Re: Press/ Talk in Ventura CA

[Chris Albertson <chris@topdog.pas1.logicon.com>]

Tom Droege wrote:
> 
> One or two of you might get a call from Terri of the Daily Herald.
> (Batavia, IL)  I just
> did an interview brought on by a write up in the Ferminews.  She showed
> interest in talking to some of the rest of tass.  She has the AAS press
> release phone list.  Be sure to explain in language suitable for the
> general public.

This reminds me,  I have been meaning to ask this and keep forgetting.

I got a call from someone looking for a speaker for a (somewhat) 
local astronomy club.  He described what must be a typical club,
200 members, 50~100 at meetings.. All very much interested in
astronomy (enough to get up and go to a meeting) but widely varying
technical backgrounds.

I agreed conditionally to a 1 hour talk.  I said it would only be
interesting if I could get support from other TASS members, other
wise I'd just be talking about myself.  I'd need material contributed
from those doing work.  Pictures, pictures.  That is
what people like to see.  Pictures of yourself, your equipment and
then stars.  After that graphs and plots of data.  To keep 
a group's attention for
an hour I'd have to roll together some personal stories with pictures
of the person, some technical stories and some science.  Anyone
have source material to contribute?  Anyone want to be an editor?
Newspaper clips, Post cards that show the area where a TASS site
is located,  Anything.  I will wait until my MkIII system is working,
debugged and routinely productive before I agree to give the talk.  So 
we are looking at a date this summer.  I figure on putting all material
onto 35mm slides.  These slides would be available to others who may
be invited to speak.  Ideally I'd like a full tray of 80 slides
put that is a +lot+ of work to prepare.  I don't really want to spend
that many hours preparing the presentation but also don't want to
go unless I can do a good job.  So I am hopping for material from 
others that I can reuse.  I will of course, state that I cannot
speak for the whole group but in the minds of most listeners I will
be doing just that no matter how many disclaimers I make.  So I'd
like to be inclusive and I'd welcome suggested outlines, topics
to cover, advice, photos or whatever,

The club is in Ventura CA.  If anyone else is local and would be
willing to go there let me know, the more the better.


-- 
--Chris Albertson

  chris@topdog.logicon.com                Voice:  626-351-0089  X127
  Logicon RDA, Pasadena California          Fax:  626-351-0699