That event took place on October 8 and 9, with headquarters at the Pantlind Hotel and what was then known as the “Planetarium of the Grand Rapids Public Museum.” Maxine Haarstick was there, and she let her hair down—literally. There were about 75 participants for the two-day meeting, with the keynote banquet address delivered by Dr. Ralph Baldwin, an authority on the moon. A proposed constitution proposed by the steering committee was debated and the organization was officially born. I’ll never forget Alton Yarian’s demonstration of wide angle projection techniques using a fisheye lens projected against the slightly domed surface of the Pantlind’s ballroom ceiling. Von Del Chamberlain is elected as GLPA’s first president.

On to Cincinnati in 1966 with the inimitable Ralph Ewers as host. This was my first introduction to the miracle of Ortho film, and in the hands of the "Wizard," it was quite a lesson. Von Del tells us about the first graduate program in planetarium education to be offered in the country, and a representative of NASA informs us that there are now 485 U.S. planetariums, 180 in schools and 119 in museums. We also hear of Elgin’s research project involving the planetarium and curriculum, with Don Tuttle.

Ralph Ewers becomes the second GLPA president. This is also a very significant year, marking the first joint meeting between GLPA and MAPS. In the meantime, two more regional groups have come upon the scene, one in the southwest and the other on the west coast. The meeting is held at the brand new Strasenburgh Planetarium in Rochester, New York, and what a place it is. Today, as then, Strasenburgh is considered one of the best, operated by a highly talented and creative staff. This event could easily be subtitled the “laughing convention.” This was my first introduction to Bart Bok, with the dry wit of Patrick Moore and eccentric humor of Isaac Asimov thrown in. But something that stands out in my memory as perhaps one of the most side-splitting experiences in my life was the spoof on the foibles of planetarium operation served up by Ian McClennan and his staff, complete with Walter Bauersfeld’s severed head tumbling end over end across the dome. The 2nd annual Armand Spitz lecture is delivered by Dr. Harry Crull, a longtime veteran of the planetarium profession.

October 9 and 10 in Minneapolis — This is Maxine Haarstick’s first big bash, beginning with the planetarium show “Some Enchanted Evening,” bearing the inimitable Haarstick trademark. LeRon Codia introduces blackground and 3PD, terms now in everyday usage in the profession. We are brought up to date on the revelations of the Mariner 6 and 7 flybys of Mars. Dr. Mortimer Hait, lunar geologist from NASA, delivers the 3rd annual Armand Spitz lecture on the subject “The Moon in the Space Age.”