Why
become a Custer Member or Supporter
We hope
that you thoroughly enjoy your time as our guest here at the Custer Institute
Observatory's homepage. We’ve worked hard to insure that the homepage is
thorough, accurate, enlightening, and an invaluable resource for your enjoyment
of the wonderful hobby of Astronomy.
The
Custer Institute, Inc. is a not for profit educational corporation chartered in
New York. All the workers at the Institute are member volunteers who love
Astronomy, and no one receives any compensation for all the work they do. Custer
is totally supported by the small admission fees charged at some of our public
events, donations by visitors, our small Gift Shop, but primarily by membership
dues. It is primarily this membership contribution that allows us to maintain
this wonderful facility, its buildings and grounds, and to plan and present a
continuous series of educational Lectures, Seminars, Special Events, and the
free weekly public viewing.
These
few dollars also help us do much, much more. They help bring science and
astronomy to children. They help us to upgrade our facilities. They help us buy
land for an Astronomy Park, and for amateur observing platforms. And, they even
help pay for things as mundane as heat and light and a sorely needed parking
lot.
While
we want everyone to enjoy our web site, we hope they will come out to Southold
and pay us a visit and enjoy the facilities first hand. And then comes the
ultimate win-win situation: a membership in the Custer Institute. While your
membership dollars will help us with all of the important projects we outlined
above, they will also do a great deal for you. To start with, membership,
starting at the Individual level and above, entitles you to full use of all of
Custer’s facilities. These include our antique university-grade and larger
aperture telescopes, our radio astronomy observatory, our library, and our
optical shop with all of its lens and mirror grinding equipment and the optical
test bench.
And
there is more. You will also be invited to join us for members-only functions,
trips and social events. You are entitled to a vote in the affairs of the
Institute and you will receive a subscription to our monthly newsletter, the
Custer Comment. The Custer Comment brings you the latest breaking astronomical
news, news for the membership, and a monthly schedule of events that will keep
you from missing the good times and great experiences.
But
most of all, a Custer membership brings you access to an amazing group of
people, Custer’s members. You won’t find a more gracious or more interesting
group of people anywhere. With interests ranging from Astronomy to Zoology,
literally from A to Z, Custer’s membership has something to offer just about
everyone. Custer membership can mean endless hours of stimulating conversation,
kinship, and camaraderie. For those who do not wish to become members but would
like to offer support, they can simply select the 12-month subscription to the
Custer Comment.