THE ORGANIZATION

The Milwaukee Astronomical Society is a nonprofit organization incorporated in the State of Wisconsin. The Society offers membership to all people of all ages. Founded in 1932, the Society was incorporated in 1934 and is recognized by all Federal and State of Wisconsin tax authorities as tax exempt. Membership dues and assessments, investments and savings, donations, bequests, endowments and income from programs sponsored on behalf of the general public fund the Society's activities and the operation of the Observatory, The Society does not receive State or Federal funding. The Society is governed by an eleven member Board of Directors elected to three-year terms by the membership, and by five officers elected by the Board. The MAS has no paid staff members. All services performed for the Society by its members are strictly voluntary.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to all individuals and families with an interest in learning more about the science of astronomy. Dues rates for all classifications are shown on the accompanying membership application form. Definitions of membership classifications are as follows:

• INDIVIDUAL - For single individuals and excludes any family members.  

• FAMILY - If more than one individual in a family is interested in membership, you should select this category. With it all members of your immediate family (spouses and children) are full members of the society with the important note that you may specify 3 additional names/emails to selected family members for correspondence which includes the Focal Point newsletter and receiving messages from the MAS Google Group. But for purposes of voting, only the primary household member is all allowed.  

• YOUTH - This category is individuals who are under the of age 21. A family membership for this classification is not available.

All Memberships expire Dec 31st. No prorating is given to simplify administrative tracking. An exception is new members joining between April 1 - Dec 31 whereby their membership expires Dec 31st the year after joining. New members are defined as those that have either never been a member of MAS regardless of membership type (youth, individual, or family) , or have let their membership lapse greater than one year.

NEWSLETTER

Membership in the Milwaukee Astronomical Society includes a subscription to our newsletter. The Focal Point is the newsletter of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society. It is published at least bi-monthly on the first week of January, March, May, July, September and November, and other months when needed. It is either e-mailed or sent via US Mail to the member’s home immediately after printing. It is also posted here on our website. The Focal Point contains news and articles pertinent to the Society and the amateur astronomical community. Each issue includes meeting information, Society officer contacts, and an events calendar along with news about the Observatory library and an Observatory Keyholder schedule. The Focal Point is considered the lifeline of the MAS.

WEBSITE

The MAS website is milwaukeeastro.org. Up to date information is available here including an event calendar, contact information and additional information about the organization. With membership you will be given access to the private information only available to members.

GOOGLE GROUP

The MAS maintains an email discussion forum via Google Groups.  Your email will be automatically added to this group. This forum is a primary means of hearing from other members at the MAS, and what is happening. It's also a great way to get familiar with the names of members at the club and their interests. Please keep in mind this is a private group so messages can only be seen by members.

THE OBSERVATORY

The MAS Observatory and Library, 18850 W Observatory Road, New Berlin, WI (one mile west of Calhoun Road) is available for members use any night a Keyholder is available. On Saturday evening, a Keyholder will open the Observatory and be available in instruct new members on the use of the equipment. A list of scheduled Keyholders for a six- to eight-week period is listed in the Focal Point and the website. Members are invited to participate in ongoing observing programs like variable stars, standard and grazing lunar occultations, deep-sky objects, and the planets, and in short-term projects like eclipses, comets, meteor showers, and auroras. Information on these observing programs are distributed by e-mail or on our website.

Members can use the Observatory grounds when unattended by obtaining the combination to the left hand lock on the entrance gate. This combination allows access to the Observatory’s parking lot and an outside electrical power connection. The lock is changed at least once a year during the winter (and more often as necessary) and all active members may have the combination.  Members who become active users of the facility and pledge to help maintain it on a regular basis may petition the Board of Directors for full Keyholder status at a cost of $50.

MEETINGS, CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS

The MAS conducts general membership meetings from September through May of each year. At the December meeting the Society sponsors an member's dinner at the observatory. Also the Society sponsors a picnic in July or August. Meetings are usually held on the third Friday evening each month, however the exact date can vary depending upon schedule conflicts. A 20 to 30 minute business meeting precedes the main program. The Society usually invites a professional astronomer or scientist for a formal one-hour long presentation about a topic of relevance to astronomy or the allied sciences.

If you wish to learn how to use the equipment at the observatory or have questions about your own equipment, we hold what we call the First Wednesday meetings. You can read about them here.

Occasionally, the Society sponsors a field trip in lieu of a membership meeting. A favorite trip in past years has been to the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, IL, with optional excursions to the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Museum of Science and Industry. The Society has also sponsored trips to Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WI, and the astronomy departments of UW-Madison and UW-Whitewater.

Once or twice each year the members gather for a camp outing in Northern Unit (Greenbush) of the Kettle Moraine State Forest or in Rib Lake Wisconsin. These weekend excursions usually occur in August, late-September or early-October for the purposes of escaping light polluted Milwaukee skies to pursue deep-sky observing at its finest. MAS “camp-outs” provide an opportunity for all members to enjoy their hobby in the great outdoors among fellow amateur astronomers.

There are dozens of annual star parties and astronomical conventions held around the U.S. every year. Astrofest, sponsored by the Chicago Astronomical Society and held at a camp near Kankakee, IL each September on a weekend near the New Moon, is one of the largest. The MAS usually provides a large participating contingent. Astrofest is famous for attracting huge numbers of telescope makers and celestial observers alike. It is a great place to see unique home-built equipment, observe under relatively dark skies, and share the camaraderie of amateur astronomy with enthusiasts from all over the US.

Document: Updated 06/28/2024