ASO Memberships
Join us!
Astronomical Society of the Ozarks membership is open to anyone interested in astronomy and support us in our astronomy education and outreach efforts. We accept anyone reguardles of race, sexual identity, religion, disability, or any other right protected under the law in the USA. We especially follow the ADA law to the letter and allow all disabled persons. We also accept memberships from outside of our region for those who want to donate to our outreach efforts due to their ties to the Ozark region. We also offer chapter memberships for any group who wants form their own local chapter of citizen astronomers. ."One sky, one people"! We accept them all!
Annual Membership Donation Levels
Individual Membership = $25
Family Membership = $35
Senior Membeship = $15
Veterans Membership = $15
Student Membership = $10
100% Service Connected VET = $1
(including dependant family)
Indigenous Nation Membership = $1
Supporter Membership = $50
Benafactor Membership = $100
Chapter/Affiliate Memberships = $20
Plus an additional $5 annual donation per active member of their group . ASO Local Chapters and Business Affiliates are considered group memberships for donation purposes. Chapters themselves are required to have at least 3 active members to remain a chapter at large. A typical startup donation for a 3 member chapter is a $35 donation annually, which is also the same donation amount as our annual family memberships. Are we not all ASO Family, after all!
Free Limited Memberships = $0
Available to any members in need due to cause or hardship by writing an essay about how you love astronomy and why we should grant you a free membership? They will expire one year after issue. Life's tough, and we know it! We can help if you ask? Contact us!
Honorary Memberships = Award
Available to members who have supported ASO with oustanding service, and to members who have excelled in their aerospace careers as innovators, influencers, advocates, advisors, and supporters of astronomy education and outreach in the USA. This is a lifetime award! This award is only bestowed by the consent and approval of the ASO Board.
* Membership packages can take 1-2 weeks to mail out.
* Contact us if you dont receive it within a reasonable time.
* All ASO membership donations are tax deductable under IRS code 501(c)(3) for a non-profit public charities 509(a)(2).
ASO Local Chapters
ASO Local Chapter Formation and Outreach Vision
The Astronomical Society of the Ozarks (ASO) is proud to offer a unique program to encourage the formation of local astronomy chapters. The program may also provides a free telescope to any local group that forms a chapter dedicated to astronomy outreach. Small groups, such as families, neighborhoods, or community organizations, can apply to the ASO Board to create their own chapter and receive a telescope on permanent loan, unless otherwise noted.
- Eligibility: Tentavely unless changed, any group with at least three (3) ASO members (or families with Family Memberships) may apply to form a chapter. Groups of six (6) or more can request an 4-inch manual tripod telescope for chapter outreach, while larger groups of twelve (12) or more who engage in citizen science and ASO outreach may apply for an 8-inch manual Dobsonian, while even larger chapters with twenty four (24) or more may request an advanced automated telescope for use in a real time citizen science projects and event outreach. The chapter will be designated with a local name, such as “Smith Family ASO Chapter”, “London AR ASO Chapter", "Buffalo River Chapter", "Local Church Chapter", or any other appropriate chapter name that is not offensive to the pubic or ASO members.
- Focus: This initiative aims to bring astronomy education to rural and small-town communities across the Ozarks, where access to organized astronomy programs and telescopes may be limited. By empowering small, self-run groups, ASO enables local chapters to conduct their own events, citizen science projects, and telescope demonstrations, making astronomy accessible to more people in their local communities. They become local outreach coordinators by themselve to help support the ASO mission.
- Support: ASO provides all the necessary resources to start a chapter, including training on telescope use and conducting citizen science observations. Chapters, however, do not collect membership fees directly; they guide prospective members to the ASO website for sign-ups. Any donations received by a chapter must be reported to ASO and the IRS, and is also the legal property of ASO and the Board as responsable parties unless otherwise noted. No 3rd party involment is allowed in collecting donations, or the distribution of funds.
This grassroots model fosters growth for ASO through individual chapters, allowing communities to run themselves while ASO provides the support and larger organizational structure. By focusing on smaller, localized groups, the ASO can reach a broader audience while minimizing operational costs.
