The 44th Annual Deep South Star Gaze is now just 6 weeks and 2 days away from the start on Saturday October 10th. As of today registrations are coming in slowly. I want to caution attendees not to wait too long to register for several reasons and they are:
1) On October 2nd early registration ends and any registration postmarked and received after that date will be at the higher registration rate. Currently registration is $30 for an individual and $40 for a related couple and anything postmarked October 3rd or later will be $55.00 for an individual and $70.00 for a related couple. This is done to encourage early registration and to best guarantee lodge room housing which can be limited. On occasion in the past we had to inform some people that they registered too late to obtain a lodge room (which is private and has it's own bathroom).
2) At the Feliciana Retreat Center we do have to guarantee a headcount of at least 20 for each meal. Below that count and we have to either issue refunds to those who have paid for any meal that is undersold or we have to subsidize the shortfall. We can generally do that if we are under the meal count by a meal or two but we cannot do that if the shortfall is larger and if multiple meals are undersold. I also, as a courtesy, have to give James at FRC a headcount at least 4 or 5 days out so the proper amount of food for each meal can be ordered.
3) Completing and reporting last minute numbers is a nightmare and trips to the bank at the last minute is no fun either and I want to avoid that.
4) Note too that with early registration ending on October 2nd, waiting and hand delivering registration and payment at the October PAS meeting, which is on the 7th, is after the deadline and is subject to the higher pricing.
5) After October 2nd we will open registration up to additional people who may want to experience a dark night sky in a beautiful setting so remaining accommodations may go fast.
If anyone has questions, please post them to this thread.
Barry Simon, Director
Deep South Star Gaze