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2010 Convention Photo Gallery

Page 1 of 2: Photos by the Springfield Telescope Makers

Here are photos of the 2010 Convention taken by the Springfield Telescope Makers. On Page 2 of the Gallery, you will find photos taken by Convention Attendees.

So whether you attended and want to try to find yourself in photo, or you couldn't attend and want to see what went on, you can spend some time browsing our gallery of general photos.

Note: After you expand a photo, use the arrow keys to move forward or backward, or space bar to start a slide show.

Photos by the Springfield Telescope Makers

Contributing STM Members: Dennis Cassia, Dennis di Cicco, Matt Considine,
Jay Drew, Jim Erickson, Al Rifkin, Don Schwarzkopf & Ken Slater.
The specific photographers last name is embedded in the photo's URL - hover on a thumbnail and view the URL
in the browser's status bar (you many need to enable this in the view menu)

PRE-CONVENTION: A lot goes on in the week before convention, which we call pre-convention, and this year we are again going to share some photos of some of the activities the occur before most of your arrive. Club members a dedicated group of volunteers get a lot of work done before we open on Thursday afternoon.

Trees: We took down a couple of dangerous trees in the swap area. One had a very difficult triple trunk, which took some extra work to drop safely. Good logs were saved for a sawmill.
John Martin sharpens his saw John Martin	Sawing the first of three trunks	Timber! The first trunk goes down Timber!	Cleanup crew moves in to haul branches away	Jay Drew gets the tractor into position Jay Drew	John Martin hauls a saw log away
This dead trunk was safer to push over with the Kubota Push it Over	The crew watches John Martin drop the last trunk	The last trunk goes down Timber!	Tractor on left rolls logs ontto the forks of the tractor on the right Loading Logs	Hauling logs away	Jeff Lowe rolls a scrap log into the woods Jeff Lowe
Ice Cream: Wednesday evening after dinner the "Stellafane evening after dinner the "Stellafane Crankers" got together at Jim & Marty Erickson's campsite. There was a very good "turn" out and everyone enjoyed the fruit of their labor. Cranky Attendees were: Walt & Linda Wheeler, Amy, Jim, Rowan, Aidan and Declan Flood, Logan & Paul Forbes, Dick Parker, Mario & Helen Antonucci, Steve & Patrick Dodson, and Tony Costanzo. Cranking ice cream is almost as good as pushing glass (maybe better on a warm summer evening!)
Walt & Linda Wheeler Walt & Linda Wheeler	Aidan Flood Aidan Flood	Logan Forbes Logan Forbes	Jim & Declan Flood Jim & Declan Flood	Patrick Dodson Patrick Dodson
		Dick Parker Dick Parker	Tony Costanzo Tony Costanzo	Paul Forbes Paul Forbes	Mario Antonucci Mario Antonucci
Painting: We do a lot of painting at pre-convention: signs, M44, the Bunkhouse and the Sundial this year.
The old paint is being scraped off Scraped Down	The sundial was last repainted in 1994 Last done 1994	Michael Costanzo does the last bit of scraping Michael Costanzo	VP Gary Cislak paints the white background Gary Cislak	Rick Hunter works on the edges Rick Hunter	The gnomon was refurbished by Dave Prowten New Gnomon
Gary Cislak's dog Picasso - he's a painter, right? Picasso	Dennis Woos, Jay Drew & Dave Siegrist scrape down M44 Dennis Woos, Jay Drew & Dave Siegrist	M44 Painted M44 Painted	Eileen Myers paints trim on the bunkhouse Eileen Myers	Walt Wheeler paints signs at the bunkhouse Walt Wheeler	Signs lined up, ready to be put up Signs
Miscellaneous: Other photos from Pre-Convention
John Martin digs out muddy soil Removing Mud	For a good surface unter the tent, John spreads surepack. Adding Surepack	The new grinding tent, to keep noise down for the speakers in the Pavilion Grinding Tent	One throusand chairs, delivered, and ready to be set up 1,000 Chairs	Dave Proten works on a new stairway in the bunkhouse Dave Prowten	Dave Siegrist does demolition for a new bunkhouse stairway Dave Siegrist
Ray Morits prepares a paver mold Ray Morits	Ray Morits & Jim Erickson work on paver molds Ray Morits & Jim Erickson	Engraved pavers being cured in water Curing Pavers	Greg Dolise prepares the surface for pavers Greg Dolise	Meredith Muller & Walt Wheeler install pavers Meredith Muller & Walt Wheeeler	Some younger volunteers find the paver sand supply can be a lot of fun! Paver Sandbox
Ray Morits routes out a disk for his telescope Ray Morits	Ray Morits assembles his telescope Ray Morits	Al Tinker Al Tinker	What's this - a new member Tee-Shirt??? New Tee Shirt?	Dave Kelly prepares for some ladder work in the pavilion Dave Kelly	Liz Sharpe, Wayne Zuhl & Paul Sharpe prepare "Waynebo Stew" for Wednesday dinner. Dinner Prep
John Vogt & Tom Spirock help Dennis & Kim Cassia staff the pre-convention gate Gate Duty	Chef Mario Antonucci makes coffe for breakfast. Make the Coffee!	Gerry Logan, Tony Constanzo, Jim Erickson & Don Schwartzkopf work on cooking steaks for Thursday night's dinner. Cook the Steaks	Julie Tabor & Gabe DeLuca chat in the pavilion. Julie Tabor & Gabe DeLuca	Eillen Myers, Steve & Patrick Dodson and Linda & Walt Wheeler socialize in the pavilion. Friends	Secretary Dave Tabor has fallen into a black hole! Dave Tabor

CONVENTION: Here are our traditional candid shots taken by club members during convention:

At the Gate members register and welcome conventioneers.
This banner welcomes people to the Convention Welcome!	Tom spirock & Al Monkowski take the first shift of "gate duty" on Friday morning. Tom Spirock & Al Monkowski	Perry Remaklus seems shocked at some situation while checking in; wife pat seems to be quite amused by it Pat & Perry Remaklus	Iliana Filby arrives to set up judging checkin Iliana Filby	Daper Jay Drew, who wears a tie as a throwback to the "Russel Porter days" get dropped off at the gate by his family. Jay Drew	This classic sign points the way to convention. This Way!
On Breezy Hill we have the telescope competition, the Stellafane Clubhouse and the Porter Turret Telescope.
Walking up the road on a perfect day, we catch sight of Conventioneers and Telescopes spread out arround the Porter Turret Telescope. Breezy Hill 2010	For the 75th Convention, members put their telescopes in a special area behind the clubhouse Member's Scopes	Bert Williard's Bowling Bowl Scope. The year after it was shown at Stellafane, the Emund Astroscan scope appeared. Willard's Ball	Bruce bedford helps Dick Parker set up his 16" Cassegrain. Dick Parker	Webmaster Ken Slater built this scope and documented it on the Stellafane Website. It won an an inovative component award for the adjustable cradle. Stellafane Dob	Jeff Parenteau's Telescopes Jeff Parenteau
The Porter Turret Telescope Tour drew a huge crowd. Led by past presenidents John Gallagher & Brad Vietje. Turret Tour	Matt Considine runs the Porter Turrent and shows Conventioneers a sunspot. Matt Considine Sunspots!	The special, small aperature solar projection flat installed on the Porter Turret Telescope. Porter Turret Solar Flat	Bill's Schupmann Bill's Schupmann	John Briggs & Norm Fredrick examine a brass refractor. John Briggs & Norm Fredrick	The Judging Support Team (Optical Runner Bruce Bedford, Judging Registration Iliana Filby & Joyce Sinnot) under the Judging Tent. The J-Team
Dennis Cassia emerges from the clubhouse. Dennis Cassia	Erin Lowe on Breezy Hill. Erin Lowe	Vice President gary Cislak. VP Gary Cislak	Webmaster Ken & Suellen Slater on the field taking pictures of all the telescopes for this page. Webmaster Ken & Suellen Slater	Liz Sharpe is interviewed for SevenDays. See Video Liz Sharpe	Mike Heliba Mike Heliba
"Earth Rocks similar to those found on the Moon" on display on the clubhouse wall "Moon Rocks"	Conventioneers enjoy the view to the west. Okemo Ski Area in Ludow on the right. Enjoy the View!	Conventioneers chat surrouded by telescopes. Matt Considine at left. Conventioneers	Nice Shirt! (Our 75th Convention Tee-Shirt) Nice Shirt!	John Bortle made his own special Tee-Shirt, commemorating his 47th Convention. John Bortle #47	Convention in full swing on Breezy Hill Breezy Hill
Jim Daley & Gerry Logan Jim Daley & Gerry Logan	Oldest Conventioneer Andrew Simoni with John Martin. Andrew's granddaughter Stephanie has her back to the camera and is using a video camera. Andrew Simoni & John Martin	After a long day of walking around at convention, a conventioneer rests his tired feet. Tired Feet after a long day.	The Stellafane Clubhouse unders a starry sky. Clubhouse under the stars	A Persied Meteor streaks over the Porter Turret Telescope. Persied over Porter Turret	The Milky Way over the Stellafane Clubhouse. Milky Way over the clubhouse
The McGregor Observatory & Main Observing Field
	Kris Larsen running the Children's Program Children's Program	Children busy at work in the Children's Program Children's Program	Coloring Planets in the Children's program. Children's Program	Members Jay Drew, Treasurer Wayne Hilliard and Dave Siegrist on the bench in front of the McGregor Observatory. McGregor Bench
This power pack was recharing during the day in front of the McGregor Observatory. Charging	Looking north at the lower parking and observing field. Lower Field	Al & Judy nagler in 'their spot' on the Main Observing Field Al & Judy Nagler	Climbing up hill to the McGregor Observaotry. Member Jim Flood with two of his children walk up behind another Conventioneer. Up Hill	Two Conventioneers rest in the shade on the edge of the Main Observering Field. Shade	Scopes in the Mian Observing Field wait for dark. The McGregor Observatory is on the north, high side of this field. Waiting for Dark
Covered Telescopes on the Main Observering Field wait for darkness to fall. Covered scopes wait for dark	Dave Siegrist in the lower field. Dave Siegrist	The New Hampshire Astronnomical Society shade structure. The Bunkhouse and Food Tents are at the bottom of this hill. NH Astronomical Society	The Kopernik Astro Society shade structure, and some nearby scopes. Kopernik Astro Society	Scopes set up between NHAS and Kopernik AS areas. Society Scopes	Roger Williams with his telescope. Roger Williams
Al Takeda sets up for his 'Asto-Imaging with a DSLR' workshop. Al Takeda	Al Monkowski & Carl Malikowski in the McGregor Observatory, hosting visitors when they come inside. McGregor Observatory	The 13" Schupmann telescope in its stowed postion. The main observing field is (overexposed and) visible through the roof opening. 13" Schupmann is stowed	The 13" Schupmann telescope is pointed to the south with the Milky Way arcing down toward it from the sky. Conventioneers wait in line for a view thorugh this instrument in the McGregor Observatory. 13" Schupmann looks up	Looking south at the Milky Way from behind the pier in the McGregor Observatory Looking South at the Milky Way	Conventioneers line up in the McGregor Observatory for a view through the 13" Schupmann. Lining Up for a View
Bunkhouse: Find T-Shirts, Raffle Tickets, Info and First Aid here. Food Tent: Sit down for a meal or grab a quick snack.
T-shirts ready to sell, but at this moment conventioneers are all lined up at the raffle sales area. The Bunkhouse	Four bags of Tele Vue Eyepieces to be raffled off, generously donated by Al Nagler, hang above the T-Shirt sales area. Bags of Naglers!	Walt Wheeler, a young assistent, and Eillen Myers staff the T-Shirt sales area. T-Shirt Sales	Raffle Ticket Sales are done from the porch. Raffle Sales	The Food Tent at breakfast on Sunday morning. Food Tent	Our long-time food vendeor, Luey Clough, works in the food tent. Luey Clough
The Flanders Pavilion hosts the ATM Demos, Friday Night Talks, ATM Short Talks & Tech Talks.
Merideth Muller grinds at left while Junie Esslinger talks to the crowd about mirro grinding. ATM Demo	Junie Esslinger holds a tile tool while describing mirror grinding. ATM Demo	A conventioneer tries his hand at mirror grinding. ATM Demo	Phile Rounseville decribes polishing and figuring to some interested attendees. ATM Demo	This poster in the pavilion identified all the club members who are amatuer radio operators. Our convention repeater is W1STM on 145.270 MHz. HAMS - W1STM	Site network manager Carl Malikowski troubleshoots problems in the 'Tower of Babel' Wi-Fi relay station. Carl Malikowski
Vehicles: There are some interesting ones around the site
The shuttle bus bringing conventioneers up to the clubhouse from Stellafane East. Shuttle Bus	Mark Stockon, our security contractor, patrolling convention on his ATV Security ATV	The Stellafane Golf Cart, used by site manager John Martin STM Golf Cart	Our old red pickup truck witht the work scaffold in back turned green this year Platform Truck	License Plate: Scope Maker Scope Maker	License Plate: Don't Panic Don't Panic
License Plate: Star Gazer Star Gazer	License Plate: Cydonia Cydonia	License Plate: Cygnus Cygnus	Is this wheel cover also a star chart? Star Chart?	License Plate: IV-503 IV-503	License Plate: Clear Sky Clear Sky
Around the Site: Photos from the far corners of Stellafane!
The Swap Tables are busy on Saturday morning. Swap Tables	Another view of the Swap Tables. Swap Tables	Judy & Al Nagler visit Dennis & Kim Cassia at their campsite. Nagler & Cassia	This is Scotty Houston's camper. Scotty was our beloved and long-time Shadowgram speaker. Scotty's Camper	A blue Alvin Clark reflector lies in front of member John Briggs' campsite. Built in 1903 for Harvard College observatory, it is a 24" f/5.5 Newtonian figured by Carl A. R. Lundin. STM's' Clark	Jay Drew with daughter Ariel in the food tent. Jay & Ariel Drew
This campsite is just east (and down a slope) from the McGregor Observatory. Our ancient digger which we use to remove stumps, sits on to the side. McGregor Camp	The Aldrich Astronomical Society campsite. Aldrich Camp	Isn't this a cute little camper! Cute!	Mario Antonucci relaxes at his camp in Mario's Hollow Mario's Hollow	Campers near Houston Hollow - the Sky & Telescope shade structure is at the right rear. Houston Hollow	Campers scattered about Pine Island. Pine Island
The Saturday Evening Program held in the Amphitheater under beautiful skies.
Tom Spirock organzing the raffle prizes. Tom Spirock	Wayne Zuhl prepares to videotape the evening program. Wayne Zuhl	Down front, sitting with the STMs, are Sam Storch, John Bortle and Joe Rao. Storch & Bortle	Steve & Diane Simoni arrive at the evening program. Mr. & Mrs. Simoni	Andrew E. Simoni, oldest conventioneer for several years running, with his granddaughter Stephanie at left. Andrew Simoni	Stephanie Simoni & site manager John Martin above the projection screen to videotape some crowd shots. Above the Crowd
Al Rifkin prepares to take the crowd panorama (next photo). Al Rifkin	A panoramic photo of the convetioneers attending the Staurday Evening Program from above the projection screen just as the program was starting. Amphitheater Panorama (3218 × 1024, 1.35MB)			Conventioneers gather in the amphitheater. Conventioneers	Children come down front to get a free raffle ticket for the Children's Raffle. Kids Raffle
Maryann Arrien presents Sam Storch with a NERAL Special Service Award. Sam Storch & Maryann Arrien	NERAL Special Service Award for Sam Storch. Sam Storch's NERAL Award	Maryann Arrien presents John Bortle with the 2010 NERAL Walter Scott Houston Award. John Bortle & Maryann Arrien	NERAL Walter Scott Houston award for John Bortle. John Bortle's WSH Award	The Oldest (Andrew Simoni) & Youngest (Ronan Caffrey, grandson of Robert K. Morse, STM, with Mom Erica Morse at age 10 months.) at Convention this year. Oldest & Youngest Stellafaners	Winning raffle ticket numbers are called out by Master Of Ceremonies Bob Morse. MC Bob Morse calls the Raffle
	Winners of the Optical & Mechancial Judging line up prior to the announcement of the awards. Telescope Winners	Past President John Gallagher gave the Shadowgram talk. Shadowgram by John Gallagher	The keynote talk for our 75th Convnetion was delivered by Dr. Connie Rockosi, UC Santa Cruz/Lick Observatory, who helped develop the telescope and instruments for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. She is also a member for the Springfield Telescope Makers. Keynote by Dr. Connie Rockosi	The keynote talk for our 75th Convnetion was delivered by Dr. Connie Rockosi, UC Santa Cruz/Lick Observatory, who helped develop the telescope and instruments for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. She is also a member for the Springfield Telescope Makers. Keynote by Dr. Connie Rockosi
Sunday morning Cleanup
Erin Lowe & VP Gary Cislak sell shirts & hats as conventioneers head out and head home. Last Chance!	Keynote speaker Connie Rockosi was the first in memory to work on convnetion cleanup - she may be a professional astronomer, but she is a Springfield Telescope maker at heart! Destringing	President Jeff Lowe, Walt Wheeler, Junie Eslinger & Ray Morits wait for the church service to be over in the pavilion to begin cleanup. Waiting	Members Patrick Dodson, Jim Beaty, Al Monkowsli and Steve Dodson stack rented chairs in the pavilion Stacking Chairs	Junie Esslinger, John Martin, Dave Tabor & Jonathn Morse clean up and load up in the pavilion. Loading & Moving	When convention is over, the "Fruit Stand" gets put away until next year. Goodbye!

Go to Page 2: Photos Contibuted by Attendees or go back to the 2010 Convention Main Page