Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 18:12:04 -0500
From: Donna Young <Donna.Young
Organization: Tufts University
To: Aaron Price <aaronp
References: <20060317204940.GF26700
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Aaron, since the benefit was originally for the Pontchartrain 
Astronomical Society, I suggest it stay that way. It would be better for 
them, as a local group, to disperse the monies for astronomy education. 
They are more aware of the audience than we would be. Project Star is 
extremely outdated and there are many more effective and interesting 
advertising for the local education population, and organizing a day of 
activities complete with resources. None of us would have a problem if 
country with even a week or two notice as long as we know the location, 
logistics, and intended audience... however, the advertising of the 
workshop, the acquiring of participants, finding a location, and not 
being familiar with the knowledge, needs,  and/or interests of the 
participants makes it more problematic. The cost would not be a problem. 
For such a workshop I would provide all my own transportation costs and 
the materials.... all of the monies you have could go to stipends for 
the participants. Then again, if you advertise stipends, that changes 
the applicant pool. If you decide on a workshop, it should be at least a 
year away. It might be more beneficial to purchase and send astronomy 
books to school libraries. Maybe the local astronomy group could 
determine what the needs are of maybe a particular school that suffered 
a lot of damage and donate to that school/library. Nighttime 
observations with educators would be ok except the skies are not 
great... and I am sure it is too dangerous for students and they 
probably cannot afford buses to travel to better skies....  so I guess 
what I am trying to say is that an assessment should be done as to 
exactly what would most benefit classroom teachers. I am more than 
willing to assist with anything you want to do.... and I think I have a 
repeat participant in one of my summer workshops who teaches within the 
area affected by Katrina... I will send him an email....

Aaron Price wrote:

>:) Over the past few months I have been organizing a campaign to raise funds for
>astronomy education needs in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. Originally it was 
>benefit for the Pontchartrain Astronomical Society but they have requested that the 
>funds be spent on astronomy education instead of donated directly to them. We raised 
>$2195 in the campaign.
>
>  Today I spoke with their president and he said they would like to see the funds spent 
>on an astronomy education workshop for teachers in the New Orleans area. The mentioned 
>specifically Project Star, which I believe came from TOPS which many members of this 
>committee were involved in (Mary? Pebble?).
>
>  I would like to know if the committee would like to help organize a workshop for the 
>teachers. I believe for $2200 we have enough money to fly one person out there for 2 
>nights to put on the workshop, purchase a few kits and give a $50 stipend to 15 
>teachers. Arne has agreed to donate HOA kits to the cause. Some questions I have:
>
>  + Is anyone here willing to fly to New Orleans to give such a workshop?
>
>  + Does anyone here have access to additional funds we could use, or know of places 
>where we could apply for small grants for this? It seems like an ideal project to get 
>grant money and I'm willing to invest time in writing applications if someone can point 
>me in the right direction.
>
>high school) teachers?
>
>  + Any other ideas, suggestions?
>
>
>Aaron
>
>
>_______________________________________________