GLPA State Organizations
GLPA's State Organizations provide a local network of planetarians. The state organizations also convene annually for a meeting or mini-conference. You do not need to be a member of GLPA to participate in the state meetings. If you have questions about any of the state organizations or meetings, feel free to contact the appropriate State Chair below. News items about your facility that you'd like to see published in the GLPA Newsletter should also be sent to your State Chair in late-January (for spring), late-April (for summer), late-July (for autumn), or late-October (for winter).
The following chairpersons were elected during the state meeting at the election-year GLPA conference. (elections held in odd-numbered years) If you would like to be on the ballot to become a State Chair, contact the President-Elect to let her/him know, and come to the state meeting at the conference. Eligible candidates include anyone who identifies her/his self with that state organization, is willing to serve, and is able to attend the fall conference.
GLPA STATE CHAIRS
![]() Illinois Tom Willmitch ISU Planetarium Normal, Illinois trwillm@ilstu.edu |
![]() Indiana Melinda O'Malley PHM Planetarium Mishawaka, Indiana momalley@phm.k12.in.us |
![]() Michigan Ciara Johnson Michigan Science Center Detroit, Michigan Ciara.Johnson@mi-sci.org |
![]() Ohio Dale Smith Physics and Astronomy Dept Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio dwsmith@bgsu.edu |
![]() Wisconsin/Minnesota Sally Brummel Bell Museum Planetarium St. Paul, Minnesota sbrummel@umn.edu |
![]() Beyond the Lakes Jackie Baughman East Amherst, New York qnbaughman@gmail.com |
Annual State Meetings
GLPA facilitates State Organizations that serve as local networks for planetarians. State meetings are usually held in the spring. Attendance at one of these meetings is usually very affordable. You don't need to be a GLPA member to attend.
2022 STATE MEETING SCHEDULE
Illinois:
Dates: Friday, May 13 (Milwaukee) and Saturday, May 14 (Chicago), 2022Hosts: Bob Bonadurer (bonadurer@mpm.edu), Soref Planetarium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
and Mike Smail (msmail@adlerplanetarium.org), Adler Planetarium, Chicago, Illinois
Indiana:
Date: Saturday, March 26, 2022Host: Mitch Luman (mluman@emuseum.org), Koch Immersive Theater and Planetarium, Evansville, Indiana
Michigan:
Date: Saturday, May 21, 2022Host: Buddy Stark (starkbud@umich.edu), University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ohio:
Date: Saturday, April 30, 2022Host: Rori Leath (rorileath@attheworks.org), The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art, and Technology, Newark, Ohio
Wisconsin/Minnesota:
Dates: Friday, May 13 (Milwaukee) and Saturday, May 14 (Chicago), 2022Hosts: Bob Bonadurer (bonadurer@mpm.edu), Soref Planetarium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
and Mike Smail (msmail@adlerplanetarium.org), Adler Planetarium, Chicago, Illinois
Tips for Hosts of State Meetings
Quick Tips for State Meeting Hosts:
1. Keep the meeting simple in regards to planning and costs so that you don't need a large number of attendees to make it work.
2. Get address labels and email addresses from the GLPA membership chair.
3. Send out a paper mailing (save receipts) and an email invitation a couple of months before the event.
4. Reserve a block of rooms if you are hosting an overnight event.
5. Be clear about your expectations regarding an RSVP or registration.
6. Send an email reminder (or two) a couple of weeks before the registration deadline.
For complete instructions and suggestions for hosting a state meeting, refer to the State Meetings Guidelines document.