Can the Clear Lake Area Chapter Continue?

It’s time for some straight talk about the future of our local Chapter. I know that our lives are all full of distractions, and that we’ve lost key members to the Grim Reaper and other perils.

We did cancel our June meeting due to forecast inclement weather. However, both the August and the September meeting failed to gather a quorum of members. If our upcoming annual meeting this coming Tuesday, October 15th, also fails to gather a quorum, I’m going to be forced to look into officially downgrading our Chapter to an Outpost.

I really don’t want to do that. We’re squarely in the heart of manned spaceflight activity for this nation. But, with rare exceptions, we’ve failed to make any connections with today’s space professionals.

We do have planned activities coming up. For next month, on November 19th, if his health permits my father Kenneth Bowen will return and share some of his memories of the Apollo and Shuttle programs…and this time, cross your fingers, we’ll do so with a better audio/visual and recording setup. And while we’ll never be able to replace Miss Anita Gale’s legendary hospitality, my parents have also volunteered to host us in their home for a Christmas season get-together on December 7th. Our friends from the North Houston chapter are welcome to join us for that, as well!

So let’s hope that we can see some of the faces which may not have graced our conference room in months, or years. The Clear Lake Area Chapter will meet on Tuesday, October 15th in the conference room of the Bay Area Community Center in Clear Lake Park beginning at 6:30 p.m. The address is 5002 NASA Road 1; Seabrook, Texas. The Community Center is north of NASA 1, away from the lake; enter through the side door adjacent to the parking lot as the main entrance may be locked after 5:00 p.m. A Zoom meeting option will also be available for the Chapter business portion of the meeting; information is posted below and on our Chapter web site.

We will be voting on Chapter officers and directors at this meeting, and we are looking for some new blood! So we welcome your input, your nominations, and your future participation. Remember, candidates for Chapter office must be, or must agree to become, members in good standing of both the National Space Society and the Moon Society. Director eligibility is as listed:

President (currently held by Eric Bowen)
Vice President (currently held by Doug Hall)
Treasurer (currently held by Jay Lewchanin)
Secretary (currently vacant—volunteers?)
Director, Position 1 (currently held by Marianne Dyson)
Director, Position 2 (currently held by Keith Dauzat)
Director, Position 3 (vacant)

For the Director position, Position 1 must be held by a member of BOTH the National Space Society and the Moon Society. Position 2 must be held by a member of the National Space Society, and Position 3 must be held by a member of The Moon Society.

This meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and run to just before nine (when the facility closes). The business portion should start about 7 p.m. We’re planning to offer a few light refreshments and bottled water; your own contributions are also welcome of course!

Eric Bowen is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Clear Lake Area Chapter Annual Meeting
Time: Oct 15, 2024 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86114110778?pwd=GiaRQQtYl06yyBusTtlZwJuWSpzPlW.1

Meeting ID: 861 1411 0778
Passcode: 029746

—

One tap mobile
+17193594580,,86114110778#,,,,*029746# US
+19292056099,,86114110778#,,,,*029746# US (New York)

—

Dial by your location
• +1 719 359 4580 US
• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
• +1 253 205 0468 US
• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
• +1 305 224 1968 US
• +1 309 205 3325 US
• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
• +1 360 209 5623 US
• +1 386 347 5053 US
• +1 507 473 4847 US
• +1 564 217 2000 US
• +1 646 931 3860 US
• +1 669 444 9171 US
• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
• +1 689 278 1000 US

Meeting ID: 861 1411 0778
Passcode: 029746

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kmXm6gRuR