5 A      H I S T O R Y
1960 U.  Mass  Astronomy  Club  Founded  -  Precursor  to  5As
1984 5As  Founded:    Amherst  Area  Amateur  Astronomers   Association
Mike Wenz - President
Messier  Marathon  Program  Started
5As  on  Internet  Precursor
1985 Doug McGonagle - President
1987 Bernie Volz - President
Public  Observatory  Observing  Program  Started
Astronomy  Day  Program  Started
Public  Program  Attendance  Exceeds  1,000
1990 Doug McGonagle - President
Public  Planetarium  Show  Program  Started
1991 Public  Solar  Observing  Program  Started
Public  Program  Attendance  Exceeds  5,000
1992 Bob Douglas - President
Constitution  Adopted
1993 Tom  Whitney  -  Elected  President
5As  Incorporated -  Non-Profit,  Public-Service  Organization  for  the
Advancement of
  Astronomy,  Science,  Education,  &  The  Public  Good
Awards  Program  Started
Public  Amherst  Fireworks  Observing  Program  Started
Public  Astronomy  Classes  Started
Public  Outreach  Program  Started
Public  Service  Program  Started
Astronomy  Association  Formed
Non-Profit  Status  Obtained
Club  Offices  Established
Executive  Committee  Established
Committees  Established
Field  Trips  Established
Web Site (amastro.org) established
1994 Public  Eclipse  Observing  Program  Started
Public  Solstice  Sunset  Program  Started
1995 Public  Eclipse  &  Full  Moon  Rise  Program  Started
Public  Equinox  Solar  Transit  &  Sunset  Program  Started
Public  Solstice  Transit  &  Sunset  Program  Started
1996 Public  Mt.  Pollux  Sunset  Observing  Program  Started
1997 Public  Program  Attendance  Exceeds  10,000
Public  First  Nite  Observing  Program  Started
1998 Domain  Site  Established - ( amastro2.org )
Winter  Star  Party  Program  Started
1999 Public  Northampton  Solar  Observing  Program  Started
Public  Solstice  Observing  Program  Started
Public  Program  Attendance  Record  -  13, 775
2000 Public  Williamsburg  Solar  Observing  Program  Started
E-Group  Started
Club  Scopes  &  Equipment  Loan  Program  Started
2001 Public  Williamsburg  Solar  Observing  Program  Ends
Public  Crescent  Moon  Observing  Program  Started
Public  Moon  Day  Program  Started
Public  Equinox  Observing  Program  Started
2002 Public  Planet  Observing  Program  Started
Membership  Peaks - 105
2003 This  Week  E-Mail  Program  Started
Public  Fall  Foliage  Program  Started
Fall  Star  Party  Program  Started
2004 Annual  Picnic  Program  Started
Summer  Star  Party  Program  Started
Yahoo  Group  Started
2005 Yahoo  Group  Ended
Public  Planetarium  Shows  By  Request  Started
Telescope  Making  Started
AA  Field  Trips  Program  Started
Mt. Greylock  Outreach  Observing  Program  Started
2nd  Domain  Site - ( amastro2.org )
2006 3rd  Domain  Site - (New Site www.amherstastronomy.org)
Club  News  on Web  Site
2007 Club  Member  Observing  Program  Recognized
Skinner  State  Park  Public  Observing  Program  Started
2008 Club  Blog  on  Web  Site
2009 Executive  Board  Defined  -  4  Officers  &  5  Executive  Committee
PRESIDENTS
Mike
Wenz
1984
Doug
McGonagle
1985-7
Bernie
Volz
1987-89
Doug
McGonagle
1990-91
Bob
Douglas
1992
Tom
Whitney
1993-2008