Selected Articles from the
December 1999 Odyssey
Editor: Craig E. Ward
OASIS Officer Election Results
At the November 20, 1999 meeting, the following people accepted and were elected to officer positions for the chapter.
| President | Seth Potter |
| Vice President | Steve Bartlett |
| Secretary | Bob Gounley |
| Treasurer | Karin Ward |
The terms of office runs through the November 2000 general meeting. Congratulations to Seth, Steve, Bob, and Karin!
NSS Comes to Planetfest
by Diane Rhodes
Photographs courtesy of Karen Savage.
A lot of people in Pasadena spent the first weekend of December 1999 looking up -- the National Space Society (NSS) and California Space Development Council (CSDC) were there.
The Planetary Society presented Planetfest '99 at the Pasadena Convention Center, dedicated to space exploration and timed to coincide with the landing of NASA’s Mars Polar Lander. There were numerous displays devoted to NASA missions — past, present, and future — as well as space art, books on space, and numerous children’s space activities. A huge wall-size screen provided continual updates on what was known about Mars Polar Lander.
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| NSS-CSDC display table. Photograph courtesy Karen Savage. |
NSS and CSDC jointly hosted a membership table where they distributed copies of Ad Astra and literature about NSS and its chapters worldwide. To the delight of hundreds of passers-by, there were samples of Mars (the candy bar, that is) offered free for the taking. Volunteers staffing the table came from OASIS, the Golden Gate chapter, the Orange County Space Society, the Western Spaceport chapter, and the new Inland Empire chapter. (One volunteer with a broken ankle even came in a wheelchair.)
Planetfest programming was truly varied. Presentations were made by several astronauts including Sally Ride, Buzz Aldrin, Scott Carpenter, and Vance Brand, to name a few. Painters Jan Lonberg, William Hartman, and Don Davis represented the arts. Science fiction authors David Brin, Gregory Benford, Alan Dean Foster, and Greg Bear discussed literature. Hollywood made its presence known with screen actor Gary Sinese, star of the upcoming movie Mission to Mars, and TV actors Robert Picardo and
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| Mars lander prototype. Photograph courtesy Karen Savage. |
To a surprising degree, the apparent loss of the Mars Polar Lander did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowds. Thousands came to celebrate space exploration even as the mishap unfolded. There was disappointment, of course, but also a quiet determination. We will go back.
In all, it was truly a festival of the planets and NSS/CSDC were very pleased to participate again. Every year, opportunities come up for chapters to get the word out about NSS in their regions. Events like this are a fun way to participate and share interest in space.
The following NSS chapter members gave time and energy to this project: Jim Spellman (Western Spaceport chapter); Jean-Marie Walker (Golden Gate chapter); Larry Evans & Cherie Rubideau (Orange County Space Society); Carlos Nickerson (Inland Empire chapter); Terry & Karen Savage, Craig & Karin Ward, Steve Bartlett, Tina Beychok, Diane Rhodes, Bob & Theresa Hillhouse, Catherine Hillhouse, and Bob Gounley (OASIS).
New Years, New Officers, and New Challenges
By Craig E. Ward,
Interim Editor
Contrary to what many seem to believe, the coming year does not mark the beginning of the Second Millennium of the Gregorian Calendar. (That will be in 2001.) It does, however, mark the passing of 1000 years since the year underwent a change in every digit. Now that is a reason to party!
The changing of the year also brings the changing of the officers in the chapter. Along with the year 2000, we welcome the new officers. All of the officers have served in some capacity with the chapter and bring that experience and know-how to the group.
It takes more than the officers to make the chapter work. It takes all of the members and volunteers together to make OASIS an effective tool in the quest to build a spacefaring civilization.
In the last year, OASIS has developed a fine program of science education within the Los Angeles area science fiction community. The effort put into arranging for panels, presentations, and workshops has brought the realities of science to the fans of science fiction.
We are looking to expand this program and take it out into the community.
A project is in place to create a Speakers Bureau and to offer services to community groups and schools. This project needs additional speakers and handlers. More speakers are needed and more volunteers are needed to coordinate the activities. If this appeals to you, please step forward.
This project is not the only one in need of volunteers. We have many ways to help and to make a difference. Come to a monthly meeting and get to know the involved people and find a way to join in. The rewards can be great.
The coming of a new year is always a time to contemplate where we’ve been and where we’re going. As we begin the final countdown to the Second Millennium, I hope that everyone takes the opportunity to consider new ways of getting involved and helping to make things happen.
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