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Readers' Forum

We asked current and former members for OASIS memories from the past 25 years, and also to share why they're OASIS members now. View photographs from the banquet in the Gallery.

Rick Ladd

I believe all your activities are a little too distant for me to attend (certainly on any sort of regular basis and, especially, since returning from China last fall with my new daughter). My interest no doubt comes from the fact that I work on the Space Shuttle Main Engine program for Boeing Canoga Park. I am a diehard believer in the necessity to explore space for the express purpose of colonizing other worlds (and not committing genocide in the process). I believe this is so, more because of the likelihood of an extinction event than because we are fouling the environment and screwing up just about everything else; not that these aren't somewhat valid reasons, I suppose. You are probably painfully aware of the recent space-related news and events in my life.

I will share a fear of mine with you. I relish the fact that I have worked for over 15 years on what is primarily a science-based, civilianspace program. With the latest reorganization by Boeing, such that I now work for the Integrated Defense Systems division (as opposed to Space and Communications), I fear we are going to spend more of our time and energylooking for military applications in space. I do not consider this a good thing for humanity.

100-inch Hooker Telescope at Mt. Wilson Observatory.

Jeff Hamilton

I'm a relatively new member. I've always been a space enthusiast. Been watching launches since Mercury. I can remember Gemini launches and remember the Apollo missions—those are my most powerful positive memories. Watching men walk on the moon was the most exciting thing I've ever seen. Whenever they re-show clips of the moonwalks on some special, I make sure to watch.

I joined so that my membership might in some way help promote the exploration of space, to stay in touch with the latest news and maybe attend some of the special seminars. Haven't been to one of those yet.

Randolph Riedel

I send my heartfelt best wishes to everyone who will be at this anniversary. I especially wish to say hi to those who participated with OASIS back when I was involved. I wonder if the original OASIS podium sign exists; does anyone remember I was the one who created it so many years ago? I also remember my first attempt at running any sort of business with the OASIS book and product sales.

Some brief news: I attended the memorial service for Charlie Carr when they sent his ashes into orbit. He was a good friend whom I miss. He was one of our OASIS originals, wasn't he?

What would I most want to change?

I'd like to see the artificial conflict between the humanists and the explorers dissolved. They always seem to be unnecessarily treated as mutually exclusive.

Seth Potter

I first joined OASIS when I moved to the Los Angeles area just under six years ago. I had been active in the New York City chapter of NSS, so joining the chapter here was a natural thing to do. Being a newcomer in OASIS is much like being a newcomer in California — you're becoming part of a story already in progress with a rich past, but you never feel left out.

Quite the contrary, I've always felt welcomed, both in OASIS, and in California. In fact, a year after joining, I was elected chapter Vice President, then President a year after that. I've gotten to know several past Presidents, both personally, and through reputation, and feel honored to be one of them. I served two years as President, then was elected to the NSS Board soon after. The OASIS/NSS organization, and the people I have come to know through it, are an important part of my new home.