29 June 1998

IPS98 Begins...
After a welcome to IPS98 by IPS President Thomas Kraupe, delegates heard greetings via video wall from both the European Space Agency and the European Southern Observatory.

Introductory remarks about the Conference from Conference Chair Undine Concannon were then followed by short reports from all of the regional affiliates.

IPS Business Meeting
It wouldn't be a proper IPS Conference without the business meeting. Just some of the issues that were reported (and will eventually be covered in detail elsewhere) are:

• the IPS Conference site for 2000 is Montreal, Quebec, Canada (host Pierre Lacombe)...
• the IPS Conference site for 2002 is Morelia, Mexico (host Gabriel Muñoz)...
• Nominations for Officers for the next IPS Elections are for President Elect John Peterson, John Dickinson, Asuncion Sanchez and Martin Ratcliffe, Executive Secretary Lee Ann Henning (current) and Treaurer/Membership Chair Shawn Laatsch (current). Ballots will be mailed out in mid-September, with the results to be announced late in the year...
• after an analysis of costs per member, it was decided that there would be a raise in the membership dues effective in the year 2000...
• 3 July 1998 the new IPS Directory will be mailed out; it includes 2800 entries!
• the 1999 Council Meeting will be held in Flagstaff, Arizona, home of the historic Lowell Observatory (among others)...

Grand Hall, New Connaught Rooms
This view shows the Grand Hall at the New Connaught Rooms during one of the breaks during the first day of the Conference. To the left can also be seen the new, larger portable planetarium dome from Learning Technologies as well as a black, homemade portable dome from Japan to the right. (photo: Alan Gould)

Host for IPS 2002
During today's IPS Business Meeting, it was announced that Gabriel Muñoz would be the host for the IPS 2002 meeting in Morelia, Mexico. Here we see Gabriel in the Grand Hall at the New Connaught Rooms. (photo: Alan Gould)

Our President-Elect
At the end of current IPS President Thomas Kraupe's term, he will be succeeded by Dale Smith from Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. He is seen here touring part of the exhibitor's displays in a room adjacent to the Grand Hall. (photo: Alan Gould)

IPS History in the Making
Like any other good organization, we have a historian to keep track of IPS' past. Our current Historian is John Hare, a long term member of the planetarium community. If you have any photos, or documents, that you think may be of interest for the IPS Archives, be sure to contact him. (photo: Alan Gould)

IPS' Executive Secretary
Lee Ann Hennig is not only IPS' current Executive Secretary, but she's also candidate for the same position in the next elections scheduled for this coming fall. (photo: Alan Gould)

The Prettiest Portable?
Possibly the prettiest portable planetarium dome ever created? Unfortunately this image doesn't do the real dome, seen here set-up in the Grand Hall, justice. I believe that this dome was constructed by British portable planetarian Ray Worthy. He'd love to have you come see it in person. (photo: Alan Gould)

George and John
One of the great things about IPS Conferences is the ability for members to get together and share ideas and experiences. Here we see George Reed (Spitz) and John Mosley (Griffith Observatory and editor for IPS' journal, "The Planetarian") during a break in the Grand Hall. (photo: Alan Gould)

What's New?
Meetings are also a great opportunity to talk with various exhibitors about their products. Here we see Lars Broman (NPA representative, contributor to "The Planetarian" and new Chair of the IPS Language Committee) checking up on what's new with Phil Sadler (Learning Technologies), the originator of the STARLAB portable planetarium. (photo: Alan Gould)