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NAR Member Guidebook
One of our greatest member benefits is a 60-page "Member Guidebook" on rocketry and on the NAR that is sent to all members. New members get it when they join, renewing members get one at their next renewal each time a new edition is published. A new edition comes out every two years and these mailouts are done in bulk every two months. Guidebook Editor Mario Perdue has just completed the 2010-2011 edition of the NAR Member Guidebook and members will get it as they renew or join starting in January 2010. |
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New Motor Certifications
NAR Standards and Testing has recently announced certifications of three new motor types:
Quest A8-3 (18mm)
Quest B4-4 (18mm)
Aerotech E20-4,7,10 (24 mm) |
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Fly 50K Youth Program
The NAR has set for itself a challenge to help 50,000 kids fly their first rocket to commemorate our 50th anniversary. We ask all our members to celebrate our heritage and build our future by sharing the fun and excitement of a rocket launch with young people (age 16 and below). Check out the program details on our website, then go fly! |
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NAR National Awards History
Each year since 1959 the NAR has recognized national competition champions, both individuals and sections. A few years after that we began recognizing service to the NAR through national awards such as the Galloway Award, the LAC Newsletter Trophy, etc. We have just completed a comprehensive list of all the national award winners in the NAR's history and have now posted it on the NAR website. | |
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Message from the NAR President
Greetings!
This month we are taking a big step in modernizing the NAR's business operations by converting to a new headquarters management software system. I'm sure that despite our best efforts (led by Technology Committee Chair Jennifer Ash-Poole) there will be a few initial service bumps, but once we are past these the new system will let us deliver much better support to our members. Please bear with us as we make this transition.
I have recently received reports from a few NAR members who hold BATFE LEUP permits (which used to be required to possess high-power rocket motors) that they have been visited by BATFE agents concerning high-power rocket igniters. Igniters are on the list of "explosive devices" that Congress gave BATFE full authority to regulate, but there are no specific published regulations defining exactly what constitutes an "igniter". The BATFE agents have offered various NAR members different interpretations of what kinds of igniters are subject to their record-keeping and magazine-storage requirements, and interpretations of what these requirements are. If you hold an LEUP and are visited by a BATFE agent who raises this subject, please ask them for a definition of what characteristics they have been told constitute a "regulated" igniter vs one that is not regulated, and send me a report at president@nar.org
Be safe, have fun, and pay forward.
Trip Barber
NAR 4322
NAR President |
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NAR Headquarters Service Changes
The NAR HQ database will be moved from an old stand-alone computer to a completely new web-based service during the week of November 9th. Online member renewals were taken down on Friday, November 6. The new link for online payment will be up Monday, November 16. You can still send in your membership renewals , HPR certifications, and requests for new cards via snail mail and fax. They will be serviced once the new system is online.
Over the next few months you will see many improvements, including the ability to access and change your own member information in the NAR database. This is a new system that will take us a while to get used to. We think you will like the improvements, and they will definitely help Marie and the NAR Board and committees to do their jobs of serving you faster and better. Thanks for your patience.
Jennifer Ash-Poole
Chair, Technology Committee |
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Volunteers Needed
The NAR runs on the strength of its volunteers, from section leaders to the people in the committees that deliver our national services. We always need more help somewhere in order to deliver the services our members expect. Right now we have three key places in our national programs where we need this help. If you are interested in any of these, please contact the NAR President or the volunteer in charge of each of these areas.
NAR Technical Services Chair. Runs the NAR's program for developing and selling technical reports and NAR emblematic items (hats, decals, pins, etc.). NARTS is currently run by Tom Ha.
NAR Education Newsletter Editor. Develops and sends out the NAR's quarterly electronic newletter on how rocketry can be or is being used in education programs. This is currently done by Joyce Guzik.
Section Activities Committee. The committee chair John Hochheimer needs lots of help, including people to advise sections and to help update the NAR Section Manual chapters on any of these five areas:
Launch range equipment design, construction, or purchase
Website design and resources
Obtaining and operating launch sites
Producing electronic or print newsletters, including photography
How to get a new section started and help it over any initial startup hurdles |
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NAR Convention 2010 (NARCON)
NARCON is our annual event for exchanging updates and lessons in seminar groups on how to do the craftsmanship and technology of our hobby. NARCON 2010 will be held in Worcester, MA at Clark University March 13-14, 2010. Clark University is where Robert Goddard did some of his early work. The world's first liquid fueled rocket flight took place in nearby Auburn and, weather permitting, there will be a commemorative launch on Sunday on the site of that launch. The keynote speaker will be the man in charge of collections at the library where Goddard's papers are kept.
NARCON has a block of rooms reserved in the Crown Plaza Hotel in Worcester. Food will be available for lunch and dinner on Saturday. Many of the seminar leader slots are filled but more volunteer speakers are needed. If you would like to volunteer to talk about your specialty to your fellow NAR members please contact Bob Krech at speakers@narcon.org. Vendors interested in participating can contact Guy Wadsworth at vendors@narcon.org. Fliskits is creating the commemorative kit and providing it free to the first 60 people who register. Of course, it will be one of Goddard's rockets. Registration and more information can be found at www.narcon.org. | |
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National Association of Rocketry
