Stellafane 'Little Man' - click for Stellafane Home Page Page Header

2011 Convention Photo Gallery

Here are photos of the 2011 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: Ron Bauer, Dennis Cassia, Gabe DeLuca, Dennis di Cicco, Patrick Dodson, Jay Drew,
Jim Erickson, Alan Rifkin, Alan Rohwer, Ken Slater, Dave Tabor, Al Tinker and Paul Valleli.
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 that had sustained damage over the winter in the ice storm.  Good logs were saved for a sawmill.

2011 Gallery
The tractor waits to push slash into the woods.
Tree Down
2011 Gallery
John Martin removes limbs.
John Martin
2011 Gallery
Domed Observatory seen through the downed tree.
Dome & Tree
2011 Gallery
Gary Cislak moves in with his chain saw.
Gary Cislak
2011 Gallery
The clean up crew gets out of the way as the (unseen) tractor moves in.
Clean-up Crew
2011 Gallery
Dave Tabor checks e-mail while the tractor works.
Dave Tabor

Ice Cream: Wednesday evening after soup the yearly meeting of the “Stellafane Crankers" got together at Jim & Martie Erickson's campsite. We had some new members Kevin Walsh and daughter Miranda, Dave Tabor with family, Carl Malikowski, and Nate Kolsky. There was a very good "turn" out and everyone enjoyed the fruit of their labor. Cranky Attendees were: Dave Tabor and family, Jim Flood and family, Dick Parker, Mario & Helen Antonucci, Stephen and Deanna Forbes, and Kevin Walsh. It is too bad that Walt & Linda Wheeler were not able to be there. Walt was the founder of this tradition Cranking ice cream is almost as good as pushing glass (maybe better on a warm summer evening!).

2011 Gallery
Dave Tabor helps Miranda Walsh as friends Aidan, Declan, and Rowan Flood watch
Dave Tabor
2011 Gallery
Dave and Samantha Tabor
Dave & Samantha
2011 Gallery
Dave Tabor & Carl Malikowski
Dave & Carl
2011 Gallery
Mario Antonucci cranks, Dave Tabor holds
Mario & Dave
2011 Gallery
Dave Tabor cranks, Mario Antonucci holds
Dave & Mario
 
  2011 Gallery
Jim Flood and Carl Malikowski
Jim & Carl
2011 Gallery
Nate Kolsky, his first time at Stellafane
Nate Kolsk
2011 Gallery
Stephen Forbes (Martie's son)
Stephen Forbes
2011 Gallery
Enjoying the fruits of their labor
Enjoyable!
2011 Gallery
Jim Erickson cleans the Dasher (Yumm!). Dick Parker in the background.
Jim & Dick

Miscellaneous: Other photos from Pre-Convention

2011 Gallery
Painting the McGregor Observatory
Painting
2011 Gallery
Replacing the Little Man Logo from the front of the McGregor Observatory
Replacing
2011 Gallery
The temporary orange plastic fence was replaced with this wooden fence using lumber from our saw mill
New Fence
2011 Gallery
What did that sign on the right say?
What Sign?
2011 Gallery
Tuthill Towers is now a solar lumber drying facility (left behind door). We cleaned out the right side for lumber storage
Tuthill Towers
2011 Gallery
Dave Siegrist installs pavers
Dave Siegrist
2011 Gallery
We hiked up Hawks Mountain on Tuesday. See here for details.
Hawks Hikers
2011 Gallery
Plaque on the summit of Hawks Moutnain, 1922. See here for details.
1922 Plaque
2011 Gallery
John Martin adjusts the club's sawmill.
Sawmill
2011 Gallery
President Jeff Lowe in "John's Room" in the pavilion.
Jeff Lowe
2011 Gallery
A quiet clubhouse waits for convetion to start.
Clubhouse
2011 Gallery
A lonely Porter Turret Telescope waits for convention to start.
Turret Telescope

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

Convention: Breezy Hill

On Breezy Hill we have the telescope competition, the Stellafane Clubhouse and the Porter Turret Telescope.

2011 Gallery
Walking along the road to Breezy Hill and Stellafane...
On to Breezy Hill!
2011 Gallery
...we first encounter this new sign...
New Sign
2011 Gallery
...and then the trees open and we are here!
We made it!
2011 Gallery
The Breezy Hill telescope field early (9:45am) on Saturday morning.
9:45am Sat.
2011 Gallery
The Porter Turret Teelescope surrounded by conventioneers.
Porter Turret
2011 Gallery
Al Sliski's Binolculars looking west from the clubhouse.
Bino-View
2011 Gallery
Iliana Filby and Gabe DeLuca work at the competition registration table.
Iliana & Gabe
2011 Gallery
This cutie was the officail mascot of the judging support team this year.
Judging Mascot
2011 Gallery
Steve Dodson in the doorway of the Porter Turret Telescope.
Steve Dodson
2011 Gallery
Steve Dodson shows guests sunspots in the Porter Turret Telescope.
Steve & Sunspots
2011 Gallery
Sunspot Closeup.
Sunspots
2011 Gallery
Looking at the back of the primary at the end of the boom on the Porter Turret.
Turret Primary
2011 Gallery
Jay Drew snaps a photo while seated in front of the clubhouse
Jay Drew...
2011 Gallery
Jay Drew washes pots from Thursday night's club dinner.

...Washes Pots
2011 Gallery
Gabe DeLuca and Ken Slater taking the official scope photos of those in the competition.
Gabe & Ken
2011 Gallery
Carl Malikowski & Liz Sharpe prepare to start the Telescope Field Walk.
Field Walk
2011 Gallery
Dennis Cassia, Roger Sinnot and John Bortle on Breezy Hill.
Old Friends
2011 Gallery
Club members Jim Daley, Tom Spirock and Bert Willard in the clubhouse.
In the Clubhouse
2011 Gallery
A big crowd turned out for the Solar System Walk.
Solar Sys. Walk
2011 Gallery
Ken Launie displayed these two old telescopes, read about them in the next photo.
Old Scopes...
2011 Gallery
About the old scopes in the previous photo.

...Explained
2011 Gallery
A cored primary on display.
Cored Primary
2011 Gallery
Lance Clarke's Red Striped Scope.
Striped
2011 Gallery
A nice meatl refractor with a corrugated tube.
Corrugated
2011 Gallery
Bruce Beford with his scope.
Bruce Beford
2011 Gallery
Sydney H. Mabry with her scope.
Sydney Mabry
2011 Gallery
A Questar on an equitorial wedge.
Questar
2011 Gallery
Paul Valleli (standing) shows off his light weight scope.
Paul Valleli
2011 Gallery
Trees are reflected in the Porter Turret Telescope's primary mirror as it tracks the sun.
PTT Primary
2011 Gallery
President Jeff Lowe on the telescope field.
Jeff Lowe
2011 Gallery
Mechancial Judges examine an entry.
Judging
2011 Gallery
Larry Shaper relaxes between his two scopes.
Larry Shaper
    2011 Gallery
Milky Way over Breezy Hill by Dennis di Cicco
Milky Way over Breezy Hill
2011 Gallery
Milky Way over the Clubhousel by Dennis di Cicco
Milky Way over the Clubhouse

McGregor Observatory & Main Observing Field

2011 Gallery
Day parking has not filled up yet in this early morning shot.
Empty Lot
2011 Gallery
Scopes on the main observing field.
Observing Field
2011 Gallery
Dr. Kris Larsen presiding over the childrens activities.
Kids Activities
2011 Gallery
A young visitor to the domed observatory.
Girl in Dome
2011 Gallery
Ryan takes a look though a solar scope.
Solar Viewing
2011 Gallery
Dan looks though a Coronado PST.
Solar Viewing
2011 Gallery
Resting and reading in the shade.
Resting
2011 Gallery
Ray Morits in his black jeep.
Ray Morits
2011 Gallery
This group is excited about something (sorry, I don't know what this was all about).
Solar Group
  2011 Gallery
Looking north from the second floor of the bunkhouse, star trails and much activiy on the main observing field.
Photo by Dennis di Cicco, processing by Sean Walker.
Star Trails
2011 Gallery
The Milky Way parallels the 13' Schupmann.
Photo by Dennis di Cicco.
Schupman

Bunkhouse, Food Tent, Amphitheater and Pavilion.

2011 Gallery
Erin Lowe works in the Tee Shirt sales area.
Tee Shirts
2011 Gallery
Patrick Dodson waits for a Smoothie or Lemonade.
Lemonade
2011 Gallery
The chicken bar-b-que cooking on Saturday afternoon.
Bar-B-Que
2011 Gallery
Young adult activities in the amphitheater.
Young Adults
  2011 Gallery
John Briggs donated this 24" Alvin Clark Corp. mirror and telescope to the club last year.
24" Clark Mirror
2011 Gallery
Dave Kelly explains how the Focault Tester works.
Testing
2011 Gallery
Dave Kelly talks about figuring.
Dave Kelly
2011 Gallery
Dave Kelly explains the testing and figuring process.
Explaining
2011 Gallery
Paul Valleli aligns his Bath Interferometer (Duct tape at the ready!).
Alignment
2011 Gallery
Paul Valleli explaing how the interferometer works.
Interferometer
2011 Gallery
Fringes produced by the Bath Interferometer.
Fringes
2011 Gallery
Steve Dodson works with children to assemble a telescope.
Assembly
2011 Gallery
Steve Dodson demonstrates how a lens works.
Alignment
2011 Gallery
Steve Dodson presents the finsihed telescope.
Finished Scope
2011 Gallery
Part of the audience in the pavilion on Saturday afternoon.
Audience
2011 Gallery
Mario Motta delivers a talk in the pavilion.
Mario Motta
2011 Gallery
Norren Grice makes apoint in her talk in the pavilion.
Noreen Grice

Around the Site

Photos from the far corners of Stellafane!

2011 Gallery
Arriving before 9am on Friday, the gate is deserted.
Welcome!
2011 Gallery
Dave Tabor, Carl Malikowski(?), John Martin and Bob Morse open up on Friday monring.
Gate Crew
2011 Gallery
Kim Cassia and Stella at the gate.
Kim & Stella
2011 Gallery
Hailey Linask checks in an arrival.
Checking In
2011 Gallery
Kim with Stella, Gary Cislak's husky puppy.
Kim & Stella
2011 Gallery
Dave Prowten puts the finishing touches on a new AV table for the amphiteater on Friday morning. The old one was destroyed when a tree fell on it this winter.
New Table
  2011 Gallery
As usual, the swap table area is crowded Saturday morning.
Swap Tables
2011 Gallery
Conventioneers and members looking over the offereings for this year.
Swap Stuff
2011 Gallery
Dennis, Jim and Judy
Friends
2011 Gallery
Dennis & Kim Cassia and John Bortle at their 'estate' on Pine Island.
Bortle-Cassia
 

Saturday Evening Program

The Saturday Evening Program was held in the Amphitheater under beautiful skies.

2011 Gallery
Conventioneers gather in the Amphitheartre for the Saturday Evening Program.

Conventioneers in the Amphitheatre
2011 Gallery
The Saturday Eveing Program from the Auidences View.
Auidence View
2011 Gallery
Bob Morse, our long time master of Ceremonies.
Bob Morse, MC
2011 Gallery
STM President Jeff Lowe address the conventioneers.
President Lowe
2011 Gallery
People stand and talk to their neighbors as part of the opening of the Saturday Evening Program.
Hello!
2011 Gallery
Old Uncle Bill, Wayne Zuhl, Kris Larsen and Michael Costanzo at the controls on the A/V Table.
In Control
2011 Gallery
Rob Baker's son was the youngest at Stellafane this year.
Youngest
2011 Gallery
Benefactor Steve Simoni was presented with a stained glass Little Man by Jim Erickson.
Steve Simoni
2011 Gallery
Kids gather around Kim Cassia for their free kids raffle tickets.
Free Tickets
2011 Gallery
This lucky youngster won a mirror making kit in the kids raffle.
Mirror Kit!
2011 Gallery
Winner of Mechnical Awards gather up front. Chris Houghton, head mechanical judge (at far left) made the presentation, while President Jeff Lowe (second from left) handed out the awards.
Mech. Winners
2011 Gallery
One of the Junior Award Winners is presented a certificate by President Jeff Lowe. Other Junior (and a few senior) award winners are in the background.
Junior Winners
2011 Gallery
Vice President Gary Cislak shared memories of Fran Flanders, who passed away this past year.
VP Gary Cislak
2011 Gallery
The Springfield Telescope Makers light their candles...
STMs Light Up
2011 Gallery
...and then the STM's moved into the audience to light their candles.
Sharing the Light
2011 Gallery
A Moment of Silence with Candles held High for Fran Flanders.
Candlelight
2011 Gallery
Mary & Alan Rohwer. Alan gave the Shadowgram this year.
The Rohwers
2011 Gallery
Alan Rohwer, past STM President, delivers the Shadowgram (a term he coined!).
Shadowgram
2011 Gallery
Bert Williard & Fran Flanders in the Club. This slide is from the Shadowgram, and the convention was dedicated to Fran, "The First lady of Stellafane".
Fran Flanders
  2011 Gallery
Dr. Jane Lu delivering the keynote talk.
Keynote
2011 Gallery
Dr. Jane Lu, who delivered the keynote talk, and Bert Willard.
Dr. Jane Lu

Forward to Photo Gallery Page 2 or Back to the 2011 Convention Page