April's Spring Camp-Out Rocket Launch

Everyone: Ralph Roberts here, ROCC Club President and hard worker;

The April Spring "Camp-Out Launch" is a go at Williams Farm for April 29th and 30th. we are moving the launch to the 5th weekend of the month. The launch is moved back due to the Easter holiday and the chance to get Ken Allen down to one last launch before he is committed to launch's up north and we may or may not have a launch field depending on the crop situation. So do your shopping this weekend.

Every year we have a campout in the Spring, it gives us extra flying time and a chance to get together Saturday night for good food and conversations. This year we are going to have it at the April launch, mainly due to the fact that if we wait till May, as the corn begins to grow it will be harder for folks to retrieve the smaller rockets. In the past folks have brought telescopes to view the stars, it gets a little dark out there with very few outside lights to compete for the star light. (Roy will be looking for UFO"s). I will take my grill to the launch, and people may borrow to grill, a lot of folks will bring there own as well. (Roy will have his fire pit, everyone is encouraged to bring your charcoal or wood with you) I will post further details about the campout as we get closer to the weekend.
Special note about my attendance, my daughter is having a birthday Sunday April 30th. I can't convince here to have it at the farm. So I will be working Saturday to prep for her party and I will leave early Sunday for the actual party. So if you will be needing to do TRA certifications and or Testing please get with me in advance. My current Launch schedule is to be at the launch from Saturday at 4:00PM, camp overnight then stay Sunday morning up until Noon. Steve and Roy will be in charge of things while I am not there. (OH NO, Not us! be afraid, be very afraid) We will need a LEVEL 2 or higher, RSO/LCO during my absence if we have any L2 shots. Todd, Tim or Mark if you all could be available during those hours I would appreciate it. I know Terry Baucom and David Deason will not be at this launch.

Ken Allen from Performance Hobbies will be at the launch both days. This will be the last launch he can attend for the Spring and Summer as the northern launch season is now starting for him. If you want something special contact him before the launch at _www.performancehobbies.com_ () or just call him. NOTE: HIGH POWER MOTOR PURCHASES HAVE TO BE PRE ORDERED. HE CAN ONLY BRING DOWN ORDERS MADE IN ADVANCE. SO ORDER BEFORE THE LAUNCH, THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.

Note: Due to the recent fire danger alerts and if we don't get any rain we may have to limit flying power. Just keep this in mind if conditions don't improve.

The 2006 membership drive continues, please renew or join at this launch. We will also have the T-Shirts for sale. Sizes from Youth Large to Adult 2XL.

The launch times = from 11:00AM to 7:00PM Saturday and all day Sunday. We can begin flying as early as 7:00AM Sunday and will be out there until 7:00PM. Note: in the past if people don't show by 4:00pm we may begin to wind down the launch, for the folks that have camped everybody is pretty much done by late in the day.

We will have the Porta-A-Jon at this launch. This is another expense we have to add onto our budget per launch, it cost $70.00 a month to have a porta-Jon on the site. Please come out and support the Porta-Jon!

We need as many people as we can to make our flyer fee goal. Last month we had a small turnout again. We need everyone and their donations so please contribute if you fly. Remember our recommended donation is $8.00-$10.00 per flyer per day, families with lots of young flyers maybe a $10.00 donation would be good. Again, these are recommendations not harden rule yet. The requested weekend land fee from the land owner is $250, so we need everyone to drop a little something in the jar.

Anyone needing to certify, please contact me ahead of time. _ROCCPREZ at bellsouth dot net_ or call me at 704-568-1070. My schedule for being at the launch will be very limited Saturday and some of Sunday. Todd Haring can arrange to have the Level 2 NAR test delivered to the field and we can have others administer the test.

Club Meeting:
Summer field to fly on. Brad Shea has been doing some great work however some of his opportunities have fallen through. I have a couple of contacts I will be in touch with over the next week, hopefully, we will have some luck
there. As you all know corn will be planted in the fields this year, We will be able to fly through May, and maybe June if we move the launch up a weekend or
two. Lets discuss.

Also a couple other events coming up.
Hobbytown USA's BUILD AND BLAST MAY 6TH - Brent is looking for volunteers to help.

Hobbytown USA - Harris Blvd is also looking for helpers, I still need to talk to them.

Con Carolina's Sci Fi convention - First weekend of June - The last several years Roy has been able to get us a Rocket Club Display booth for free. We will need volunteers to man the booth. Lets set a booth schedule so Roy can plan his convention task.

If you have any questions please email me at _ROCCPREZ at bellsouth dot net_ or call me at 704-568-1070.

PRE-LAUNCH TASK

STEVE B., ROY AND ANY OTHER VOLUNTEERS - Let's work out a launch schedule for you guys, I plan on being at the launch from 4:00PM Saturday, Camp over night and leave by 12:00 Noon Sunday. I may be able to return for launch shut down, but lets not count on it.

JOHN HOOD - Call the waiver in for the campout times. 11:00-7:00 Sat and All day Sunday, contact Ralph to confirm.

Thanks,
Ralph Roberts
ROCC Prez