BCFNS NEWSLETTER
May 2023
Issue 38
Contact us at newsletter@BlancoCountyNightSky.org
863 Facebook Group members -- 456 Instagram Followers
Click here for accomplishments in last year
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THE SONG CONTEST IS ON !!!
The deadline to register is September 15, 2023. There will be a live performance of the entries at 6 pm on October 4, 2023, at Gem of the Hills, where people can vote on their favorite song. There is no theme other than the night sky, BUT . . . you might want to slip in something about the upcoming solar eclipses! The contest winner will receive $200, with the second and third place winners receiving $100 and $50 respectively. That isn’t much, but it comes with a year’s worth of bragging rights! For more information click here: 2023 Song Contest
2023 ART CONTEST WINNERS
In case you didn’t see these posts on Facebook or Instagram, here are pictures of our 2023 School Art Contest Winners with their art. If you do look at social media, be sure to check back often as we will be posting pictures of all the art submitted to the contest.
Students from Lyndon B. Johnson Middle School placed in the top two spots of the BCFNS Middle School Art Contest!
Pictured above from left to right we have Katie Shannan, 2nd Place and Alan Bruno Castaneda, 1st Place with their artistic interpretations of "Solar Eclipse".
Middle School Art Contest winners from Blanco Middle School: Pictured above from left to right are Kris Baker, Art Teacher; Jude Rodriguez, Honorable Mention; Emma Edmondson, 4th Place; Kamryn Gaskamp, 3rd Place; Zane Hood, Honorable Mention; Jonah Forsberg, 5th Place; and Wayne Gosnell, BCFNS President.
Pictured above from left to right are the winners of the BCFNS High School Art Contest from Lyndon B. Johnson High School: BCFNS Secretary, Barbara Hudson; 4th Place, Clara Baker; 3rd Place, Emma Alba; Honorable Mention, Marten Torres; 1st Place, Elizabeth Johns; 5th Place, Stevie Rodgers; Honorable Mention, Audrey Shannan; and Art Teacher, Diane Hudson.
Wayne Gosnell is pictured above with Blanco High School sophomore, Emily Sapp and art teacher, Callida Borgnino. Emily won second place in the BCFNS High School Art Contest. Wayne loved Emily’s art so much…he purchased it!
ANNUAL JOE GARCIA MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
The Rotary Club of Blanco County hosted the Annual Joe Garcia Memorial Golf Tournament on May 9 at Vaaler Creek Golf Course in Blanco. BCFNS lifetime member Joe Guidry played in this tournament with some neighbors at Rockin’ J Ranch and snapped the picture. The golf tournament is the major fundraiser to provide scholarships to graduates of Blanco and Johnson City high schools as well as many other service projects in Blanco County and beyond. Joe Garcia is the late husband of Leta Garcia; they started the Blanco County Rotary Club. Leta is a supporting member of BCFNS and helps with the annual school art contest. It seemed fitting to remember our friends with a hole sponsorship.
IT WORKED!!!
Just like our President said it would! Wayne has always told everyone that “a membership sign is the best publicity the night sky can have”. Our newest members, Stephen and Michelle Anthony, purchased a sign with their membership. When asked how they came to know about our group Michelle told us that “While out walking our dog I saw the sign on a neighbor’s fence”. She wanted to find out more about the group so she checked out our website and decided to become a member. Keep reading so you can find out how to get your membership sign.
CONSIDER BECOMING A MEMBER
Membership Sign Promotion - A membership sign is the best publicity the night sky can have. For those of you thinking of joining BCFNS or renewing your membership, we are offering a free one-year membership ($20) with the purchase of a sign ($35 tax included). Here’s the link: BCFNS Membership Signs. Any member without a sign that renews for two or more years, gets a free sign if they want one…and we hope they do!
For more information on all our membership options click here: Membership Options
Remember we are an IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Please consult your accountant or tax adviser for details regarding deductibility for your donation.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP GATHERING & STAR PARTY
Jack Petersen & John Watson from the Hill Country Astronomers. Both are now BCFNS 5-year members; they joined at our April gathering.
From left to right:
Vicki Guidry
Larry Seiler
Rachel Lumpee
Bob Heinonen
Barbara Hudson
Elizabeth Miller
Wayne Gosnell
The Blanco County News printed this article, written by BCFNS member, Stefanie Wright:
“The Blanco County Friends of The Night Sky celebrated a big milestone recently. It’s been one year since the city of Blanco was designated an International Dark Sky Community (IDSC). The group celebrated the anniversary with a members’ gathering and star party at Los Senderos Studio & Ranch. The event included a cake cutting by Blanco Mayor Rachel Lumpee, a drawing for door prizes, an update of the activities and recent projects of the group, and presentation by the Hill Country Astronomers of the Stellarium program in lieu of a telescope star party due to the heavy cloud cover.
Blanco received the IDSC designation April 26, 2022 after more than a decade of dedicated effort and organization by the Blanco County Friends of The Night Sky. The designation requires the involvement of a municipality (the city of Blanco in this case), having a system to measure the darkness of the night sky, passing and enforcement of a lighting ordinance, having an active night sky public education program, and being able to show success in light pollution control. Keeping the designation requires maintaining these requirements as well.
The Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky sponsor an annual songwriting contest, and an art contest in partnership with Blanco County schools to encourage, inspire and educate citizens to protect the night sky. The winners of this year’s art contest were acknowledged at the gathering and one winner, Emma Alba, was present as well as art teacher, Diane Hudson. The prizes will be distributed at the winners’ schools in the coming week. The winning songs from last year’s concert were also performed at the event.
At the meeting, President Wayne Gosnell mentioned the need for volunteers to take nighttime darkness readings in south Blanco County and stated that there is a training program for people who are interested in helping compile readings. The annual report to the International Dark Sky Association is due at the end of the year, and this data will be included.
Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky depends on the participation of volunteers and members to spread the word about how to protect the night sky (it’s actually pretty easy), and is always accepting new members. For more information on the group and how to get involved visit https://www.blancocountynightsky.org/”
Next Business & Brainstorming Session
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, June 21st @ 9:00AM, at El Charro Restaurant in Johnson City. If you would like to attend via Zoom, just let us know a few days ahead of time so we can make arrangements. Contact us at info@BlancoCountyNightSky.org