RTE & the Astronomy voice of Ireland

the IAS will not allow non-IAS members (and that includes members of other affiliated IFAS clubs!) to go out on its regular observing nights. Now that is clannish!

Hi Gordon,

I think this is due to one reason (though someone please correct me if I a wrong)...

Insurance.

It is probably hard to try and invite non-members to a club event if they are not covered by insurance. Until IFAS recently got a club-wide policy going, TAS was being quoted hundreds of €€€'s for a basic Public Liability premium. It would have made it difficult for us to have side-walk astronomy, and people out at our Observatory site.

Now, we can have whomever we want, as they are now covered. Prior to this, it was only members we told about stuff going on at the site to which they could come to.

Seanie.

the IAS will not allow non-IAS members (and that includes members of other affiliated IFAS clubs!) to go out on its regular observing nights. Now that is clannish!

Hi Gordon,

I think this is due to one reason (though someone please correct me if I a wrong)...... Insurance

Seanie is probably right as far as the IAS's reason's for not allowing non-members to go out on their observing nights athough, as I have had no dealings with them, I cannot say for sure. However, you yourself said that the SDAS do open their observing nights to the public and so do TAS! Where is the "clannishness" ( I know that's probably not a word!) there? Might I also point out that these observing sessions are free to members and non-members alike!
As for laying all the blame at DM's doorstep, I'm not. However giving the impression on radio that you need to be "qualified" or "have a background in science" to be able to join other clubs , associations or or societies certainly doesn't help!

[It is probably hard to try and invite non-members to a club event if they are not covered by insurance.

Seanie,

I can't quite see the validity of insurance being the reason. Club members can sue a club committee or other members for an accident in the same way as members of the public can. Yes, club members may be more reluctant to take an action but relying on their good nature in the absence of liability insurance could prove disastrous should an incident arise.

Gordon

However, you yourself said that the SDAS do open their observing nights to the public and so do TAS! Where is the "clannishness" ( I know that's probably not a word!) there? Might I also point out that these observing sessions are free to members and non-members alike!

No clannishness there at all. I only mentioned one club. I've never been to a TAS event but from what I read here, it seems to be a great club to be in.

Gordon

No clannishness there at all. I only mentioned one club. I've never been to a TAS event but from what I read here, it seems to be a great club to be in.

Gordon

Well, we are only a modest club... but can I use that quote Gordon??



Seanie.

I can't quite see the validity of insurance being the reason. Club members can sue a club committee or other members for an accident in the same way as members of the public can. Yes, club members may be more reluctant to take an action but relying on their good nature in the absence of liability insurance could prove disastrous should an incident arise.

Gordon

It was a valid reason for TAS during the late nineties. I don't know the full details, but even for a while after we bought the site and constructed the observatory, we could not really risk advertising ourselves about the site until we got insurance.

When it came to hosting the likes of Astrofest and Cosmos, we were covered by the venue concerned - we didn't need it ourselves. Now, we clearly state that members subscription helps cover them in case of accident under our care at the site and at observing sessions, but that if they go out to the site on their own and break a leg some Sunday for example, thats their hard luck. Because they are trespassing when TAS is not there. I don't know how this sounds, but some sort of coverage for all considerations has to be thought of.

Back to the point why some clubs appear clannish, this could be the heavy factor. AI does seem like an open club compared to other smaller clubs, true. But, AI has been able to secure the use of the scouts den (right?) in Wicklow for their starbeques etc. As have TAS secured the use of the Order of Malta for meetings and Annaharvey Horse Farm for Cosmos. Its just that for now, AI has had more impact in the publics eye due to (in my opinion) neglecting to mention the existence of all other clubs - which, according to him, potential members must have degrees to be able to enjoy them.(Even though I use sarcasm, its still valid - and not fair for TAS et all to be described by DM as being such clubs). There is nothing wrong with the way he describes other clubs - its just a cute way to get a message across that other clubs are not worth it.

Seanie.