Rodney opened the meeting at 8:53 and welcomed everyone. He commented that KVAS was started 53 years ago in 1954. 2007 was a good year for KVAS. Our money stayed about the same. We worked on some observatory projects and participated in Star Quest and Astronomy Weekend. We are going to hold the election tonight with ballots to vote on President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and those Board members who are coming off the board.

Treasurer’s Report:

First we are going to have the treasurer’s report by Rick Archer.

This year there were expenditures of $800 for electrical repairs to the observatory. Blackwater Falls weekend brought $300 net income. The membership dues brought in $700. Other items were $200 + spent for last year’s annual meeting, $125 to St. Matthews, $75 for the annual picnic and some other expenses like grass cutting, etc.

We spent $2,300 and took in $2,400. We have $3,000 in savings (CD) Our Total assets are $4,400. And the CD’s mature in October. We have $1,100 in our checking account.

The Board wants to put $500 a year away in savings towards the day we will need to replace the telescope out at Breezy Point, probably in about 5 years.

Chuck suggested we get a committee together to start looking for an item to raffle this year at BF Weekend. Rodney agreed and anyone who wants to work the committee should see Rodney after the meeting.

Rick Archer had one last appeal to make to the club and that is if we are ever going to undertake a large building project we will need to apply for grant money. We would have to be able to demonstrate community service. So please any education work that we do, please let him know so he can keep a record for future use.

Annual Elections

Rodney reported at last month’s meeting nominations were made for officers and Board Members. They were Janet Wilson and Rodney Waugh for President, Brent Ogle for Vice President, Patricia Shaffer for Secretary and Rick Archer for Treasurer. Two Board members were coming off the Board this term. They were Ron Buckalew and Melissa Thorner.

Ron had sent an e-mail saying he needed to drop out of the club completely due to health problems. Current Board members are: Chuck Spann, Rodney Waugh, Michael Riggs, Rick Archer, Patricia Shaffer, Robert Frostic and Lee Hanz.

Danny Blair asked to clarify if any candidate was contested for an office. Since Janet Wilson had sent an e-mail to Rodney earlier requesting her name be withdrawn, there was only one candidate left for each position. So Danny made the motion that the slate of candidates be put in office as presented and the nominations be closed. Ed Connors seconded the motion. Rodney called for a vote and it was unanimous to accept the slate of officers as presented to the membership.

Brent Ogle would now automatically fill one of the vacant Board positions, so nominations for the remaining position were made from the floor. Paul Daniel, Melissa Thorner and Robert Dean were nominated. Rodney read from the bylaws the following: To vote for the Board of Directors

There will be 1 ballot for each paid club member. This is how we will vote. The 3 people are Robert Dean, Melissa Thorner, and Paul Daniel. Take the Board of Directors Ballot for the 1^st Election and put the rest of the ballots back into the envelope. Rick Archer collected the ballots in the ballot box. Patricia Shaffer, Rodney Waugh and Rick Archer counted the ballots. The vote was a tie between Robert Dean and Melissa Thorner.

The process was repeated except the 2^nd Election ballot was used, this time Robert Dean was elected to the Board of Directors.

Ed Connors took a picture of the 2008 Board for the website.

Paul Daniel spoke up that Rodney, Rick & Robert did a lot of work on the observatory this year.