From: Dr. H. Paul Shuch (n6tx_at_setileague.org)
Date: Mon Feb 21 2005 - 16:29:14 PST
Scaling Back on SETICon
For more information contact: Dr. H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director
(201) 641-1770, or email info_at_setileague.org
Little Ferry, NJ.., 19 February 2005 -- Five years after initiating its
SETICon Technical Symposium, the nonprofit, membership-supported SETI
League has had to scale back the annual membership event to more modest
proportions. Because The SETI League chose to make its meetings
affordable and accessible to a wide range of amateur radio astronomers,
the events have proved a steady drain on the grassroots science group's
limited financial resources. Hence, the organization's 2005 annual
meeting will be held in conjunction with another, much larger and
well-established conference.
"The last few SETICons cost us about $4,000 each to put on," notes Dr.
H. Paul Shuch, volunteer executive director of The SETI League.
"Depending as we do upon membership dues and individual contributions,
we thought our limited funding would be better spent on SETI science
than on hosting scientific meetings." Consequently, Shuch announced, The
SETI League's 2005 Annual Membership Meeting will be held on the campus
of The College of New Jersey, in conjunction with the annual Trenton
Computer Festival.
This year's Trenton Computer Festival is scheduled to run the weekend of
16-17 April, 2005, with The SETI League's membership meeting to be held
there on Sunday morning, 17 April, from 10 AM until Noon. SETI League
members desiring to avail themselves of a full weekend of social and
technical activities are encouraged to register for TCF. Some SETI
enthusiasts will be presenting papers on the scientific Search for
Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence on Saturday, in conjunction with the
regular TCF Technical Program.
There is a registration fee for TCF. Details (including location,
lodging, and scheduled activities) appear on the TCF Website,
www.tcf-nj.org. There will be no charge for those wishing simply to
attend the SETI League Annual Membership Meeting, and all members (and
prospective members) are most welcome. Annual meeting details, including
the Agenda, appear online at www.setileague.org/seticon/meet2005.htm.
The SETI League expresses its gratitude to its friends at the Trenton
Computer Festival and The College of New Jersey, for hosting them in a
year in which their organization's finances preclude sponsoring their
own technical event. Interested parties can show their appreciation by
registering for TCF, and attending both events.
Largely using radio telescopes and optical telescopes, SETI scientists
seek to determine whether humankind is alone in the universe. Since
Congress terminated NASA's SETI funding in 1993, The SETI League and
other scientific groups have privatized the research. Amateur and
professional scientists interested in participating in the search for
intelligent alien life, and citizens wishing to help support it, should
email join_at_setileague.org, check the SETI League Web site at
http://www.setileague.org/, send a fax to +1 (201) 641-1771, or contact
The SETI League, Inc. membership hotline at +1 (800) TAU-SETI. Be sure
to provide us with a postal address to which we will mail further
information. The SETI League, Inc. is a membership-supported, non-profit
[501(c)(3)], educational and scientific corporation dedicated to the
scientific Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.
P.S. Tearsheets are always appreciated. Thank you.
-- H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D. Executive Director, The SETI League, Inc. 433 Liberty Street, PO Box 555, Little Ferry NJ 07643 USA voice (201) 641-1770; fax (201) 641-1771; URL http://www.setileague.org email work: n6tx_at_setileague.org; home: drseti_at_cal.berkeley.edu "We Know We're Not Alone!"
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