Toa Payoh Astronomy Interest Group?

timatworksg · Post by **timatworksg** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 7:42 pm

"T ele-sco P e ?" haha! Bad joke!

Weixing...when the clouds clear , announce ya? I could drop by and join you for some night activities...loL!

@Gary
Great job on your enthusiasm bro!! Not many people like you who have such a passion for a hobby!! If you need any help lemme know!

Jin Peng · Post by **Jin Peng** » Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:48 am

Hi Gary,

Good intiative. Soon we will have TPASTRO coming up.

May I know your interest groups will be park under which sub committee? I would strongly advice you park under YEC. If the YEC support the formation, they can apply for a IG grant which amount to 3K.

So you can purchase telescopes using the money to kick start the sessions =)
mpastro and agastro will support any upcoming cc astro clubs =D

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:10 am

@Jin Peng: Thanks for the encouragement and info! Now I that I understand the implication of getting the IG under YEC, will seriously consider doing that. We should catch up sometime over coffee. Something big is very likely going to happen at Toa Payoh. Need your advise on that.

If our IG gets formed, we will definitely support upcoming mpastro and agastro events! We should have lots of fun in Astro Conference 2011!

@Tim: Thanks for the offer to help. Will need it soon in the upcoming weeks.

3000 bucks okay? Tempted to start a group at Pasir Ris? PRASTRO?

fizzy123 · Post by **fizzy123** » Sat Aug 28, 2010 10:48 am

Hi Gary, I am not sure if the YEC will be suitable for you as it is a Youth wing under the PA. Thus by definition of youth, it is age 13-35, so even if the IG is formed, I doubt you can take part. But upon said, why IG under only the YEC will get 3K worth of funding? What abt the adult wing? There are already 2 clubs currently targeting the youngsters, thus I doubt it will be a prudent move to form another grp under the YEC

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Sat Aug 28, 2010 12:26 pm

Good questions. I am searching for the answers to them also.

Jin Peng · Post by **Jin Peng** » Sat Aug 28, 2010 1:31 pm

Hi Gary, we can meet up this Sunday? I can be contacted at 97720230. I will explain the complex structure of the Grassroots... there is a reason why YEC is better.

Hi Fizzy, just want to clarify that both mpastro and agastro welcomes all ages, but we prefer to accept youth as members for a few reasons and starting a IG has no age limit in YEC as long as the Youth Executive Committee accept and endorse the formation. so Pasir ris can consider ah, the strongest YEC in Singapore is in Elias CC at the moment.

Jin Peng · Post by **Jin Peng** » Sat Aug 28, 2010 1:32 pm

oh... and the age 12 - 35 apply only to Youth Executive committee member, not the IG =)

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Sat Aug 28, 2010 2:16 pm

Hi Jin Peng. Thanks! Will touch base with you. It will be good if you can also write a short article about setting up an Astro IG group from an insider point of view. That can then be use as a reference and official discussion thread. This will encourage more people to set one up at their location.

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Sun Aug 29, 2010 5:25 pm

As of now, I am 99.99% sure that I will not set up an IG at Toa Payoh. Someone whom I know is more qualified, more experienced and have better connections will (not Jin Peng).

I will support the activities organised by that Toa Payoh group.

The main reason for me not setting up the IG is that after giving some deep thoughts about how I would like to contribute to local astronomy and how to balance that with the other priorities in my life, the IG channel does not seems suitable.

Big thanks to Jin Peng for sharing his thoughts about the pros and cons of setting up and IG. See you on TV tonight!