The AAA Annual Meeting – Amateur Astronomers Association

The AAA annual meeting was held on May 16 at Maxwell’s Bar and Restaurant in TriBeCa. We had a good turnout of 75 members at the end of a stormy day. Appetizers were provided and for dessert social chair Susan Andreoli ordered galaxy and AAA logo-themed cupcakes from Pink Canary Desserts in Long Island City.

Credit: Stan Honda Annual Members meeting at Maxwell’s Bar and Restaurant on Reade Street.

After a greeting by president Peter Tagatac, reports were given on club finances, investments, membership, Eyepiece, lectures, education, observing and astrophotography. Seven nominees for Board of Directors were voted in: Cecilia Almeida, Joe Delfausse, Stan Honda, David Kaufman and Peter Tagatac (3-year terms), Brian Berg (2-year term) and Bhaswan Kurra (1-year term).

Daniel Savin from Columbia University gave a short talk about his upcoming research on Mercury. Savin is a returning presenter, having delivered the February AAA Lecture at the American Museum of Natural History. Daniel then drew raffle tickets as several lucky members won prizes including a set of space/galaxy themed kitchen knives, a desktop “monolith action figure” toy based on the object from “2001: A Space Odyssey”, an AAA cap and two pieces of astronomy themed jewelry donated by member Mary Alford.