Open Letter to AI/A&S Ltd. (2)

Dear A&S Ltd.,

I am an A&S Magazine Subscriber (Astronomy Ireland member) - I will be attending the A&S Ltd. event 'Astro Expo' this weekend.

I would like to express my disappointment that my local club, South Dublin Astronomical Society, was denied representation at your event (I was previously informed by one of your volunteers that the event was open to any club/society in Ireland - this information must have been incorrect)

Could you please clarify your position regarding the promotion of astronomy in Ireland? - If you are not interested in the welfare or promotion of local clubs/societies I think this is at odds with your publicly stated position.

Finally, as a member of Astronomy Ireland, I would like to see a copy of the most recent accounts for the club. As a member I am entitled to see these accounts; I want to see how my membership money is being spent. If you cannot forward these directly to me, then please tell me the name of your treasurer so I can contact him directly. Alternatively, tell me how I can obtain a copy from the Companies Registration Office.

Thank you,

John Honan

Reply received from David Moore (AI). He also asked me to point out that he responded to my email while under time pressure finalising the arrangements for Astro Expo.

Let me clarify.

Every individual in Ireland is indeed invited. Doesnt matter what club or clubs they belong to.

Astro-Expo is an Astronomy Ireland event. Astronomy Ireland will be the only astronomy club exhibiting at this event.

I would have thought that was common sense. I don't know who told you otherwise but I'm sure it was a genuine mistake. Would you expect TESCO to invite SPAR or SUPERVALU to exhibit at an event that TESCO organised?

That said every member of SDAS (and indeed every other club in the world) is welcome to Astro-Expo. Indeed, please do what you can to get them along.

There is no dis-respect intended to any club, in this country nor any other country.

Regards,

=====
David Moore BSc FRAS,
Chairman, Astronomy Ireland, P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5.
Editor, "Astronomy & Space" magazine.

Would you expect TESCO to invite SPAR or SUPERVALU to exhibit at an event that TESCO organised?

Cheers,
~Al

TYPICAL RESPONSE indeed, nothing else expected
Yes indeed Al, the caption says it all, it's time for "the converted" to promote real Astronomy in Ireland, I want some IFAS posters do download so I can bring them with me to events that I visit from now on
Charles

Excellent Albert,
I couldn't say it better, and that explains why he will never be in IFAS.
I don't know whay any of yee bother with him..............

Jaysus Al, you just have too much time on your hands! :roll:

So we're all _invited_ to Astro-Expo. Fair enough. Rather than looking on Astro-Expo as an AI event, how about we look on it as an ASTRONOMY event. Tesco may not invite Super-Valu to one of their parties, but if there was a supermarket retailers trade-fair on ...
Besides, I think a confident company would not be afraid of competition. Tesco regularly tell us that they are cheaper than others, and they show us too in price comparisons displayed in their shops. Didn't see anything like that last time I was in Artane!
What's the moral? Support your local astronomy club, and shop in Dunnes Stores while you're at it!

Irish Astronomical Society.
The Difference is ... We're Irish!
:twisted: