are knowledgeable in the
above areas, ideas for projects (especially for the younger children), materials, and guidance. It is particularly
important that judges show up and not disappoint the children. John Polacheck suggest going through
PROJECT ASTRO also. A prize or gift in the 100 dollar range was discussed for the winners.  Dean Koeing has
stated he may help. If for example SA-IDA contributes 25 dollars, he will add 25 dollars for a gift certificate. 
Along these lines Scott Davis will be at Pueblo high school next week talking about lighting and its ill affects
on night time skies. 

9. John Polacheck will seek permission to publish Rik Hill's timely and disturbing letter on light pollution near
Mr. Hill's eastside home in the next Tucson Amateur Astronomer Association (TAAA) newsletter. John will
also go to next TAAA meeting hoping to enlist new SA-IDA members.

10. Brian Smith who lives in the Three Points area updated members on the 100 low sodium glare busters near
his home. To combat these as well as poor lighting forced upon him by unsympathetic neighbors, Mr. Smith has
come up with the idea to publish articles in local area newsletters on light pollution, lighting codes, and who to
contact with complaints. He asked for suggestions and was informed by Scott Davis that IDA has over 185 info
sheets on it's web site (www.darksky.org) for use. Mr Davis will help get material together. This is a worthwhile
idea for any of us who live in communities with newsletters where bad lighting occurs. It was also brought up it
is best for those who live near the bad lighting to fill out and mail in a complaint form. This form will be
available on the SA-IDA web site (www.sa-ida.org) . These forms should be completed and returned to the IDA
office per instructions on the form in care of SA-IDA. They will then be reviewed by Chris Monrad. He has
devoted much time filing these forms to the right officials and following up on them until appropriate,
hopefully, action is taken. Mr. Monrad also showed a picture of a fluorescent yard light being sold by HOME
DEPOT as a replacement for the mercury vapor light. This light is not compliant. A picture of this fixture will
be posted on our web site. Mr. Monrad also reported that the county is better at enforcing the lighting codes than
the city. Sharon Bronson's ( on the county board of supervisors) philosophy is to enforce the lighting codes as
they are the law. Senior members of IDA meet with city officials on the 8th of May. IDA members asked the
city to implement codes much like the ones in Pima county. The city attorney has reservations with the county's
codes. Derald Nye gave a report of the eroding night sky in the Corona De Tucson area. Development nearby as
well as the raceway combine to increase unwanted sky glow. Chris Monrad stated there is a code from 2001
which governs sports lighting but even with it there are still problems. 

11. Bob Goff fund. There are about two hundred dollars in the fund. A representative said the GE company may
give SA-IDA 100 shields but the status of this gift is unclear at this time. 

12. More discussions about granting awards for good lighting. To be discussed in the next few meetings. 

13. Meeting adjourned 7:32 pm. 

Respectfully submitted, 
Dick West, Secretary SA-IDA

(Minor corrections by Joe Frannea)