Canadian Space Commerce Association – An Industry Group to Promote and Support Canadian Businesses

The January 2008 meeting will once again be held at Scallywags (11 St. Clair West), on Thursday, January 10, 2008, beginning 7pm.

This meeting will take place on the 3rd floor patio section towards the front of the building.

Meetings are called to order at 7:30pm.

This meetings agenda will include:

1) Acceptance of new members (voting)

2) Brief financial update

– review of proposed new fee structure, vote on it
- current state of finances

3) AGM preparation

– quick review of what business MUST be done at AGM (i.e. as mandated in the bylaws)
- proposals for optional items (e.g. additional resolutions) to be presented at AGM

4) Conference preparation

Note: This is not an open forum to micromanage the planning details. That is best NOT done in a large group. If anyone has issues with the plan please take it up with the planners directly, primarily Rocky and Chuck.

Instead, our goal at this meeting is to:
i) do a a “sanity check” on the conference prep so far
ii) give us all an understanding of what the conference IS and IS NOT about
so that all of us can be prepared to help in the smooth operation of the conference.

Items to be considered:

– review of the conference schedule
- review of the conference logistics
- review of conference promotion to date and planned
- review of the conference goals

5) – If time permits – Discussion of the “Space Business Accelerator”

- what it means
- what the envisioned stages will be from a function and timing viewpoint
- proposed relationship between the Accelerator and the CSCA

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If you plan to attend please contact the Meeting Chair to RSVP.

Scallywags is right around the corner from St. Clair subway station, so that is your best way to get there, on the south side of St. Clair about 10 meters from Yonge Street. Parking is $1.50 per 1/2 hour in that area. The closest lot is at 21 Pleasant Blvd.

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The CSCA is pleased to announce that Robert Richards of Optech Incorporated and the Odyssey Moon team competing in the Google Lunar X-Prize will be our Keynote speaker for the Accelerating Space Conference.

Dr. Robert (Bob) Richards is a Founder of the International Space University with over 20 years of commercial space experience, presiding over multiple spaceflight programs from conception to launch as director of Optech Space Technology. He is CEO and Founder of Odyssey Moon:

Odyssey Moon is a private commercial lunar enterprise domiciled in the Isle of Man. This international team represents an innovative partnership of aerospace, banking, property, and legal interests that have come together to offer unique commercial products and services for humanity’s permanent return to the Moon. Utilizing Canadian ingenuity in mission design and advanced robotics, Odyssey Moon has a long term purpose of pursuing commercial lunar activities and a short term goal of winning the Google Lunar X PRIZE.

Odyssey Moon intends to be the world’s first commercial lunar exploration and development enterprise operating on a global scale, building on its Google Lunar X PRIZE experience to develop unique technical and managerial capabilities as a commercial lunar “mission integrator” for diverse international customers.

With the world’s attention turning back to the Moon and the increasing confidence accruing to the private space sector as highly credible players enter the new space race, Odyssey Moon is uniquely positioned to take the next bold step beyond the current focus on suborbital and low earth orbit tourism. This unique position is due to the experience and influence of the company’s founders and advisors; strategic partnerships with renowned international space technology developers.

We are also pleased to announce Optech and Odyssey Moon as new members of the Canadian Space Commerce Association, as well as Optech as a Bronze Sponsor for the Accelerating Space Conference.

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Planning for the CSCA’s Annual General Meeting (Sat. January 26th, 2008) have evolved into a tentative agenda for what we are calling The Accelerating Space Conference. (Click on that link to go to the conference page — where you can also register as a discount before January 11, 2008).

Dr. Burton Lee of the Space Angels Network, and Peter Evans of the MaRS Discovery District, are confirmed to speak. We have invited a speaker to do the keynote, as well as a few more we’d like to squeeze in.

The focus of the meeting (to be held at the MaRS Discovery District) is the concept of a Space Business Accelerator. See the conference page for an explanation of that.

Tentative Agenda:

* 1pm-1:30 – Keynote – Dr. Robert Richards, Odyssey Moon

* 1:30 – 2pm – Formal Networking Session

* 2pm – 2:45 – Speaker: Dr. Burton Lee – Space Angels Network; discussing angel financing

* 2:45-3:15 – Informal Networking Session

* 3:15 – 4:00 – Speaker: Peter Evans, MaRS — business incubators and building management teams.

* 4:00 – 5pm – Discussion: The Space Business Accelerator

* 5pm – 7pm — Break for dinner (meet at Scallywags)

* 7pm – 8pm — CSCA annual general meeting (Scallywags)

* 8pm onwards — socializing and network as you like.

Please register soon to get a $50 discount on your CSCA membership and conference attendance! The sooner we can build up our registration revenue the more likely we can invite additional speakers to the Accelerating Space Conference.

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