We'd like to encourage our membership to meet locally and sponsor an Armand Spitz Regional Meeting.  The goal is to share techniques, lesson plans, related technology and presentations with area colleagues. 

Funding is available to help host Armand Spitz Regional Meetings.  Please contact Sam Storch (Secretary) or Patty Seaton  (President) for more information.
 

[  MINI-GRANT INFORMATION  ]
Microsoft Word Document File
ARMAND SPITZ REGIONAL MEETINGS

Armand Spitz Oil Painting 1952

PAST MEETINGS:  of 2007

GASPRA Gathering at Novins Planetarium in Tom's River New Jersey
GASPRA = Garden State Planetarium Resource Association

PAST Monday August 20th, 2007
Novins Planetarium
Ocean County Community College
1 College Drive
Tom's River New Jersey 08753-2239
Gloria Villalobos
gvillalobos@ocean.edu
732-255-0400  x 2111

Gloria Villalobos (Director and MAPS President-Elect) will review the latest happenings at Novins.  Rich Gamba can provide an update on Save the Planetarium Fund efforts.  Bring your favorite constellation story, short talk or lesson plan to share in the planetarium.  The rest is up to you.  Share what's going on in your facility, ideas, or brainstorm on how we can work together, theater demos, or anything else you think may be of interest to your fellow planetarians.

All with interest in planetarium education or astronomy education are welcome to attend.  This meeting is not limited to those living in New Jersey.

 
PIPS Powerful Interactive Planetarium Systems

On July 23rd, the Suits-Bueche Planetarium at the Schenectady Museum held a one day PIPS meeting.  Hosts for the conference were Planetarium Manager, Steve Russo and Assistant Planetarium Manager, Megan Dominguez.

There were 22 people who attended this meeting, from several different states. Represented were folks from college planetariums, museum planetariums, and private portables.  They came from New York, New Jersey and Massachusettes.

Along with seeing a planetarium show, there were demonstrations of the GOTO Chronos, lessons in the Starlab, free handouts from planetariums and NASA, and viewing of soil and rock samples brought back from the Apollo missions. 

Breakfast and Lunch was supplied by Learning Technologies, and GOTO.

Steven LJ Russo
Planetarium Manager
Suits-Bueche Planetarium

Past Monday  July 23, 2007
Suits-Bueche Planetarium
Schenectady Museum
Schenectady New York  12380
Steven LJ Russo
518-382-7890  X 253
Megan EN Dominguez
518-382-7890  x 227

If you have not had a chance to catch a PIP's group in action, you are missing out on a great learning opportunity !   PIPS is the Powerful Interactive Planetarium Systems that is associated with Learning Technologies.  Be ready to have an engaging day filled with activities, ideas and useful lessons.  Steve Russo and Megan Dominguez want attendees to know they have the whole place to themselves.  "We have new exhibits about alternative fuels, power generation, and the famous 'Bridge of Fire.'"  There will be no charge for this meeting and lunch will be provided by Ken Miller from GOTO and the Schenectady Museum.  A more detailed agenda will follow by June, along with a listing of hotels in the area.

Agenda of Past July 23, 2007  PIPS at Schenectady:

Marylanders, Washington Metropolitan Area"ers" and all interested

PAST  May 5th 2007
H.B. Owens Science Center
9601 Greenbelt Road
Lonham-Seabrook, Maryland
Prince George's County Public Schools, Maryland
 

The goal of this local group of planetarium directors, science/astronomy educators and all interested is to share what is happening in their facilities.  Consider demonstrating a successful mini-lesson, share future plans for facility and technology use, and share challenges you face. If you are in a new position, consider this an excellent opportunity to meet with your celestial neighbors. 

 Past  Tuesday May 15, 2007
North Penn Planetarium, North Penn High School
1340 Valley Forge Road
North Penn School District, Pennsylvania
215-853-1263 (Planetarium)
Dan Zielinski

 Here are some highlights from the past meeting.