reaching for the stars - centre for astrophysics and...

KNVWS Gooi en Vechtstreek

Reaching for the stars

The (ongoing) transformation of an amateur astronomy association

Lynn van RooijenAugust 2015


KNVWS Gooi & Vechtstreek

Amateur astronomy association, formed 80 years ago

Star parties

Lectures by professionals

Presentations for schools, groups

Courses

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Amaateur assoc., 30 km from Amsterdam. 150 members, 25 or so active. Long history.


Where were we in 2009?

No “home”

A big dream

€4000 in the bank

Small (declining) membership base

Some EPO experience

Demographics

Lousy economic conditions

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Star parties held in open fields, no electricity, no bad weather alternatives. Aging membership, leaning on a handful of active members. Small club with a balanced budget, but not much more.


The Opportunity

A permanent observatory in a new building

In cooperation with “Natuur-monumenten”, a large, national conservation organisation

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Presentation Notes

For 25 – 30 years, talks with various organisations, no take-up. Then in 2009, NM was planning an expansion of the visitors center and looking for a USP. Local management enthusiastic.


The prelude

“Trial marriage”

Lobby work with national organisation

Begin with professionalisationof our own organisation & image

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To test the waters, we started holding some of our events on the grounds of NM. Match seemed good. National management not so enthusiastic. Saw us as a club and not an EPO organization. True tosome extent – one of the challenges.


The preparation

Professional documentation

• Annual report• Strategic plan• Project plan• Operational Budget• Project Budget• Promotional material

Lobby work (internal & external)

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Presentation Notes

One of the most important reasons we have been successful (in hindsight) is our documentation to accompany subsidy applications. We also spent much time lobbying both with local governments and with NM (and had some internal selling to do too!).


The Plan 2+ years from conception to

plan approval

Building phase 8 months

Divide investment

• We: equipment• NM: building

Secure funding

• Internal• Funding from (local)

governments and charitable organisations/sponsors

Reduce operational funding risk

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Presentation Notes

Because the visitor’s center is located in a designated monument, plan approval was more complicated that otherwise. Also, due to size of NM, the selection of a contractor had to follow strict European rules. The basic division was that NM would fund the building (although we would pay much of this back in coming years) and we would fund the telescopes and other equipment. Since we had little to do with the building phase (for good or bad), we concentrated on acquisition of funding during the building phase.


The project

5 years and counting

New multi-functional building next to existing visitor’s center

• Restaurant/café• Bicycle rental• Meeting room• 1st floor Observatory

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Ultimately everything takes longer than planned… we are now in the 6th year since we reached an agreement in principle with NM. The plan was to build a new, multifunctional building next to the VC. Due to the monument-status and zoning commissions, this had to have the appearance of a “barn” since the property had included a barn on that spot 200 years ago. The building was to house a badly-needed restaurant, a bicycle rental, a meeting room and the observatory.


The price-tag

“Reach for the stars” budget (for us!)

€65,000 for equipment

Divided into 3 phases over 4 years

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Presentation Notes

Drawing up the budget, necessary for the subsidy applications, was an interesting exercise: shoot high or low? Ultimately we decided to draw up an ideal budget, and hope for ½. Total about €65000, divided into phases.

The execution

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Presentation Notes

A first for both architect and contractor – and this created problems. Also, the 1st floor, steel construction. Pillars 10m into ground, 45cm diameter.

The execution

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An advantage to being in a nature preserve: entertainment during construction! Storks nesting next to observatory: a second use for the telescopes.


The problems

Inexperience architect & contractor with observatory requirements

Construction delays & mistakes

Not paying = less influence on process, decisions

Imbalance in size of organisations

The pay-off(all’s well…?)

Funding

Local governments: €23,000

Charities & service clubs: €14,000

Private/business/ member donations:€19,000 +

Club reserves: €8,000


The Challenges

Managing volunteers vs. paid employees

Managing change: many old patterns, moving too fast for some

Creating an attractive environment for all ages, particularly youth

Moving from free to paid events

First Visitors

Diversity!

March 20th

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Special events

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Courses and birthday parties

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A special birthday party…


EPO assistance

Particularly NASA, but also ESA and mission-specific partners

NASA becoming more internationally oriented

EPO programs and access to (free) information, teleconsmet mission specialists:

• Solar System Ambassadors (applications open again September 1st)

• Museum Alliance

• Night Sky Network

• GAVRT 34m radio telescope


Future plans

Fully operational Fall 2015

Planetarium

Expand projects with schools, own course offerings

Pro-am cooperation

Robotic operation

Meteorology


In sum…

A seemingly impossible dream…

A long rocky road…

(more than) Our share of mistakes…

… but the rewards are great!

reaching for the stars - centre for astrophysics and...

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