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 at last year's state meeting at the annual GLPA conference. 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. Elegible 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
Renae Kerrigan Peoria Riverfront Museum 222 S Washington Street Peoria, IL 61602 (309) 863-3030 rkerrigan@ |
 Indiana
Barb Williams Merrillville Community Planetarium |
 Michigan
Shannon Schmoll Abrams Planetarium 755 Science Rd
(517) 884-0039East Lansing, MI 48824 schmoll@pa.msu.edu |
 Ohio |
 Wisconsin/Minnesota |
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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.
2017 STATE MEETING SCHEDULE
Date: Saturday, May 13, 2017
Location: Strickler Planetarium at the Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois
Contact: Stephen Case (scase@olivet.edu)
Date: Saturday, April 8, 2017
Location: Merrillville Community Planetarium in Merrillville, Indiana
Contact: Gregg & Barb Williams (g.williams@mcpstars.org, b.williams@mcpstars.org)
Michigan:
Date: Saturday, April 22, 2017
Location: Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan
Contact: Thomas Kasper (tkasper@emich.edu)
Ohio:
Date: Saturday, April 8, 2017
Location: Ritter Planetarium, Univ. of Toledo (morning location) & Sidney Frohman Planetarium, Sandusky (afternoon location)
Contact: Alex Mak, Toledo (amak@utnet.utoledo.edu), Lois Wolf, Sandusky (lwolf@scs-k12.net)
Wisconsin/Minnesota:
Location: Planetarium of the Wausau School District in Wausau, Wisconsin
Contact: Chris Janssen (cmjanssen@yahoo.com)
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.