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Friends of the Goldendale Observatory Projects Steve Stout and the 24.5-inch telescope     1. Scholarship Program  Each year, the Friends Group funds a scholarship, which is awarded to a college student, or graduating high school student, for use toward their college education. Scholarship students work at the Observatory for the summer, assisting Observatory staff in presenting Observatory programs, greeting visitors, and other duties. The scholarship fund was begun by a generous donation from the Helen Bruckert family in the late 1970s. The account established with their funds has enabled the Friends Group to provide summer assistants to the Observatory for 18 of the past 19 summers! In 2000, we received another donation to use for this fund, from ATT Corporation. Those funds have been invested, and will help us to continue the scholarship program well into the future. We still hope to attract enough funds to make the program self-sustaining. Currently, the scholarship recipient is awarded $2,500. Much of our fund-raising goes toward this activity. In summer 2004, our scholarship student once again is Joshua Smith, from Glenwood.  Josh, who also received the scholarship in 2003, is a student at Whitman University in Walla Walla. 2.. Helping during busy summer weekends at the Observatory The Friends Group helped at the Observatory during the Memorial day weekend, 2000. Members Tom Nathe, Brian Richardson, Stewart Fletcher, and Jim White brought their telescopes, to provide additional viewing opportunities for visitors. The group also sold items in the Observatory, ranging from planispheres to astronomy posters. Finally, we had complimentary coffee and cookies. Other members helping out included Shelly and Alisa Richardson, Barbara, Catherine, and Kari Stout, Kathy White, and Helen Bellanca. Everyone had a great time, and we took in about $230 for our projects. We did the same thing, on a smaller scale, during Labor Day weekend. In 2001, we repeated our Memorial day experience. 3. Volunteer Assistance In December 2000, we helped Steve and other State employees remove the main telescope mirror, so that it can be refigured and resurfaced. The 200+ pound mirror was then transported by member Brian Richardson to Swayze Optics in Portland. By May, it was back in the telescope, providing dramatically improved views. Some Friends members volunteer to help during busy times (the Observatory has only one full-time employee). Volunteers may help to greet visitors, work on specific projects for the Park, or may help with Observatory programs. Contact Jim White or Steve Stout if interested. 4. Equipment Purchases The Friends Group helps by providing funding for equipment not included in the park's budget from the State. For example, the group recently bought a computer for the Observatory, which is used for a state-of-the-art drive syste, and for multimedia presentations in the Observatory's Astro theater..