Welcome, 2008 Taghkanic & Waywayanda Observing members, from Rockland Astronomy Club ! 

 THIS IS IMPORTANT !!


  The 2008 permits will be going out by March.  The Taghkanic permit for 2007 is valid until then; the Wayayanda permit is good through March 2008. 
 
2008 RAC Observing Permit Procedures
 
The following procedures MUST be observed for any RAC members who wish to observe at Taghkanic State Park OR Waywayanda State Park for non-regularly scheduled events during the week or during weekends.
 
Please read the following and save it on your computer, these procedures WILL BE ENFORCED WITH NO EXCEPTIONS:
 
(1)  You must contact one of the 3 individuals listed below for each location via e-mail or phone.  If it's less than 24 hours or a same-day reservation, it is probably best to call.  If it's a few days in advance, e-mail should be fine.
 
These individuals are the ONLY authorized individuals to contact the respective parks.  They will contact the park and alert them to your group's presence.  You MUST wait for confirmation -- e-mail or a phone call -- from your designated RAC contact to confirm that you are OK to view.  Do NOT assume that you are allowed to observe just because you e-mailed someone or left a voicemail on their cell phone -- YOU MUST RECEIVE CONFIRMATION !  If one of the contacts has not responded to you, you have 2 backups to get confirmation if things are running late and you have not heard back from the 1st person.
 
(2)  Here are the RAC contacts for Lake Taghkanic State Park (NY), with e-mails and cell phones:
 
            Chris Maier ...............regionabove@verizon.net ... 914-645-6059
            George Andrew ........ geoandrew@aol.com ........... 914-438-2392
            Frank Bifulco ........... frankbif@optonline.net .........914-523-6548 
 
Here are the RAC contacts for Waywayanda State Park (NJ):
 
            Bob Moore ............ n2ixa@optonline.net .............845-231-0509
            Mike Heuler .......... mheuler@bear.com ..............973-316-5427
            Frank Bifulco ......... frankbif@optonline.net ........914-523-6548
 
 
(3)  You must have a PRINTED COPY OF THE PERMIT  in your car.  Do not assume others will bring one, do not bring a laptop with the PDF file.  Keep a printed copy in your glove compartment or inside your telescope equipment.
 
(4)  Observe all rules and procedures of the park.  Clean up after yourselves, obey the park rangers, and avoid going out to observe solo since the parks are isolated.
 
These new procedures will avoid confusion, make sure the park is alerted to our presence, and lead to a more productive relationship in the future between RAC and our viewing locations.