From: metares@well.sf.ca.us (Tom Van Flandern)
Subject: Re: Progress with New Cosmologies (& discrete redshifts)
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 04:27:14 GMT


Earlier, I wrote:

> The Meta Research Bulletin, issued quarterly, is currently distributed free
> to contributors of $25 or more in any year to support the astronomy
> research activities of Meta Research.  The organization is a tax-emempt,
> non-profit, scientific research group based in Washington, DC.  A sample
> copy of the Bulletin is available on request.  Address: P.O. Box 15186,
> Chevy Chase, MD 20815.

and sichase@csa3.lbl.gov (SCOTT I CHASE) replied:

> I have a couple of prying questions, if you don't mind.  Roughly how many
> contributors do you currently have, who get your newsletter?

     The production of the fall issue of the Meta Research Bulletin was over
the 1000-copy mark.  If renewals are high enough, we may go to a printing
process for next year.

> Who, other than yourself, participates in the the work of the Meta Research
> Institute?  Does it have a scientific Board or Review Committee which
> oversees the scientific program?

     Meta Research is run by a 7-member board of directors (5 scientists and
2 administrators).  The U.S. Internal Revenue Service does not grant tax-
exempt status to one-man organizations, or to those which do not perform a
bona fide public service.

> Etc.  Tell us more about your organization.  Is it a "scientific research
> group" of one?

     This is from the charter:

     "Meta Research, Inc. is a scientific non-profit corporation run by a 7-
member board.  It was founded in response to the broad problem of getting
support to do research on promising but unpopular alternative ideas in
astronomy which have trouble getting funded from the usual sources.  The
corporation is organized exclusively for the purpose of supporting and
encouraging research or observations in connection with astronomical theories
which are in accord with observations and experiment, add insight or
understanding, and make testable predictions; but which are not otherwise
supported because they lie outside of the mainstream of theories in
Astronomy."

     This is from the Bulletin:

     "The Meta Research Bulletin is published four times a year, about mid-
month in March, June, September, and December.  Subscriptions are free to
supporting members.  Memberships are available to contributors of $25 or more
each year (tax deductible to all).  Pertinent articles are welcome.
Preferred formats are: IBM-format ASCII or Word Perfect diskette, or E-mail
to <metares@well.sf.ca.us>.  For membership contributions, to order back
issues, to contribute an article, or to send a letter to the editor about a
published article, write to:
Meta Research Bulletin        Phone: 202/362-9176 (Washington, DC)
PO Box 15186                  Be prepared to leave
Chevy Chase, MD 20815         callback message on tape."

     As a new and public-supported organization, Meta Research still has a
pretty modest annual budget (mid-5-figures).  Although it pays no salaries
and can still support only modest research projects, 100% of all
contributions go into research support and none into "overhead".  But it will
be a while before the organization starts to impact the NASA budget.  :-)

     Perhaps some of the above helps explain why I work on the kinds of
interesting problems we have discussed here over the past six months.
     -|Tom|-

-- 
Tom Van Flandern / Washington, DC / metares@well.sf.ca.us
Meta Research was founded to foster research into ideas not otherwise
supported because they conflict with mainstream theories in Astronomy.