The More Things Change, The More They Remain the Same...

In 1973, Carolyn Hurless, of Lima, Ohio, AAVSO member and observer ("HR" made over 78,000 observations between 1959 and 1986) wrote to another member, saying:

"I have been in the AAVSO long enough to have observed how it's run and who does what. I have also spent my own money and time staying in Boston for a week at a time and going daily to the office to work on a volunteer basis--and in a few years it was apparent that anyone who criticizes the efforts of the AAVSO are doing so in the dark because one week there is an eye-opener....

"....it's what the AAVSO stands for that counts more than anything else...And that is the fact that we, the hobbyist can keep track of things in the sky and accurately report them to a main office that in turn keeps records so that when the pros need that information we have it.... If we didn't have the Journal, the News Notes, the Circular, and the reports and all that other paper work, I wouldn't be a bit unhappy--simply because I have the internal peace of mind that my observations are being used.

"Some people like to get a whole bunch of "stuff" from an organization they belong to because they paid in something, they gotta get something in return. For me, it is enough to know my money helps pay the rent and the cost of the office help to keep all these records. I have been at the office and when the monthly reports come in it is horrendous to think of the time it takes to remark each member as a dot on a piece of plot paper.

"....Can I possibly tell you the thrill I get when I use the addressograph machine and stamp out those over 200 envelopes, or when I spend 4 hours a month folding and stuffing envelopes the emotion of utter satisfaction that that gives me....well it does. I'm a queer duck to start with, and when I can serve as a small part of something worthwhile I am thrilled to pieces."

Twenty-seven years later, on February 3, 2000, Paul Norris, member and observer since 1996, who had this to say in an email to Director Janet Mattei, after his visit to AAVSO Headquarters:

"I want to thank you for allowing me to visit the AAVSO HQ. Sara gave an exceptional tour of the facility. After seeing what your staff is doing, it makes me wonder who is really doing the hard work: the observers or HQs. I think the cold bitter nights (and some time night critters) that some observers endure is not quite equal to the tasks that you and your staff is doing. The input of the data, checking the validity, answering phone calls, emails, faxes, planning both the Spring and Fall meetings....well the list goes on. Frankly, as an amateur, it makes me very proud to be associated with a professional organization. So I guess I need to get off my duff and start doing some more observations."

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