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On
March 21, 2012, a memo of understanding [MOU] was
signed by Camp
Joy Outdoor Education Center, Area
Progress Council of Warren County, Warren County
Astronomical Society, Voorhis Slone Welsh Crossland
Archhitects, and Telescope donors Rachel Hutzel and
Jeff Blazey. The signing of this historic MOU is shown
below. CLICK
HERE FOR A VIDEO OF THE MOU SIGNING
HISTORY
of HOW A TELESCOPE BECAME AN OBSERVATORY
- Warren County, Ohio-
On
February 16, 2011 Mr. Jeff Blazey proposed an in-kind
donation of a large telescope for use in a public
access observatory to Warren County. Jeff Blazy invited
Walt Davis and several other members of the community
to see the telescope that he had built and donated
to Warren County. The visit became the first step
in forming a team of interested people to build a
small observatory to house the telescope.
Mr. Davis recognized that this idea could possibly
excite members of Area Progress Council of Warren
County. The advocates for business, education and
community service remain vigilant for educational
and cultural projects that will enhance our area.
He presented the project idea to the APC Board on
March 2. Instantly, five members of the Board volunteered
and formed an ad hoc Warren County Observatory Committee.
Board member, Jim Voorhis, CEO of VSWC Architects
in Mason, OH volunteered to chair the Committee. Mr.
Davis volunteered to chair the Construction Fundraising
Subcommittee, and recruited Jan Edwards, APC 2nd Vice
President to co-chair. (Ms. Edwards recently served
as event manager for a Yellow Ribbon Fund event featuring
General Stanley McChrystal, which took place in Warren
County. The highly successful fundraiser exceeded
its $30,000 goal by over $10,000.)
Mrs. Maggie Hess, Superintendent of the Warren County
Career Center, and APC Board Member agreed to consider
the construction of the Observatory as a school project
for its commercial-grade construction trade programs.
Several
features have made this project universally popular
with citizens, Warren County Career Center and APC:
" Project is relatively small and achievable
within a short time frame
" High quality facility, designed by a professional
architect
" Economical to build and operate
" Creates another high quality cultural element
for the citizens of Warren County
" Combining science with education
may form the core laboratory for an Astronomy element
to be added to the curricula of local school districts
" Built by students, who will forever be proud
of their achievement
" Enhance tourism
The Observatory will feature several very large, laser-engraved,
black granite wall coverings displaying the universe
and it's most interesting features. The elements will
be funded, as well as the rest of the project, by
contributors whose donations will "buy"
sectors of the sky, the planets, and other primary
cosmological features.
With this project, APC can achieve still another major
quality-of-life enhancement for the residents of Warren
County. Other projects started/supported by APC include
the Warren County Career Center, the Countryside YMCA,
the $1 million Project Excellence in Teaching Foundation,
and the Sinclair Community College's Courseview Campus.
www.OhioInfo.org
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