Guidelines

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Guidelines

• Improve our product
• Train our observers
• Spread the word
• The professionals point of view
• the big picture and direction

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Product

• Deliver quality observations in a convenient
  manner to the community
• Provide means of publication for the amateur
  community
• Provide a vibrant website interface
• Who is our target?

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Train Observers

• Provide relevant manuals, etc. on website
• Hold workshops for training
• Mentoring
• Transition observers where possible
• Support visual observers as entry, but find
  something relevant (hard!!!)

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Spread the word

• Make the observations essential for the
  professionals
• Publicize the organization to the professional
  community
• Find means of reaching those who want to become
  Citizen Scientists
• Foster international relations

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Phase 0 (inherited)

• ASCII database
• Dysfunctional website
• No observing directions
• Journal years behind
• Archaic practices
• Untrained staff
• Inadequate HQ building

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Phase 1

• Transition database to MySQL
• Transition all tools to modern languages
• Make tools automatic (VSP, VSX, preval)
• Bring journal up to standards (eJAAVSO)
• Remove stumbling blocks like validation file,
  observer code generation, LPV bulletin
  calculations
• Move to new facility
• Finished! - but longer than Id like (impatient)

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Phase II (No breather!)

• SQL query access to database VO access to other
  databases bring in CBA etc.
• Upgraded and useful website
• Calibrate the sky (APASS)
• Provide access to professional-quality equipment
  for training and research (net)
• Provide on-line training and courses. Get
  amateurs to produce high-quality results
• Integrate into current surveys and prepare for
  new ones (PTF, CRTS, LSST others?)
• Bring more professionals on-board (net, DB)
• Use modern media to access the cross-discipline
  professionals (CS start)

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Means

• Plan, plan, plan (no breather advances)
• Use existing staff where possible, including
  necessary training (time)
• Bring in new staff to replace those that dont
  fit (expense, research/AAVSOnet)
• Bring in external help in specialized areas
  (volunteer where possible, contract where not
  cloud computing, etc.)
• Find grant opportunities that are aligned with
  core mission (not education)
• This cannot be done with a decreased budget, but
  should be a temporary spike

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Needs

• Sufficient budget to handle the transition period
• Time to look for the right fits (computer
  experience, VS background, enthusiasm)
• Stephen Levine, Aaron examples
• Proper means to lay off long-time staff, whove
  supported the organization

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