More on this weekend's launch window....

Yessss... It is going to be a bit cold Saturday and Sunday morning. I received a few questions on dealing with the cold out at the launch site. For those of you who have been out on the launch field in winters past, we know that the best system is to dress in layers. If the sun is out at all, we have seen how the farm fields can act like a solar collector and the air temperature can be 5 or more degrees warmer than the projected high. So if its warmer than you thought, you can shed or don clothing layers as needed. As of now, it is to be sunny, with a morning start in the low 30's moving up to the 50's. So dress accordingly, use common sense and have a lot of fun. (its rumored that flight performance is increased in dry cold conditions) And to clarify "Donations" vs "Membership fees". The "Donations" jar on the sign-in table is for the flyers flight fee, which is given to the property owners as a gratuity in appreciation for the use of their property. The present target amount requested by the property owner is $250 for the weekend. Club memberships, $5 for juniors, $10 for adults, $15 for a family or $20 with a ROCC "T" shirt included, goes into the club treasury to cover the costs of maintaining the club equipment, supplies, engine storage, Insurance and fees with both the Tripoli Rocket Association and the National Association of Rocketry. Hope that everybody is able to come out and have a good time. See you on the launch pad. Roy

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December Rocket Launch is a GO!

The December 18 th and 19 th, Launch is a go for the Farm. I spoke to Mrs. Williams tonight and she says we are GO! Kip was out and about, I take that as good news. The house/bathroom will not be open and they will probably have the water off anyway due to the cold. I will proceed with trying to fiNd a source for a port-a-potty for next year. *Larry Barker had a source for one last spring I will follow up with him. I polled some of our avid volunteers and they agreed that we should start the launch at 11:00AM to extend the day. So we will be running the launch from 11:00AM to 5:00PM each day.

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November Launch Report, Sunday

Again. Welcome to Part II of the November Post-Rocket Launch Report. As I said at the end of Saturdays part of the launch report. Sunday was a great day for flying. The day started off sunny with almost no wind or breeze at all. As the day progressed high clouds moved over head with sunshine poking thru (there was a projection for rain to move in that evening) and then at about 4:30 some light sprinkling came into the area but that was at the almost end of the flight day anyway. To beat the dark we started tearing down after the last flight at 4:54 by Terry Baucom. The temperature was t-shirt weather.

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November Launch Report -- Saturday

Welcome, welcome, welcome! To the much awaited November Rocket Launch. Turkey Day is over, so I hope your ready for the Post-Launch report. Well it has seemed like months; well actually it has been months hasn't it? Since our last rocket launch. When the coastal hurricane season started, rocket launch weekends were canceled all throughout the Carolinas. Even the big east coast rocket meet, Liberty Launch, down at Orangeburg S.C. which a lot of people were looking forward to attending. Then we had tragedy strike the Williams family, which, understandably, put our own launches on hold. But finally, and with the cooperation of the Williams family (we are glad that Kip is recovering well) we were able to effect a November Launch. A lot of us were in desperate rocket withdrawals, so it could not have come at a better time. Saturday, 20 Nov, the weather was overcast with periodic sunshine, high clouds, light wind with a few gusts every now and then, but warm temperatures in the 60's. Everybody was wearing t-shirts on the most part.

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Launch Weather Update

After checking weather sites and local forecasts, and checking with a few of us who have been through "Iffy" weather before, Ralph has bitten the bullet and decided to go ahead with this weekends launch. (his computer is in several pieces on the floor right now) As it is now projected, There is a chance of scattered light rain, not really showers, nothing that heavy or concentrated during the day, with some scattered sunshine peaking through the overcast. The temps are to be in the mid 60's, so that will be good, and not windy. Any heavy rain is not to come until Saturday evening or night into the morning hours of Sunday, with a break until later Sunday on through Monday. So we plan on a reasonable to good day on Saturday and if any bad projections of bad or worse weather for Sunday comes we can make a weather decision at the site. With the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, next weekend, we just didn't think it workout any better to move the launch, it could always be even worse weather next weekend anyway. We know what we have this weekend. OK, so I hope to see most of you out there and lets have a nice time putting smoke trails into the sky. LAST Point, Due to changes in circumstances out at the farm, most probably the house will not be available for restroom use. So, we have to make a nature run to the convince store 2 miles away, if so, yell out if anybody needs a ride. Take care, Roy

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Christmas is comming...

Kip Williams' girlfriend Marty is going to have a booth at the Southern Christmas Show. It will run from November 11th through the 21st. You can check out the crafts and items available here. The booth is named Natures Works. They have things made with the corn from the field or from one of the farms. Mrs. Williams said they have one item called Raindeer Corn. It's really fun. You put an ear of red corn in a bag and pop it in the microwave. POP POP POP and you have really neat-looking popcorn. Sounds cool to me. They had to work really hard the last couple of weeks to get ready since Marty spent most of the last three weeks at the Hospital with Kip. She has really been a life saver for them. But WAIT... There's MORE! Ralph just sent me an e-mail that the new batch of T-SHIRTS are in just in time for that last minute (some of us haven't even started yet!) holiday shopping! He said that they are the really nice beefy-tees in a lovely ashe color in sizes from youth medium up to 2XL. So come on out and bring some extra cash with you and help support the club.

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Next launch dates November 20 & 21

Gentlemen: We are on for the November Launch, Kip had no reservation about us flying. The family, I believe, is pleased with our support and the kindness offered by us. I keep offering any help we can give, so far, they have no addtional requests. Times are yet to be determined but it looks like around Noon till 5:00 both days. Tune in for up-to-date info closer to that weekend. If you want to volunteer to do anything please contact Ralph at: roccprez@prodigy.net. We want to make this launch effortless for the Wiliams family. I went out to see the Williams yesterday and to inspect our stuff. When I called the Williams earlier yesterday Mrs. Williams said that someone had gone in and stole a pig and messed around in the buildings. They started yesterday beefing up the entrance and installing an electric fence around the house and sheds. First thing is, we are going to need to coordinate with Kip about getting keys to unlock the gates and according to his brother-in-law we will need to disable the electric fence and re-connect when we leave. Also, if anyone goes down there to look for stuff they are going to need to check in with them. They have a lot of help with running the farm and they don't know everyone. So, there will need to be a little coordination effort. Stay in touch, more to come soon. Ralph Roberts ROCC President

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Memorials for William (Squibb) Williams

Please remember that donations to the Crooked Creek "Cemetery Fund" should be mailed to: Maurice Broadway 5219 Rocky River Rd. North Indian Trail, NC 28079 Attn: Crooked Creek Cemetery Fund Please feel free to send money directly to the church. We had a fairly low turn out at the HobbyTown collection and it would be nice to remember Mr. Williams and the family at this time. The family requests that memorials for Mr. Wilburn Franklin (Squibb) Williams be sent to church. Thanks, Ralph Roberts ROCC Prez PS: Anybody ever hear what the "Squibb" was a nickname for?

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Donation Site at Rocket Display at HobbyTown

Eveyone: Ralph Roberts 620 Aintree Rd. Charlotte, NC 28215-2055 Steve Michael, owner of Hobbytown USA at Cheshire Shops at 3710 W. T. Harris Blvd. Charlotte, NC, has given us permission to use their store as a drop off location for Mr. Williams' memorial between 12:00-2:00pm.on Sat. Oct 16, 2004. We will setup a table out front to collect donations between those hours. If you can't come please mail any donations to me, see address below or directly to the Church. I have the address, however, let me call today and see how we should address the donation. We'll post that information ASAP. Joe Grosjean and his family has gone ahead and sent a card on behalf of the club to Mrs. Willaims. Mrs. Williams had asked that memorials be sent to Crooked Creek Primitive Baptist Church's "Cemetery Fund" at Crooked Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Monroe. I was unable to talk to Mrs. Williams yesterday, I'll try again today to find out Kip's condidtion. On a side note: I was going to bring a table, some rockets and brochures to hand out to folks who may be interested in joining the club. I may also have the new T-Shirts available as well, depends if they are ready by Friday. Please come by if you can I would like to collect a significant donation so we can get it to them as soon as possible. Sincerely, Ralph Roberts ROCC PREZ 704-568-1070

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Latest October Launch Info:

To all our members and friends; You are probably wondering about the reversal of excitement and cancelation of October activities in such a short time. The reason for canceling the October launch is that there has been a terrible tragedy in the Williams family, the landowners of the field. Mr. Wilburn "Squibb" Williams and his son Kip were in a traffic accident last Monday, Oct. 4th. Mr. Williams was killed and Kip was seriously injured and is still at Carolinas Medical Center this week. Out of respect for the family we felt canceling the launch was the only thing to do. They were responsible for opening up the gate and the house plus mowing the runway for us to use. This obviously will not be done. Moreover, we will need to check into our Tripoli and NAR Insurance to see if we will need to make changes to our policy since both Mr. Williams and Kip are listed as the land owners. So, at this time we are suspending launches until we have time to speak to the family about being able to fly at the Williams Farm Site. My hope is that we should be able to continue flying, however, now is a time to pay our respects and pray for family that has been so supportive of Rocketry going back to 1994. As a club we will be gathering contributions for a memorial for their church's "Cemetery Fund". The church is Crooked Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Monroe. NC. I will have more information on this later today. Please contact Ralph Roberts if you have any questions. 704-568-1070 or 704-560-0147. Sincerely, Ralph Roberts ROCC Prez

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