Lesson 3: Administration
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[edit] Keyholder Communications
Keyholder communications take place using the discussion forums on MnAstro.org. There are two primary forums for this communication.
[edit] Onan Observatory Discussions forum
The Onan Observatory Discussions forum, viewable by all registered users, is where discussions regarding construction, maintenance, general Eperational updates, equipment status reports, work party plans and event summaries are also posted here, as is other general information that might be of interest to the MAS membership.
[edit] Onan Keyholders forum
Scheduling and keyholder-specific communications take place in the Onan Keyholders forum.
Announcements regarding upcoming public, special or MAS events at the observatory will show up here. If you want to volunteer for one of these, follow the supplied instructions.
This forum is viewable only by keyholders (and the Society's board members), so feel free to post information here that you might not want to broadcast to the entire world in one of the open forums--publishing your unlisted phone number to fellow keyholders or discussing your plans for an evening alone at the observatory, for example.
[Note: You may occasionally receive an email requesting you visit this forum for important updates or for 'nags' when we're nearing a public or MAS event and we don't have sufficient volunteers.]
[edit] Onan Signup meetinglist
There is a new prototyp of a scheduling system for the observatory available that is accessed via an Onan Signup meeting list. You can access it via the Onan Signup link found at the top of each forum page.
All public events are listed. If you wish to volunteer for one, simply click on the [Meeting Details] link for the appropriate event. Details for the event will be displayed. Click on the [Sign on the meeting with] button to add your name to the volunteer list. You can also post a comment using the [Enter a comment] link at the bottom of the page.
[edit] Observatory Availability, Schedules
There are online calendars that lists all activities at the observatory--public, MAS and private. As with the keyholder list, there are two versions, one public, the other limited to keyholder access.
[edit] General Availability
The public version is at www.mnastro.org/onan/showreserve.htm, and is provided so that MAS members who are not keyholders can determine if there are any upcoming opportunities to visit the observatory, or to determine available nights if they would like to schedule use of the observatory (again, more to come later on this topic).
[edit] All Events List
In addition to the calendars described above, there is a listing of all observatory activities avaiilable at http://www.mnastro.org/onankey/showonanall.htm. (To the left of the page, your'll see a 'Printable Version' link if you want a graphics-free version to send to your printer.) This is a comprehensive list of everything observatory-related--events, work parties, reservations, lunar phases, even meetings of the Onan Committee.
[edit] Reservations
Keyholders may reserve the observatory for personal or group use. The reservation system is located at www.mnastro.org/onankey/reservations/reserve.htm.
A log-on ID and password is required to access the reservation system. The log-on ID is your discussion forum ID. The password is shared by all keyholders, and the current password is always posted in the Onan Keyholders forum in the topic HOWTO: Access the Onan keyholders web site. Note that the both the log-on ID and password are also case-sensitive.
You'll see [Add] buttons on the reservation system calendar. Clicking one of these brings up the form you use to reserve the observatory.
Click on any calendar entry for more details regarding the event or reservation.
[edit] On-line Operating Manual
On-line documentation that contains equipment manuals, program materials and general instructions regarding observatory operations is here, in the www.mnastro.org/onanwiki OnanWiki. After you read all the training material, feel free to browse through the information.
[Note: OnanWikiis a 'work in progress'. It will eventually contain everything you need to know about running the observatory and its equipment.]
[edit] Closing Checklist
If you look to the left-hand column you'll see a Closing Checklist link.
Copies of this list are kept at the observatory, and it is the responsibility of the keyholder in charge to complete this form every time the observatory is closed after an event, work party or personal use.
[It sometimes happens that the stock of forms at the observatory doesn't get replenished after the last form is used, or the forms that are available are out of date. It's always wise to access the Closing Checklist article on OnanWiki and print off a closing form before you head out to the observatory.]
In addition to ensuring that things aren't overlooked after an all-night observing marathon by tired keyholders, this list also tracks the number of users and visitors at the observatory, a figure provided to Baylor Regional Park at the end of each year.
(More information regarding the checklist is provided during the on-site component of the training.)
[edit] Keyholder directories
There are two keyholder directories published on the web.
[edit] Public directory
The first, visible to the world, is at www.mnastro.org/onan/heyholders. You'll note it only lists your name and your city of residence as it's listed in the MAS membership database. This is provided so members who are not keyholders know who to contact if they want to arrange a session at the observatory (more on this later).
[edit] Keyholder-only directory
The second directory is at www.mnastro.org/onankey/keyholders and is password-protected. (Login instructions are found in the Onan Keyholders forum.) You'll note there is more information provided here including email and phone contact information. Use this list when you need detailed contact information for a specific keyholder.
[We are also in the process of providing keyholder photographs in this directory -- click on a name to put a face with that disembodied voice you've only heard during the darkness of a late-night star party!]
[edit] Summary
That's a lot of information, and you may be overwhelmed at this point. To recap the critical information:
- To learn about staffing needs and to volunteer, monitor the Onan Keyholders forum.
- To make a reservation to use the observatory, use the application at Onan Observatory Reservations using your forum ID and the common keyholder password to log-in.
- If you want specific instructions regarding obervatory operations or public program materials, browse or search OnanWiki.
- Always complete a closing checking when you close the observatory
- And if you're ever TOTALLY lost and don't know where to turn, post a message describing your need to the Onan Keyholders forum.
[Continue on to Building Overview]
