Monday, October 08, 2007 Jacksonville, Fla.    

Council Member Glorious Johnson, At-Large Group 5, and School Board Member Brenda Priestly Jackson, District IV, announced today that they will join Carl Moore of the Northeast Florida Astronomical Society (NEFAS) along with Milt Hays, Dr. Mike D. Reynolds, Associate Dean for Mathematics and Natural Science at Florida Community College, Kent Campus, and Louise Hill, Principal, at Andrew A. Robinson Elementary School, for a presentation of 20 Meade Telescopes to the Math, Science, and Pre-Engineering Magnet Program at Andrew A. Robinson.

 

WHEN:          10:30 a.m.

Friday, Oct. 12th

 

WHERE:       Andrew A. Robinson Elementary School
101 West 12th Street
Jacksonville, FL

 

This donation by NEFAS is made possible by a gift from Meade Instruments Corporation.  In January 2007, Meade, a world leader in the design and manufacture of telescopes for amateur astronomers, donated 7,000 discontinued small telescopes to NEFAS, a local astronomy club.  To date NEFAS has distributed nearly all of the telescopes to schools, scouts, parks and other such organizations, not only in Florida but nationwide and several locations worldwide.

 

"Because of the nature of the magnet program at Andrew Robinson Elementary, these telescopes will enhance the learning environment for the children enrolled in the program," said Councilwoman Johnson.  "I am so excited about this donation and the opportunity the students will have to explore our universe."

 

The Northeast Florida Astronomical Society, or NEFAS, is an organization of over 100 amateur astronomers operating primarily in Jacksonville and its surrounding communities.  A non-profit organization dedicated to expanding horizons through education and observation, NEFAS provides the local astronomical community a place to meet others of similar interests.  The group assists schools and youth groups in providing an opportunity to view the universe with quality instruments, monthly lectures and seminars.  More information about NEFAS is available on-line at http://www.nefas.org/.