On behalf of the Antique Telescope Society and the Cincinnati Observatory, we would like to announce the ATS's first thematic workshop "The Vintage Observatory: Thriving in the 21st Century," to be held Friday-Sunday May 2-4, 2008 at the Cincinnati Observatory Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The 2nd announcement, and call for papers are here in pdf format. Abstracts are due by April 11, 2008. Also included in the above are a Preliminary Program, Background Information, and REGISTRATION FORM.

Although in the tradition of past ATS regional meetings, this thematic workshop is of far greater than regional interest, as the plight of the vintage observatory is nationwide and perhaps worldwide. On the eve of the 400th anniversary of the telescope, this invitation is being extended not only to ATS members, but also to educators, curators, restorers, fundraisers, and all others from anywhere in the world concerned with the preservation of both our astronomical and cultural heritage. Please feel free to forward this announcement to anyone you feel may have an interest, including other historical or astronomical lists.

Because the regular annual ATS convention in 2008 will be in Holland in September, this thematic workshop may present some members with an ATS two-fer in 2008 (or at least one ATS gathering that quadricentennial year for others unable to make the overseas trip).