Today, the board of directors of the Astronomy Foundation appointed Robert Powell, of Mequon, Wisconsin, treasurer, effective immediately. Rob is an active amateur astronomer and corporate fundraiser who graduated from Connecticut College in 1978 with a B.A. in zoology. In 1996, he earned his M.B.A., graduating magna cum laude from Concordia University in Wisconsin.
In 2002, Rob joined the Northern Cross Science Foundation (NCSF), an amateur astronomy club in southeastern Wisconsin. He served on their board of directors from 2003 through 2007.
In 2003, he was appointed to NASA’s Saturn Observation Campaign, one of six such appointees in Wisconsin. The international campaign was a public outreach program of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to engage youth in the excitement of astronomy.
In 2005, Rob completed a capital fundraising campaign from within the NCSF membership, raising $27,000 to construct and equip a new observatory.
In 2007, coincident with the expansion and renovation of a metro Milwaukee mall, Rob cultivated a relationship with Bayshore Town Center, which led to the start of the NCSF urban sidewalk astronomy program. In appreciation of its first year of regularly scheduled public outreach activity, mall management donated $3,000 to the club, which was used toward the purchase of a 60mm Coronado Hydrogen-alpha refractor and equatorial mount. The acquisition of the solar telescope permitted the NCSF to double the hours of service to the community.
Rob and his family reside in Mequon, Wisconsin. When not observing the heavens, Rob enjoys archery, curling, photography, videography, sailing, and musical instrument building.
Welcome to the Astronomy Foundation, Rob!
Thus, our officers are:
President: Dave Eicher
Vice President: Karen Jennings
Secretary: Rick Hedrick
Treasurer: Robert Powell
The board members are Eicher, Hedrick, Vic Maris, Mike Reynolds, and Craig Weatherwax.