The Management Council, mindful that different members have different ideas about how the nation's space program could be better run and better targeted, has not as yet officially endorsed either of two position papers put together separately by Director of Project Development David A. Dunlop and by Chair of the Publicity and Outreach Committee, James A. Rogers.

Dunlop's paper is extremely comprehensive and commands enormous respect. We urge our members to look at Dave's idea of how US Space programs and initiatives could be reorganized to better lead to the open civilian frontier and Earth-Moon Economy to which the Society pledges its efforts. Dave's recommendations are nothing short of revolutionary, no time given to evolve.

We have seen the first draft of James Roger's paper, but until we have his final version, we are unable to link to it. His plan is much more simple, concentrating on a few basic changes calculated to have the most effect.

Questionnaires should be sent to:

Other members can download the questionnaire here

Those who return it with current contact information will be eligible for one year membership (new or renewal) on us.

Not too long ago, our homepage got a thorough revision and a fresh new look. But most other pages look like they did eight years ago. We are looking to give them a new look too, and in the process fix errors and broken links and make sure that they are otherwise updated.

President Peter Kokh sketched out how the new template should look, and Chairman of the Board R. Scott Gammenthaler is busy writing the code. It should be introduced in the next month. We think you will like it.

Board member Ben Nault (Tucson) had suggested that in addition to Campus Chapters, which are geographically based, we should have some sort of forum, for the wand of a better word, for younger people who want to interact via the Internet, in a non-geographically based way.

Meanwhile, the Houston Chapter had set up The Moon Society Forum, not just for their chapter but for the Society as a whole. We have just set up "The Moon Society Pioneers" Forum on this site. We invite anyone who wishes to join and contribute to discussions, even launch Internet-based projects, which could involve things as diverse ad development of improved outreach materials, workshops on key research and development issues, and more. We will be watching with interest to see what develops and how it evolves. You do not need to be a current or former member of The Moon Society to participate.

In addition to the Moon Society Forum, we have several other interactive sites:

There are now homepage links to all but the last of these in the left hand menu column, image links section. So if you have not visited any of these sites, we are making it easier for you. On some of them, you may need to log in or register.

On our Download Center page, you will find bookmarks, bumper stickers, and calendars

It is one thing to attract a new member. He or she may only be curious. It is another to "convert" a new member to a "continuing" one. It is our intention to mail a Certificate of Continuing Membership to each new member as the member renews for the first time. Not to leave out those who have already renewed for the first time (and some, many times since) during 2009, every member who renews will get such a certificate. Come 2010, only those renewing for the first time will get one. This avoids duplications. As of this report, the first of these certificates have been put in the mail. We do appreciate your membership.

The Moon Society has set up 10 Project Teams each tackling a different Project area. We are building a team for each charged with advancing the goals of each. Within each area there may be a number of projects with set goals addressing specific areas.

To help push this multiple front effort forward, James Rogers of the LUNAX - Lunar Experimental Agriculture Team,  secured space on the Houston chapter-run Moon Society Forum.

Following his lead, Peter Kokh secured space on the Moon Society Forum for four more of our Project Teams and on the three of these with links below, posted a series of "Discussion Starter Documents." Similar Discussion Starter Documents will be posted soon for the 4th team.

• Space and the Environment Team
• Solar Power Satellites built with Lunar Materials
• Lunar Analog Research Station Team
• Lunar Surface Logistics Team
  

The idea is to attract members and visitors to help brainstorm all of these areas and to come up with specific concrete projects that will advance each teams goals. By opening up the process to visitors and friends we hope to get more brains working in all of these areas, and down the line, maybe some new members.

Take a look at each of these, and if you find one or more that catches your interest and imagination, why not get your feet wet. No obligations involved.

We thank Eric Bowen of Moon Society Houston for making this Forum available to us! This is a prime example of how a chapter can set a pace for the Society as a whole!

January is one of the Editor's two months off, allowing time to recharge and renew as well as rest - his "burnout prevention" break. This policy has been the rule since year one and has been the principal reason that MMM has been in continuous publication for over 22 years.

We made use of this break to edit and publish  (01-16-2009) the 19th issue of the Moon Miners' Manifesto Classics, one pdf volume per publication year, this one covering our 19th year, issues #s 181-190. You can download it here - http://www.moonsociety.org/publications/mmm_classics/. In each Classics issue you will find all the non-time sensitive articles from ten monthly issues, reedited, re-illustrated, and republished.

We maintain a three year plus interval between the last Classics  issue and the current MMM issue, to maintain a strong incentive for joining the Society.

Next month, February, look for MMM #222, and hopefully, for the spring issue of MMM-India Quarterly.

Members can download MMM pdf files here (username password required) If you have no username and password, or have forgotten it, please contact us as soon as possible and we'll get you up and running

MMM-India Quarterly. The first edition was published November 14th. The 2nd Quarterly issue is scheduled for February. This publication is a free access pdf file available to our members and friends everywhere, not just in India.

In last month's Frontlines, we floated the idea of an MMM-Europe Quarterly. At the present time, this idea is on indefinite hold. It is a great idea, but more to the point, we'd be spreading ourselves dangerously thin.

Moon Society Fiction - 2nd Issue of "Moonbeams" was published Jan 25, 2009, under Editor Chuck Lesher.

The Phoenix chapter has put together a web-team to build its new interactive website. They have it up and the post-debut reaction is highly enthusiastic. Take a look: http://www.msphx.org - anyone can log in and take advantage of its interactive features. This is another example of a chapter contributing something very positive to the Socieey at large.

The Tucson Outpost now has the required minimum three members to become a chapter, but has not yet had time to organize as such, which involves selecting acting officers. Meanwhile, there are reports that a new Moon Society chapter in the Dallas-Fort Worth area may be in the works.

A 4th & 5th NSS Partner Chapter?




Society Chapters come in two versions: Community-based (St. Louis, Phoenix, Houston, Tucson) and Campus based (College of Menominee Nation - Green Bay Campus)

An Outpost consists of one or more members in a local community that serve as (a) local contact(s) for area members and prospective members of the Society, and which have not yet met the qualifications to be given a chapter charter. To establish an outpost and become a local contact person for the society, write the Chapters Coordinator. There is no reason why a prospective campus chapter cannot start as an outpost, one or more not-yet-organized members.

Outpost Formation Plug - take a look at our Chapters & Outposts map [http://www.moonsociety.org/chapters/chapter_outpost_map.html]

If you live in an unrepresented area, why not take the plunge?

Write: chapters-coordinator@moonsociety.org