SearchLites - Vol 27 No 3

Magazine Overview

SearchLites, Volume 27, Number 3, Summer 2021, is the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc. The issue's cover headline is "Pandemic Assistance – Just Around the Corner," by H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director Emeritus.

Pandemic Assistance and Organizational Status

H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director Emeritus, opens the issue by discussing the global pandemic's impact on The SETI League. He notes that the organization has weathered the storm relatively well, with leadership already accustomed to remote work and volunteers continuing their efforts. The search for extraterrestrial technology has not been hindered. He highlights that many in-person scientific conferences have moved to virtual platforms, a trend The SETI League has also adopted for its Annual Membership Meeting. Shuch points out that the curtailment of travel has kept the organization solvent, despite an expected reduction in contributions and dues. To assist members, the Board of Trustees voted to extend the membership period for all currently in good standing through the end of 2022, at no charge. He thanks members for their support and wishes them health as normalcy returns.

Guest Editorial: In Support of the Next Generation Arecibo Telescope

Claudio Maccone, Chair of the IAA SETI Permanent Committee, presents a guest editorial in support of the "white paper titled: ‘The Future of the Arecibo Observatory: The Next Generation Arecibo Telescope.'" The IAA SETI Committee endorses the paper and supports rebuilding a new telescope at the Arecibo site, believing it will significantly advance SETI, Planetary Science, Space and Atmospheric Sciences, and Astronomy. Maccone provides a brief history of the IAA SETI Committee, established over fifty years ago by prominent radio astronomers, and notes its current membership of 96 distinguished scientists. The committee meets annually during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), hosting sessions on SETI Science and Technology, SETI and Society, and interactive presentations. He encourages readers to visit iaaseti.org for more information and emphasizes the historical significance of SETI searches conducted at the Arecibo radio telescope, advocating for the continuation of this tradition.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI. These include the 79th World Science Fiction Convention (August 25-29, 2021, Washington, DC), the 71st International Astronautical Congress (October 25-29, 2021, Dubai, UAE), the Twenty-Eighth SETI League Annual Membership Meeting (April 24, 2022, online), the Penn State SETI Symposium (June 27-30, 2022, State College, PA), the 72nd International Astronautical Congress (September 18-22, 2022, Paris, France), and the 73rd International Astronautical Congress (2023, Baku, Azerbaijan). Readers are advised to check with event sponsors for updates due to potential COVID-19 related cancellations or rescheduling.

Minutes of the 2021 SETI Virtual Membership Meeting

The minutes detail the virtual meeting conducted online on April 18, 2021. Key points include:

• Call to Order: Convened via Zoom at 13:07 EDT.
• Quorum Call: Trustees and Officers present included A. Heather Wood, Richard Factor, and H. Paul Shuch. Martin Schreiber was absent.
• Minutes of 2020 Board Meeting: Accepted as previously posted online.
• Treasurer's Report: For the calendar year 2020, revenues were $8,016 ($8,014 from dues/contributions, $2 from interest). Expenses totaled $14,308 ($11,766 for educational/scientific programs, $750 for management/general, $1,792 for fundraising). This resulted in an excess deficit of ($6,293). The year-end account balance was $13,341, with beginning net assets of $19,634.
• The 2021 Budget projected revenues of $8,000 and total expenses of $10,500, with a projected deficit of ($2,500) and an ending balance of $10,841.
• Executive Director's Report: During 2020, the Executive Director published four issues of SearchLites, gave no public lectures due to COVID-19, performed 52 weekly website updates, posted photos and links on Facebook, issued one press release, and served as an Emeritus member of the IAA SETI Committee.
• Committee Reports:
• Membership: Six new members joined in 2020, with two new members so far in 2021.
• OSETI Committee: Mr. Factor met with SETI Institute scientists Seth Shostak and Eliott Gillum regarding OSETI equipment and plans to install an Optical SETI observatory.
• Awards Committee: No SETI SuperStar, Giordano Bruno, or Orville N. Greene Awards were presented in 2020.
• Old Business: The Annual Report was posted online and published in SearchLites. The Web Server had no issues. The Interstellar Beacon project was terminated, with remaining assets donated to The SETI League. The SETI League website and Facebook page are the primary means of disseminating press releases, as an email Press List is lacking. Voicemail and email inboxes receive a high volume of spam.
• New Business:
• Election of Officers: The slate of officers was retained for another year: Richard Factor (President), A. Heather Wood (Secretary/Treasurer), and H. Paul Shuch (Executive Director Emeritus).
• Annual Budget: The draft 2021 Budget was adopted.
• Tax Return Filing: The 2020 organizational tax return was successfully e-filed.
• Mid-Year Renewal Letter: A letter will be sent to lapsed members offering discounted renewals. All current members will receive complimentary 2022 renewals due to pandemic service limitations, though donations are welcome.
• New Jersey Charities Registration: Annual forms and fees were submitted and accepted.
• Next Meeting: The next Annual Meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 24, 2022, to be held virtually via Zoom.
• Advisory Board: The Executive Director Emeritus will send a letter of thanks to the Advisory Board for their service.
• Good and Welfare: The SETI League's Facebook page has attracted 1,473 'likes' and 1506 'follows'.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 13:45 EDT on April 18, 2021, followed by the Board of Trustees meeting.

Board of Trustees Actions

The Board of Trustees accepted all reports from the Membership Meeting and adopted the 2021 Budget. They also reviewed terms for cost-sharing of the Executive Director Emeritus's health insurance premiums. An Executive Session was held to discuss long-term planning for The SETI League, Inc. The meeting adjourned at 13:58 EDT.

Financial Reports

The issue includes detailed financial reports for The SETI League for 2020 and the proposed 2021 budget. The 2020 report shows revenues of $8,016 and expenses of $14,308, resulting in a deficit of ($6,293). The beginning net assets were $19,634, and ending net assets were $13,341. The 2021 budget projects revenues of $8,000 and expenses of $10,500, with a projected deficit of ($2,500) and projected ending net assets of $10,841.

Membership Renewal and Premiums

Page 8 provides information on annual membership renewal, which is issued for the calendar year. It details different membership categories and their annual costs, including Full Member ($50/yr), Supporting Member ($35/yr), Scholarship Member ($25/yr), Household Member ($15/yr), Household Life Member ($300), Life Member ($1,000), Sustaining Life Member ($1,000/yr), Patron ($10,000), Director ($100,000), and Benefactor ($1,000,000). It also lists various membership premiums available for purchase, such as pocket protectors, mouse pads, CD-ROMs, and proceedings from conferences, with different prices for members and non-members. Payment can be made via PayPal.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the resilience and continuity of The SETI League amidst the global pandemic, the importance of continued SETI research (highlighted by support for the Next Generation Arecibo Telescope), and the organization's financial health and membership engagement. The editorial stance is one of cautious optimism, emphasizing the organization's ability to adapt to changing circumstances (like virtual meetings) and its commitment to its mission. There is a clear focus on transparency through detailed financial reporting and meeting minutes, and a strong emphasis on member support and participation.