BCFNS NEWSLETTER

November 2020

In September 2018, a new, county-wide organization, the Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky, was formed to bring together night sky advocates and leverage their collective talents for the preservation of the night sky and light pollution abatement in Blanco County and the Texas Hill Country.

In their first year, much has been accomplished. They registered with the county as an authorized non-profit organization; initiated recognition as a 501 (c)3 organization; recruited a membership of more than 50; designed a logo and established a brand; designed a metal membership sign; created a Facebook page that now has almost 200 members; created a webpage with a wealth of night sky preservation information; coordinated star parties and numerous night sky informative presentations; developed the costumed character of the Wizard of the Night Sky to support community education efforts; won first prize booth at the Blanco County Fair; sponsored a county-wide Night Sky Art Contest for middle school students; sponsored a Night Sky Essay Contest for Blanco High School students; sponsored a “Deep in the Dark of Texas™” Night Sky Song Writing Contest for the many talented songwriters in Blanco County and beyond; trademarked the slogan “Deep in the Dark of Texas” and “The Deep Dark;” helped design “I Love the Night Sky” stickers to be used as participation prizes in its various contests; reactivated the Blanco Chamber of Commerce’s Night Sky Business Recognition Program; assisted in the formation of the Hill Country Alliance’s Night Sky Friendly Neighborhood program; facilitated arrangements for the installation of permanent Sky Quality meters in Blanco and Johnson City; worked with the Hill Country Alliance to successfully pass legislation in the Texas State Legislature giving three communities in Blanco and Hays counties access to Hotel Occupancy Tax funds for night sky preservation; coordinated with the International Dark Sky Association to support the 2020 IDA Annual General Meeting in San Antonio; and assisted in the writing of the City of Blanco’s application to be designated an International Dark Sky Association International Dark Sky Community.

The Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky intends to continue these efforts with a special emphasis on assisting the cities of Johnson City and Round Mountain become International Dark Sky Communities.