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For 2020 YCSP at Susquehannock State Park, which month, August, September, or October, would be your FIRST choice? Would you go the other months, or not, in what order?

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I am closing the poll tomorrow midnight for preferences for which month to hold the party next year.? If you haven’t voted yet, please do so immediately.? All votes can be submitted directly to me at philderosa1@...

Two caveats to the voting: ?I expect to have a definitive answer soon from the Busy Bee as to their availability for these dates.? I am also trying to get an answer from the State Parks on how early they shut off the water at the park.

Results to be shared Monday, or as soon as I get an answer from both of the above entities.

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Likewise, if you haven’t made the jump to the new group from Yahoo, you will lose contact and update info about future parties at our new location at Susquehannock State Park, which is a shame, because it is a beautiful dark site for this event.? If you give it a try, you might be pleasantly surprised.? Please check out Glen Ward’s review of his visit at the 2019 York County Star Party on Cloudy Nights. ?

August is running a distant third, and everyone that voted for it included a second preference, but I am not counting the 2 votes for August preference for any other month so as not to sway the current voting.

the remaining options are:

New moon September 17 means YCSP September 16-20

New moon October 16 means YCSP October 14-18

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Thanks everyone !? I hope to see you at the party no matter what month ends up chosen.

Phil

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Phil,

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I vote for October

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Tom Sprecher

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OK, I am not keeping anyone in suspense.? We have a clear winner.? I will preface that by explaining 2 votes…

We had a walk-in attendee that voted, and because that person made the effort to appear, I included that vote.

The second vote was withheld until everyone else voted, and it really wouldn’t have changed the result.? But I felt that person had at least as much right to express my opinion as anyone else, if not more.? That was my own vote.

Assuming Busy Bee is available, the dates will be September 16-20, 2020

This was the result:

础耻驳耻蝉迟……….02%

厂别辫迟别尘产别谤…53%

October……..39% ??(possible dates were October 14-18)

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For those of you who look at averages (which includes me), I will share something I’ve learned about them.? Standard deviations (sd) make a bigger difference.? For instance, the average of the stock market (I advise people about investments) is about 11% for about 75 years.? The problem is that it hit the average about 2 times in that period.? It’s the highs and lows that drive investors nuts if they don’t understand it.

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I looked up standard deviations for temperatures in this area, and to explain it simply, 1 standard deviation (sd) for the month of October is about 7 degrees either side of the average.

68% of the time, temps fall within 1 sd, or +/- 7 degrees of the average low of 48 degrees.? That can range from 41 to 55 degrees.

However, about 27% of the time, temps fall between 1 and 2 sd’s, or +/- 14 degrees of the average of 48.? That range now changes to 34-62 degrees.? No way to forecast this a year in advance.

And for those extreme temps that fall OUTSIDE of 2 sd’s 5% of the time?? Well, if I had decided to hold a star party this week, October 13-17, the forecast lows every night Tuesday-Sunday are expected to range 20-24 degrees…? Not very often, but that would have proved devastating to a new party location that hasn’t built a strong following yet.

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If you ever meet Bradley Heist, ask him about the averages for it to be cloudy or raining at the York observatory.? During his stint as event coordinator for a local club, he will tell you it is 100%.? That is, if he had planned a date for a club event…

Phil

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Hello all,

Thank you all who have shared your thoughts about the vote.?

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? Did you count the votes like mine that were sent as emails and not votes? The Yahoo site wouldn't let me vote, so I simply sent the email.

The other email type votes I saw were all votes for October.

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ANSWER: YES??? I have copies of all votes from the poll-- I get direct notification of all votes to my inbox.? Likewise, all the emails and response I got are saved in a separate file.? Also got the responses that were tagged to the bottom of the poll.

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This will - almost certainly - be the dates of the Black Forest Star Party.

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WELL, MAYBE.? ACTUALLY, I’VE BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH STEVE TAYLOR, A MEMBER ON THE BFSP?COMMITTEE.? My first question was when the BFSP will be.? His best GUESS that he gave me LAST WEEK would be August.? No promises.? The CPO is currently in re-negotiations with the State Parks.

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Rather then the temperature, what will prove devastating - from an attendance standpoint - for your event is that anyone wishing for a superior observing experience will choose Cherry Springs and the Black Forest Star Party instead of the YCSP. ??

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THIS STAR PARTY IS NOT TRYING TO COMPETE WITH BFSP, AHSP, STELLAFANE, OR ANY OTHER PARTY.? THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO MAKE THE TRIP TO THOSE PARTIES.? Having been involved with this party since 1995, my opinion is that it is a niche party, fairly dark enough for the observers in the big cities or south of here, within 2-3 hours’ drive of this area.? Many attendees would have to double their drives to attend the bigger parties.

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If YCSP is to be considered a “can’t miss” regional star party rather then the a small gathering of 20-30 people you need not have it on the same dates as the Black Forest Star Party. ?By doing so, you’ll limit your attendance

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I HAVEN’T SEEN ANY SIZABLE ATTENDANCE BY ANY OF THE LOCAL CLUBS (Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, Reading, Westminster) ?IN 10 YEARS, EXCEPT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FAITHFULLY ASSISTED ME KEEP THIS PARTY GOING.?

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and the sales/profits that Buzzy Bee will realize. ?I do know that the folks running the Black Forest Star Party are looking at contacting Busy Bee as a possible food vendor for 2020 Black Forest Star Party.

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I’VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS WITH BUSY BEE.? I think there are some logistics issues that might be of concern going north.??

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Finally, your poll only took into account people who attended this year, and/or are members of this group. ?This is a much smaller audience then potential attendees if you were not competing with the Black Forest Star Party.

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(SEE ABOVE REMARK ABOUT COMPETING)

“THIS (YAHOO/.io) GROUP HAS ABOUT 200 MEMBERS.? THEY NEVER ATTEND ALL AT ONCE.? Some haven’t attended for years, retired, or lost interest.? I also questioned people that attended that aren’t on the groups (yet?).? A sizable amount attended this year simply because they found out about it on the web. ?I am trying to fill a void, because there appears to be a need.

I ran the party for over a decade when it was consistently over 325 attendees.? That was great to increase funds for “the club”. ?Apparently I was no longer needed for that purpose.? With the amount of people that joined the new group from the Yahoo group, and the interest of other people AND CLUBS ?that have contacted me after the Cloudy Nights review by Glen Ward, I am not worried about becoming as big as the other parties… actually, attendees have expressed concern if it DID get that big.? This location might not be able to support that many people, anyway.? Nor might the park supervisor want that many overusing this pristine park.? I’m fine with that.? I DON’T NEED THAT MUCH WORK.? OR THAT MUCH PROFIT. ??AND…I WANT TO HAVE FUN AGAIN.?

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I am not sure why you mentioned Brad Heist as it made no sense, but he’ll be attending the Black Forest Star Party. ?

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There is no way to make everyone happy.? For those of you who decide to go elsewhere, I wish you safe travel, and great observing opportunities.? This party may still be here if you can attend in the future.? All are welcome.? I’ve been to Cherry Springs a few times, and was lucky to observe every time.? I’ve heard others haven’t been that lucky.?

As my friend in Canada says,

Clear Skies!

Phil

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This may be interesting to some of you.

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FIRST..the STATE PARK PEOPLE

I was surprised that the local parks offices have no knowledge of the parties held at Cherry Springs or even Codorus Park.? The supervisors are entrusted as stewards of public lands, take their work very seriously, and are very protective.? I am thrilled that they took a chance on our event, and I can understand their caution.? When I was stuck for a location 3 years ago and managed to get the scout camp with 3 weeks warning, when I learned of the airport owner’s death.? I was told how the scout council was burned with the aftermath of allowing some events to use Wizard Ranch, and last year I heard about how disabled vehicles were left abandoned on a park property.? These are terrific people trying to do a wonderful job, truly as public servants.? We are lucky to have them, and their caution is justified.

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SECOND..the STATE PARK property..

I am proceeding slowly and cautiously, to gain trust and build a good relationship, and see what potential there is for events at this park.? Too much too fast is not a good thing here, in spite of my excitement and enthusiasm.? These people have let us do things they haven’t allowed anyone else to do, and for that, we can both benefit.? I am looking to help them with their efforts to promote use as well as preserve this gorgeous park.? It is a small, forgotten piece of Lancaster County, which is one reason it is so dark.? Surrounded by farmland on both sides of the river, Muddy Run Park to the north, and the Susquehanna River to the south, it is not likely to have the skies ruined by light pollution.? Ever.? I could only hope.? We are also amazed at how hard and dry this field is.? We are the first to be allowed to drive on it.? For any of you who remember pulling onto the field at Codorus State Park in the early 2000’s, seeing a third of it taped off due to being soggy, I can appreciate their caution.

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THREE…the future of our EVENTS

One of the things that some of you know is that I am an old boy scout.? I was a kid in Brooklyn when I joined at age 10, and was taught to leave places better than I found them.? Since 1995, I am usually the last person to leave the party, and I police the entire property for the tiniest bits of trash to remove any trace of our visit.? I want people to realize we respect the privilege they extend to us when we have a place to hold our events.? Most of you do the same.? The last couple of years have been iffy, to say the least, but I never want anyone to be able to say anything negative about their experience with us.

As we move forward, there may be opportunities for evening star watches or additional camping events.? I will discuss these ideas when possible, and always, there are people that need to give permission to the supervisors, so please be patient.? As I said, I’ve been looking for a place like this for a long time.? And here it was, in my own backyard, so to speak.? I plan to be welcome back here for a long time.

Thanks everyone for supporting me and this party.? I don’t take that for granted, either.

Phil

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