BCFNS NEWSLETTER
July 2022
Contact us at newsletter@BlancoCountyNightSky.org
BCFNS 2022 Night Sky Song Contest
Are you working on those Night Sky Songs for the BCFNS 2022 Night Sky Song Contest?. We know of at least two terrific new songs that have been written for the competition and we know there is lots more talent out there in our membership and elsewhere. What a great time we all had with this before COVID put a quietus on everything! This year’s contest will be at 6pm, Saturday, October 1, 2022, at the Gem of the Hills in Blanco.
Be sure to check for details and the rules at BCFNS Song Contest. Three songs will be professionally recorded at the Los Senderos Studios, owned and operated by BCFNS Board Member, Larry Seiler. Deadline for submitting lyrics is September 15th so, for those of you with this particular talent, better get crackin’! If you have never written the lyrics to a song, now is the time!
Just for fun, check out this animated video that Larry produced with Ken Frederick’s song from the last contest. It provides some not-so-subtle nighttime advice for City People moving to the Hill Country. Do we know any of those? Click on “Resources/Videos” on our website and scroll down to the very last one. Here’s the link: Hill Country Nights by Ken Frederick It is great!
After the sun exhales her glorious colors onto the earth, the night fills the sky with promises.
Promise From The Stars
By Lara Johns Plogman
Promises that there is something far bigger and greater than the space of our lives.
Promises that there is reward in the relaxation after a day well-lived.
Promises that the trials of the day are behind us, and tomorrow is a fresh start.
A promise that wonder and imagination is available to us all under the stars.
Dirk and his wife, Tina, purchased land in Albert, Texas, in 2016 and moved there permanently in March 2020. It was a former cattle ranch and for a while cattle continued to run on the property. They love sitting on the back deck to view the stars and can easily see Blanco County just down the road. The rapid development in both Blanco and Gillespie County concerns Dirk because the developers do not seem at all concerned with light pollution. So, this year he helped found the Gillespie County Friends of the Night Sky with the aid of BCFNS Board Members Bob Heinonen and Wayne Gosnell. The Gillespie County group is just starting out but it has a Board and is now in the midst of forming a non-profit corporation. Dirk is serving as President.
Meet the BCFNS Board of Advisors
Dirk Jordan
Dirk has been involved in environmental concerns over the years. He was on the Board of the Nature Conservancy in Austin for several years and was also on the Board of the Pease Park Conservancy, serving as President for one year and on the Board for ten.
Dirk is a practicing lawyer and serves on the faculty at the University of Texas School of Law. He is also involved in the winery industry in the Pedernales River Valley, serving on the Board of Advisors of two prominent wineries. He grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and is a rabid LSU Tiger fan.
As if he didn’t have enough to do, Dirk is serving on the Advisory Board for the Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky, providing legal advice and generally trying to keep us out of trouble.
Most everyone knows that in the next two years, Blanco County will be treated to TWO eclipses of the sun, right? The “Practice Eclipse” (an Annular Solar Eclipse where a bright ring of sun will still be visible around the dark moon) will be on October 14, 2023; and a Total Solar Eclipse where -- you guessed it -- the sun will be completely blocked out, will be on April 8, 2024.
Blanco County Eclipse Planning
BCFNS member Rachel Lumpee is heading up the Blanco County Eclipse Planning Team that is working in cordination with the Hill Country Alliance to do the public services and logistical planning that is vital to avoid chaos and catastrophe during the eclipses. Rachel is, by the way, also the Mayor of Blanco and is doing a teriffic job! BCFNS Board Member Barbara Hudson represents our little group in these planning meetings.
Looking at the sun during the eclipse can (duh!) be harmnful to the eyes. Therefore, to avoid a mass casualty situation during both eclipses, the BCFNS has purchased more than 3,000 eclipse glasses that meet all the officiasl specs (beware of fakes!). We will give these glasses free of charge to both school districts in the county for them to distribute to students, staff, and employees. This is the kind of public service in which the BCFNS takes great pride.
Do you personally need eclipse glasses? YES!!! If we have any left over after distributing to the school districts, we’ll figure out how to get them to our membership. But, whatever you do,…don’t look at the sun without eclipse glasses!
The Blanco County Fair & Rodeo will take place August 18-20 in Johnson City. BCFNS will have a booth at the Fair on August 19th & 20th. We hope you can make it out for this fun community event. It is rumored that the Wizard of the Night Sky will be present to cast his spell on anyone suspected of polluting the night sky. Definitely plan to stop by and visit the booth (we won Best of Show at the last Fair!). Or, better yet, we could use a couple of volunteers to help staff the booth during the event. If this is something you think you could do, please shoot us an email and we’ll get you scheduled.
Blanco County Fair & Rodeo
Yes, we have a new Lifetime membership: Monica and Jason Anthes of Seabeck, Washington, and Blanco, Texas. That makes 7 Lifetime memberships for the BCFNS. We cherish these memberships, not only for the one time $500 membership fee that helps us execute our programs, but, more importantly, for the commitment the membership represents in terms of long-term support for the night sky. Yea, Monica and Jason Anthes!
Another New Lifetime Membership
To see the current list of Lifetime members, here is a list of all our supporting members: Member List
Next Business & Brainstorming Session
Wednesday, August 17th @ 9 am, at El Charro Restaurant in Johnson City.
Everyone is welcome to attend. We’d love to have you. Join us to see what it’s all about. No pressure to continue to attend; it can be a one-time thing or come to the meeting every month, it is an informal discussion that usually involves brain-storming, which can be really fun!
If you would like to attend via Zoom, just let us know ahead of time and we’ll make it happen.
• BCFNS Advisory Board – Are you willing to share your expertise? We would like to include:
A realtor, a developer, a contractor, a lighting fixture expert and other professionals who have a passion for the night sky. Contact us at info@BlancoCountyNightSky.org
Other News
• Volunteer Opportunities at BCFNS Volunteers
Consider Becoming A Member
Join our 108 members. For more information on all our membership options click here: Membership Options.
Membership Sign Promotion - A membership sign is the best publicity the night sky can have. Here’s the link: BCFNS Membership Signs
Remember we are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Please consult your accountant or tax adviser for details regarding deductibility for your donation.