Minutes from Light Pollution Committee Meetings

Meeting of February 23, 1997 Summary by D. E. Jenkins

Roll: Al Jenkins-CAA, Steve Fishman-CVAS, Lauri Kunkel-ACA, Lisa Swing-Corney-ACA, Bill Perwitt-ACA, Greg Klocek-MVAS, Ken Lowther-MVAS, Three Member Council: Dawn Jenkins, Dan Rothstein, Carl Peck

Discussed our membership to International Dark-Skies Association IDA. Dawn Jenkins has not sent in dues. (This item has been handled as of March 1) Lisa mentioned that the IDA organization is understaffed. Carl asked Ken Lowther to send newsletters around to OTAA LP members who want to receive it.

Suggestions from LP Committee members:

William Prewitt - Get old folks writing to complain about bad street lighting that makes it hard to see when driving.

Bill mentioned the Anti-Urban Sprawl Group which hopes to save rural areas
Zoning to help make good lighting automatic
Passing Ordinances on building codes
Working at a State, County & Local Level

Steve Fishman suggested picking our battles and no pointing fingers. We discussed the counties that should be our targets.

Carl Peck - Get a list of Power Companies in Ohio

It was decided that OTAA should bring help to others
Carl suggested that All Astronomy Clubs have Light Pollution problems, which they should pass on the Light Pollution committee
IDA should give us handouts to hand out to the general public

We need to find allies, talk to people selling light fixtures & work on getting municipalities to retro-fit to more economic and efficient fixtures. We need to convince the sellers and consumers that it’s to their benefit to buy better fixtures.

Finding Allies and Fighting Battles we believe we can win.

Letter writing campaigns have proven effective in the past
Ask Astronomy clubs to identify their top 5 light pollution problems
Use the Media--Newspaper, Radio & TV
Perhaps each club can take their own area. Carl Peck suggested finding allies who are sympathetic to our cause. Educators, meteorologist, etc. who could give us support. Not necessarily in the form of money, but by endorsement.

Member clubs should identify their 5 top Problems

Before it was decided to adjourn, the next meeting was set for November 1997. (Note: Committee Members have scheduled a meeting in April or May of 1997, keep checking the OTAA Bulletin Board for the actual meeting date if you are not on the mailing list)

Summary of the OTAA meeting of November 17, 1996

Roll Call: Lauri Kunkel ACA, Dave Hartsel, RAS, Erik Hall, CAA, Lisa Swing-Corney, ACA, Carl Peck, RAS, Greg Crenshaw, ACA, Ken Lowther, MVAS, Steve Fishman, CVAS, Dan Rothstein, CVAS, Lou Poda, MSDC, Greg Klocek, MVAS, Dawn Jenkins, CAA

Light Pollution Discussion: Lisa Swing Corney suggested that OTAA join the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). The cost to OTAA (7 members) would be $50. We agreed to take this action as a first step only. [unfortunately your errant editor/council member/mother/etc. hasn’t sent that in yet, I’ll do it this weekend] We will add a Light Pollution page to our web site.

Conclusions, Suggestions or Actions OTAA may take in the future:

Do we want to back local, regional or national efforts? Some felt Grass Root efforts should come first while other felt that influencing National Policy could be helpful.

We need people and organizations interested in curbing light pollution for reasons other than astronomy, i.e. saving money, protecting natural resources, etc.

Check into EPA’s Project Green Light program.

Get facts on what others have done that succeeded and what efforts to reduce light pollution worked, i.e. cut-off fixtures

The Light Pollution Committee was formed:

Here is a list of those persons who are part of the official OTAA committee. Carl Peck, RAS, Co-Chair, Lisa Swing-Corney, ACA, Co-Chair, Ken Lowther, MVAS, official representative of OTAA to IDA, Erik Hall, CAA, Louis Poda, MSDC, Greg Klocek, Dawn Jenkins.
Other OTAA members are asked to designate an official representative.

It was decided the next meeting would be held during the same time as a regular annual meeting, tentative date of February 23, 1997. A definite course of action was not decided, we are just starting up what will be a sustained effort by this organization to curb light pollution.

This brief summary is respectfully submitted by Dawn Jenkins, February 5, 1997 This is as it appeared in the Winter 1997 issue of The Asteroid Belt

If you have any comments or suggestions for the O.T.A.A. Light Pollution Committee, please feel free to send them to cygnus@en.com
Beam back to OTAA's Light Pollution Link

Beam back to OTAA's unofficial page!

Beam me back, Astra!