Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2006 08:45:31 -0400
From: arne <arne
Cc: 

I like Pamela's basic idea of tapping into the youth organizations,
such as Girl Scouts and perhaps Boy Scouts.  These groups typically
have things like merit badges, often related to science, and showing
them variable stars seems like a logical step.  Getting girls to
starparties automatically means boys will come too. :)

Not all activities have to be directly related to the number of
new members or colleagues.  We do many altruistic things, such
as making public the International Database, with the concept that
our organization *should* contribute to science, whether directly
funded for that activity or not.  Likewise, if Council deems E/PO
to be an important underpinning of the organization, then we can
educate, distribute materials, create classroom or group activities,
etc. without external funding (within reason, of course).  Such
projects also help in the public perception of the AAVSO and are

I think one of the major problems with HOA was not that the material
was deficient, but that it was not properly marketed and publicized.
I would be very surprised if Janet did not survey educators before
proposing HOA, so I don't think it was a product developed with the
hopes that "they would come".

We're going to be talking about the future directions of the AAVSO
in just a few weeks in Rockford.  I'd like to hear how people feel
education enters into that vision.  Pamela has proposed a way of
attracting young people to science (and of course, with the hopes
that a few of these or their mentors would become members in the
long term).  Mike Simonsen has proposed a beginner's program that
directly tries to bring in new members by hooking them on variable
star astronomy (not necessarily young people).  I'm sure others
have their own ideas.  Not all can be implemented simultaneously;
some are ideally suited for grant funding; some may just be general
education and others may be geared towards specific markets.  The
more ideas (and volunteers) we have, the more likely something will
happen.
Arne
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