Written by DAS Member, Volunteer, and Former President, Dena McClung

Many of you longer-term members know I have served in a variety of roles with the DAS, and some of you newer members know me because I’ve answered questions that you sent to us via email.

It’s been nearly 18 years since I joined the society, and during that time, I’ve worn many hats: 20” telescope operator, Astronomy Night presenter, secretary, vice president, president, membership coordinator, organizer of the events at Sandstone Ranch, and a few others.

The term I use most often when describing myself is “Volunteer.”  The DAS is, after all, an all-volunteer organization.  We have no paid staff.  This society exists because of the purely volunteer efforts of hundreds of people through the years.

We are fortunate for every member who answered a call of one sort or another, whether they made their own determination about what they wanted to offer, or whether they were asked to step up and take on a role that simply needed doing.

The DAS exists because members had ideas for what the club should offer, and how it could be done.  The collaboration that exists, both on the executive board and informally through groups of volunteers who dedicate themselves to particular programs, is what makes the heart of this club keep beating.

I began a tradition, even before I became the president for three years in 2020, of saying “Thank You” to people in person and via email, text message, telephone, and Slack.  I’ve made personal connections with probably hundreds of you through our interactions, and I am grateful to each and every person who accepted a request to help in one manner or another.

I’m very glad that Katherine Bond, our current president, also says “Thank You” on a regular basis to those who step forward to fulfill roles and positions, who bring their telescopes to DAS events, and help in more ways than you can begin to imagine.  Her effort to “thank everyone” at the recent Spring Banquet is worthy of your appreciation, whether you volunteer or not.  She and I both want every single person to know that your efforts mean the world to us.

Carrying out the mission of educating our members and the public about astronomy and all the things that relate to it is a job that takes a village – a village of volunteers who believe in the mission and dedicate at least some of our personal time to fulfill it.

As those that came before us age and become less able to participate, those of you who step in to fill the roles and positions are essential to the ongoing well-being of the club.  It is imperative that we continue to train new volunteers, but also to listen to them and learn together how to do an ever-better job of providing the services and programs that our members and the public seek from us.

I urge you to take a little more time to learn what the DAS is all about, and to see if there is a role or position that you can take on—whether it’s a short-term opportunity or a longer-term leadership role as a major contributor. We are all happy to help you learn, and simply put, we need you. You can get ideas by perusing the DAS website.

One of the things I do is answer the lion’s share of the email that comes to info@denverastro.org. I do this because I have a good understanding of pretty much everything we offer, and I like helping people find the assistance they need. I therefore have contact with members and non-members alike, who seek answers they cannot find on the website.

I find it most fitting and appropriate to sign nearly every email with

Dena McClung
DAS Volunteer

There is no such thing as a “most important role.”  They are ALL important. And if you’ve been wondering how you can help, now is the perfect time to step forward, get involved, and find your place within the DAS.

Thank you.