AURA in Chile, formerly identified exclusively with CTIO, is expanding to the management of Gemini South, SOAR, and perhaps other future major facilities, each of which has a distinct organizational and operational face. By pooling operating resources, AURA will lower the cost of support services to each of these individual units of AURA's observatory here. The most obvious indication of this reorganization which our scientific visitors may see is the new sign at the bottom of the AURA observatory preserve, welcoming them to "The AURA Observatory in Chile," with the logos of the various units underneath.
A need has also arisen to provide administrative and logistical services in a readily accountable way to the various telescope sites, their staffs, and visitors. To do this, people involved in these activities and formerly denoted as "CTIO" have been reorganized into a separate unit, "AURA Observatory Support Services." This includes people with whom our scientific visitors interact directly: the Guesthouse and Business Office in Santiago, the Travel Office in La Serena, and the staff on Tololo who handle transportation, room and board. Visitors to the mountain may notice a letterhead change on various forms, from "CTIO" to "AOSS," and slightly more emphasis on record keeping. Otherwise, you should see the same friendly faces, competent assistance, comfortable quarters, and great food as before.
Enrique Figueroa (efigueroa@noao.edu)