Hill Country Eclipse Round Table 2.21.23

Happy New Year, Hill Country Colleagues,

You are invited to participate in a Hill Country Eclipse Round Table Tuesday, February 21, from 12:00 pm-1:30 pm CDT on Zoom to discuss ongoing preparations for the annular solar eclipse and total solar eclipse, which may draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to our region in October 2023 and April 2024.

During the last total solar eclipse event in the U.S., back in 2017, many rural communities in its path were overwhelmed by the crowds and the challenges they created for local infrastructure, emergency services, lodging and restaurants, and supermarkets. However, the communities that fared the best were those that started preparing years in advance

In 2023 and 2024, the annular and total solar eclipses will pass through the middle of the Hill Country, affecting all our communities. This round table is an opportunity for us to share our plans, learn from one another, and benefit from lessons learned by others.

February's Meeting
This month, I am pleased to invite Juan Seguel to our round table meeting. Juan is the Science Education Specialist at the National Science Foundation's (NFS) National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab) at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in La Serena, Chile. He and his team were on the front line of preparation and logistics for the June 2019 total solar eclipse in the Coquimbo region of the country. Juan brings to our group extensive information and experience working with the public, educators, local leaders, government officials, and scientists.

This meeting and presentation are not to be missed; however, it will be recorded and uploaded to the portal for those unable to attend.  We encourage you to share this invitation with other leaders in your community.

Updates from the Eclipse Team
Your time is valuable, and we want to make sure that it is spent wisely in these round table meetings. Please email activity highlights from your county or organization group from the past few months. All received updates will be compiled and distributed to the group in advance of the meeting so more time can be dedicated to inquiries and discussion.

HCA's Eclipse Portal
Don't forget to take advantage of the Hill Country Alliance Eclipse Portal. This page has all the information you need concerning the eclipses, links to past meeting recordings, presenter resources, and more. You will find links to interactive maps, eclipse diagrams, a glossary of terms, and countdown clocks for both the annular and total solar eclipses. New content is added regularly, and we always welcome suggestions.

Meeting Registration
Please register by clicking here to receive Zoom details for the round table.