Join us at our annual banquet for a splendid evening as we celebrate our society and honor some of our members for their contributions. The cash bar will open at 6:00 PM and dinner will be served at 7:00 PM with the keynote event to follow.

Our keynote speaker is Don Klaser, who you normally see running the AV equipment at Cranbrook. He will be presenting “Skylore & Mythology: Stories from Around the World”

He says: “In this talk I present the stories told about the constellations by many cultures around our world and across time. While many of these tales are unique to the culture they are found in, a good number are surprisingly similar; so similar that one might wonder – how can this be the case in cultures continents apart in the days before books, fax machines and the internet.

“We’ll look at the stories we’re familiar with – Greco/Roman – and then venture into how the Sumerian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Aboriginal Australian & Native American cultures tried to understand their place beneath the heavenly sphere.”

It’s a great talk for all knowledge and interest levels, so bring your friends and family!

Don has been interested in astronomy since he first went out in his parents’ backyard with a map of the night sky from National Geographic. He says, “The skies in Roseville were much darker then, which made finding things easier (although I did use a white light flashlight – who knew!). I took a couple of courses in astronomy at Macomb College, but didn’t do much after that, until one weekend – I was up north, in a canoe out on a small lake during new moon; the Milky Way shone so brightly overhead. From then on I was hooked, and I haven’t looked back.”

Don works for Cranbrook Institute of Science and Michigan Science Center, primarily giving presentations in the planetariums, and is a member and former president of the Ford Amateur Astronomy Club. He also is the driving force behind the “Astronomy for Everyone” television show, shown on many local cable channels and also on YouTube!

Schedule:

Cash bar: 6 PM
Dinner: 7 PM
President’s Remarks and Awards: 8:30 PM
Feature Presentation: 9 PM
Door Prizes: 10 PM

The banquet menu features:

Entree:
Beef Sirloin Tips in Mushroom and Wine Sauce
Roasted Chicken with Choice of Sauces
Broiled Cod with Corn Relish, Lemons and Tartar Sauces

Side Dishes:
Potato and cheese pierogi (varenyky)
Green Beans Ukrainian Style
Seasoned Whipped Potatoes with Garlic and Butter
Romaine Lettuce Garden Salad with House Dressing
Fresh Rolls and Butter

Beverages:
Soft Drinks
Wine and Beer Included

Dessert:
Cherries Jubilee

Prior to the banquet, you can buy advance tickets at the discounted rate, $30, via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=JYRY4CXZ9FQDY

or in person at the Cranbrook meeting. Tickets are $35.00 at the door.

See you there!