Post by bsimon615 on Nov 12, 2018 10:17:17 GMT -6
Next year the DSSG is scheduled to be held from Tuesday October 22nd to Sunday October 27th. This is pretty much the median date range for the DSSG over the years and is just about 2 weeks earlier than our dates this year. Being held in October puts us back on Daylight Savings Time with the Sun and summer objects setting later. A little over one hour for the Sun with the time change and a later set time due to the date. For the stars it means a rise time in the evening which will be two hours later - one hour for DST and an additional hour due to progression time over 2 weeks. Weather wise, who knows, that is always a concern and something we cannot control, but the Deep South Star Gaze time of year is statistically our best time of year. Temperature wise, going two weeks earlier helps statistically by a few degrees.
Concerns - our registration this year was 52, lowest it has ever been and about 30 below last year. Our low registration was an issue due to our contractural arrangement with White Horse Camp. I reasonably expected that our turnout would be higher and our contract was based on that. As a result of the lower than normal and lower than expected registration, I was able to smooth the waters somewhat by promising that I would supplement the lower revenue by turning over 1/2 of our registration receipts. That totaled $528.00, so that is $528.00 less that we have for door prizes next year.
So why was the registration just 52, with only 36 of those that paid registration showing up? A multitude of reasons including but not limited to: lack of private rooms, age, health, weather concerns, concerns over the new venue, lack of vacation time, etc. For those that did attend, all who commented to me, really like the venue and all were impressed by what a darker sky and lower horizons can provide when the skies do clear (a few hours Tuesday night, much of Friday night, and much of Saturday night/Sunday morning beginning at about 9:30 pm and going to 5 am)
Let me address questions concerning refunds for those who have asked, or maybe want to ask - in short, unfortunately we cannot offer refunds. This dovetails with the policies of virtually all other star parties across the country. When a star party is scheduled we enter into a contractual relationship with the venue hosting the star party and the venue clears their calendar for us. As clearly stated on our registration form, there are no refunds after the early registration cut off date which was October 27th. After that date the only way there could be any refund would be if the venue had to cancel our event due to things like a hurricane, flooding or a major fire. As I said earlier, anyone coming where your demand is clear skies for all nights or most nights, your best option would be to not register in advance and to wait on a weather forecast just right before the beginning of the DSSG. Your penalty would be a higher registration fee and the possibility of not being able to get housing on site.
Of course if everyone were to wait and register just literally a day or two before the start of the DSSG - I would not have numbers to present to the venue prior to the start of the event and this could preclude being able to do a DSSG in the future. Something to think about.
Barry Simon
Concerns - our registration this year was 52, lowest it has ever been and about 30 below last year. Our low registration was an issue due to our contractural arrangement with White Horse Camp. I reasonably expected that our turnout would be higher and our contract was based on that. As a result of the lower than normal and lower than expected registration, I was able to smooth the waters somewhat by promising that I would supplement the lower revenue by turning over 1/2 of our registration receipts. That totaled $528.00, so that is $528.00 less that we have for door prizes next year.
So why was the registration just 52, with only 36 of those that paid registration showing up? A multitude of reasons including but not limited to: lack of private rooms, age, health, weather concerns, concerns over the new venue, lack of vacation time, etc. For those that did attend, all who commented to me, really like the venue and all were impressed by what a darker sky and lower horizons can provide when the skies do clear (a few hours Tuesday night, much of Friday night, and much of Saturday night/Sunday morning beginning at about 9:30 pm and going to 5 am)
Let me address questions concerning refunds for those who have asked, or maybe want to ask - in short, unfortunately we cannot offer refunds. This dovetails with the policies of virtually all other star parties across the country. When a star party is scheduled we enter into a contractual relationship with the venue hosting the star party and the venue clears their calendar for us. As clearly stated on our registration form, there are no refunds after the early registration cut off date which was October 27th. After that date the only way there could be any refund would be if the venue had to cancel our event due to things like a hurricane, flooding or a major fire. As I said earlier, anyone coming where your demand is clear skies for all nights or most nights, your best option would be to not register in advance and to wait on a weather forecast just right before the beginning of the DSSG. Your penalty would be a higher registration fee and the possibility of not being able to get housing on site.
Of course if everyone were to wait and register just literally a day or two before the start of the DSSG - I would not have numbers to present to the venue prior to the start of the event and this could preclude being able to do a DSSG in the future. Something to think about.
Barry Simon