Contact the SBAU

Officers:
President - Jerry Wilson
E-mail -  
Vice President - Baron Ron Herron
E-mail -
Secretary - Andy Allen
E-mail -
Treasurer - Pat McPartlin
E-mail -  
Appointed Positions:
Outreach Coordinator - Chuck McPartlin  964-8201
 E-mail -
Newsletter Editor - Tom Whittemore
E-mail - newsletter@sbau.org
Equipment Coordinator - Art Harris
E-mail -  
Events Coordinator - Diane Welcenbach
 E-mail - events@sbau.org
Webmaster - Tom Totton
E-mail -  
Merchandise Manager - Pat McPartlin
E-mail - merchmgr@sbau.org
 
SBMNH Astronomy Programs Manager -
805-682-4711x164


Want to Join the SBAU Club?

Annual Membership rates are:
$20 for Individual (or your whole family - one email or address)

Here is how you can become a member:

1.  Come to a club meeting or outreach and join-up in person.  See our Events Calendar page for meeting and outreach times.  We Meet at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History for First Friday meetings and Second Saturday Star Parties.    Please fill out this New Membership Form, then hand the completed form and dues to any SBAU officer at any SBAU event.
(The Form requires Adobe Reader)

Make Checks payable to:
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History" or "SBMNH"

Are you just renewing your membership?  Use this Renewal Form

2.  You can also mail your completed form and check to:

Astronomical Unit
c/o SBMNH
2559 Puesta Del Sol Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93105

 Thank you for your membership!

 

Duties of the elected SBAU Officers
>> See SBAU Newsletter for current officers and appointed positions

SBAU President
-Provides leadership and presides at AU meetings.
-Initiates communication often between meetings with club Officers and appointees to follow up on plans and regular activities.
-Has general charge of the business and other affairs of the SBAU.
-Works with planning group to set goals, organize programs, and work with the SB Museum of Natural History.
-Directs an ongoing review and update of the SBAU’s programs and goals.
-Coordinates with Secretary and Events Coordinator to ensure publicity for AU events.
Average minimum time per month you may need for this position: 8 hours.

SBAU Vice President
 -Assists and stands in for the President.
-Coordinates monthly speakers (bio, topic, headshot) including ensuring honoraria are paid and SBAU-branded items are given, which is coordinated with the club merch manager.  
-Appoints and Chairs the nominating committee that compiles an annual slate of nominees for AU Officer positions, and gives recommendations to the AU President for any vacant Appointed positions.
Average minimum time per month you may need for this position:  6 hours.

SBAU Secretary
 -Compiles and distributes planning meeting agendas and summaries. 
-Collects and sorts the mail, including general correspondence (this can be coordinated with the club Treasurer).
-Maintains a current membership roster.
-Makes or delegates the making of member name tags for monthly general meetings.
-At each planning meeting, presents a brief update about membership numbers.
-Coordinates in publishing a directory of members.
-Sends membership renewal reminders on the 15th of each month.
-Monthly newsletters: produces print copies for USPS recipients. Distributes newsletters via USPS and email no later than 3 days before the first Friday of the month.
-Notifies members by email of club meetings, club events, and any club news approved by the SBAU President.
 Average minimum time per month you may need for this position:  7 hours.

SBAU Treasurer

-Receives all dues and other money and keeps proper records of monetary transactions.
-Coordinates with the club secretary to collect and sort the mail from the in-box at SBMNH.
-Initiates payment orders (POs) to SBMNH for timely payment of expenses (example:  monthly Grayphics invoice from AU Newsletter Editor).
-Manages petty cash fund.
-Keeps merchandise inventory count; compares and reconciles with Merchandise Manager at least once a year.
-Presents a monthly account of the financial condition of the SBAU to the Planning committee.
-Ensures money is deposited and any information of new or renewing members is given to the Secretary before the next newsletter is mailed.
Average minimum time per month you may need for this position:  8 hours.


Duties of Positions appointed by President
 >> these are NOT elected positions <<

SBAU Newsletter Editor
-Creates monthly newsletter, by writing and/or coordinating member-written articles and outreach information.
-Publishes monthly newsletter.
-Coordinates with Webmaster to ensure most current information is on AU web site.
Average minimum time per month you may need for this position: 8 hours.

SBAU Outreach Coordinator
-Receives and processes requests from outreach customers.
-Maintains list of contacts and  SBAU volunteers.
-Organizes and updates calendar of outreach events, and sends monthly e-mails of current events.
-Arranges for volunteers and equipment, and notifies of any changes or cancellations.
-Keeps track of volunteers and attendance, notifying the SBMNH Astronomy Programs Manager, club Officers, and club Newsletter Editor.
-Notifies club Newsletter Editor and club Webmaster of events.
-Produces handouts, as needed, for events, containing club and current astronomical information.
-Announces upcoming events at monthly meetings.
Average minimum time per month you may need for this position:  12 hours.

SBAU Equipment Manager
-Maintains SBAU equipment inventory.
 -Accepts equipment donations and ensures that an SBAU official thank-you letter (with SBMNH tax id) is given to the donor.
-Determines which equipment to keep or sells equipment to members and public, passes low value items to young folks, or re-donates equipment to other non-profit organizations with approval from club president and/or SBAU planning committee.
-Organizes, cleans, and maintains shed telescopes and equipment at SBMNH.  Finds other storage locations beyond SBMNH shed as needed for excess equipment.
 Average minimum time per month you may need for this position: 6 hours.

SBAU Events Coordinator
 -Responsible for overall planning, management and execution of club membership events.
-Coordinates all details of events to ensure a successful outcome.
-Stays within budget and scope as approved by the Planning Committee.
-Typical events include, potluck, tours, bus trips, and year-end holiday party. One event per quarter (4 per year) if possible.
-Prepares communications such as flyers or text for distribution via the club secretary or newsletter.
-Attends monthly SBAU planning committee meetings and coordinates as needed with various team/club members.
-Provides status briefings of events at monthly club meetings.
-May require transport of food to events with personal vehicle.
-Attends events to ensure everything runs smoothly.
 Average minimum time per month you may need for this position: 6 hours

SBAU Merchandise Manager
-Keeps physical inventory of merchandise and current counts.
-With the pre-approval of the SBAU Officers, orders merchandise (clothing with logo, Astronomy calendars, and so on) and notifies the Treasurer of counts of merchandise bought.
-Records merchandise sold and money received, and gives sales count and funds to the SBAU Treasurer as soon as possible.
-At least once per year, reconciles the inventory of merchandise with the Treasurer's inventory tracking.
-Brings merchandise to general meetings for presentation and sales.
-Gives updates to the club Webmaster of any changes to items in the inventory as shown on the website.
Coordinates with the club Vice President to give selected club-branded merchandise to speakers.
 Average minimum time per month you may need for this position:  5 hours.

SBAU Webmaster
-Constructs, maintains, and is in charge of SBAU web site.
-Coordinates with Newsletter Editor to have most current newsletter as a link.
-Skills: well organized and effective communicator, with working knowledge of Information Technology and media publishing. Also, has understanding of website organization, fonts and sizing, and resizing of images using photo editors.
-Coordinates SBAU Zoom meetings for presentations, planning, astronomy hour, and telescope workshop. Enables streaming or posting of those meetings on the club YouTube channel, per preferences of speakers.
-Considers ways to optimize club meeting content that may increase likelihood of being found by web searches. -Monitors visitor numbers to website and media channels.
-Able to create and edit up-to-date, menu organized, easy to use, consistently themed webpages, using a content management website designer program, currently MicroSoft Expression Web 4, but possibly WordPress or another software in the future. Allows all types and sizes of devices to access the information, such as Windows, Apple, Linux desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Includes also accessibility for disabled access.
-Works with website hosting companies, currently HostGator, to purchase hosting services, backup data, prevent blacklisting, and prevent malware (which may cost extra). Manages numerous files and keeps history of past webpages and content (including images or other media). Determines budget needed yearly and quickly notifies club treasurer of upcoming costs and invoices.
-Considers any Data Protection / Security laws and keeps SSL certificate up to date.
-Manages and verifies links to other websites periodically.
-Attends SBAU planning meetings once a month and communicates with club officers and appointees as needed.
-Considers allowing "blog" pages for at least the club officers/appointees for their posting of updated information.
-Manages user logins and passwords, especially for emails to/from club officers/appointees. Thus, keeps an email history to help new club officers/appointees with understanding past communications.
-Surveys club members for website usability and suggested content.
-Works with club secretary to post images and summaries of past meetings.
-Keeps historical information and images in data file system.
-Lists on appropriate webpages: outreach dates, club events, officer reports, appointee posts (club merchandise, equipment for sale, newsletters, etc.).
-Maintains a club forum to allow posting larger files to share (PowerPoints, videos too big for emailing) and allow club members to ask questions, communicate, and/or show their equipment and astrophotography.
-Keeps current by checking for other descriptions of webmaster skills and duties, such as: https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-webmaster/
 -Works with AU Officers and SBMNH Astronomy Programs Manager if any changes to website URL are made (since SBMNH uses AU website as a link from the Museum’s website).
Average minimum time per month you may need for this position:  5 hours.