The SETI League, Inc. Press Release No. 05-02

SETI League Press Release

Scaling Back on SETICon
For more information contact: Dr. H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director
(201) 641-1770, or email info_at_setileague_dot_org

Little Ferry, NJ.., 19 February 2005 -- Five years after initiating its SETICon Technical Symposium, the nonprofit, membership-supported SETI League has had to scale back the annual membership event to more modest proportions. Because The SETI League chose to make its meetings affordable and accessible to a wide range of amateur radio astronomers, the events have proved a steady drain on the grassroots science group's limited financial resources. Hence, the organization's 2005 annual meeting will be held in conjunction with another, much larger and well-established conference.

"The last few SETICons cost us about $4,000 each to put on," notes Dr. H. Paul Shuch, volunteer executive director of The SETI League. "Depending as we do upon membership dues and individual contributions, we thought our limited funding would be better spent on SETI science than on hosting scientific meetings." Consequently, Shuch announced, The SETI League's 2005 Annual Membership Meeting will be held on the campus of The College of New Jersey, in conjunction with the annual Trenton Computer Festival.

This year's Trenton Computer Festival is scheduled to run the weekend of 16-17 April, 2005, with The SETI League's membership meeting to be held there on Sunday morning, 17 April, from 10 AM until Noon. SETI League members desiring to avail themselves of a full weekend of social and technical activities are encouraged to register for TCF. Some SETI enthusiasts will be presenting papers on the scientific Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence on Saturday, in conjunction with the regular TCF Technical Program.

There is a registration fee for TCF. Details (including location, lodging, and scheduled activities) appear on the TCF Website, www.tcf-nj.org. There will be no charge for those wishing simply to attend the SETI League Annual Membership Meeting, and all members (and prospective members) are most welcome. Annual meeting details, including the Agenda, appear online at www.setileague.org/seticon/meet2005.htm.

The SETI League expresses its gratitude to its friends at the Trenton Computer Festival and The College of New Jersey, for hosting them in a year in which their organization's finances preclude sponsoring their own technical event. Interested parties can show their appreciation by registering for TCF, and attending both events.

Largely using radio telescopes and optical telescopes, SETI scientists seek to determine whether humankind is alone in the universe. Since Congress terminated NASA's SETI funding in 1993, The SETI League and other scientific groups have privatized the research. Amateur and professional scientists interested in participating in the search for intelligent alien life, and citizens wishing to help support it, should email join_at_setileague_dot_org, check the SETI League Web site at http://www.setileague.org/, send a fax to +1 (201) 641-1771, or contact The SETI League, Inc. membership hotline at +1 (800) TAU-SETI. Be sure to provide us with a postal address to which we will mail further information. The SETI League, Inc. is a membership-supported, non-profit [501(c)(3)], educational and scientific corporation dedicated to the scientific Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.

P.S. Tearsheets are always appreciated. Thank you.

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