September 21, 2015
Media Advisory – Eclipse Planning Workshop
Members of the media are welcome to cover a solar eclipse planning workshop for local government officials on Tuesday, Sept. 22, beginning at 9 a.m. at John A. Logan College in Carterville, rooms H127-128. The SIU Eclipse Planning Committee, Carbondale Tourism and John A. Logan are sponsoring this meeting as well as a similar session for members of the business community on Oct. 13.
The first total solar eclipse over the mainland United States since 1979 will take place on Aug. 21, 2017. Southern Illinois is in the path of totality; the point of greatest duration of the eclipse will occur a few miles south of Carbondale, making Southern Illinois a prime destination for potentially thousands of people. The purpose of the meeting is to encourage early planning and coordination of resources and services.
Speakers during Tuesday’s workshop will include Bob Baer, a staff member in SIU Carbondale’s physics department and co-chair of the SIU Eclipse Planning Committee, and Dan McGlaun, a veteran eclipse chaser who manages and maintains “Eclipse2017.org”.