NAR Section News

As of November 10, 2020.
Active NAR Sections: 221 (+2 overall change since last month)
New Sections – The NAR would like to welcome the 303 Rocketry (303R) Section #880 out of Broomfield, CO and the Undergraduate Missiles, Ballistics, and Rocketry Association (UMBRA) Section #881 out of Chino, CA. For more about these Sections or to find the one closest to you, visit the NAR Club Locator page.
Section History – Did you know that the NAR has chartered close to 900 Sections over its 63 year history and that there are several active Sections that have been continuously chartered for over 55 years??!! The compilation of all Section names and numbers is currently in process. If anyone has any documents relating to history of their Section or others, especially in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, please reach out to the Section Activities Chairman.
Section Drive – The Section Activities Committee is looking for passionate NAR rocketeers willing to form new Sections (clubs) and promote rocketry in the following states: Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, & South Dakota. Those states currently have some of the fewest NAR members residing there but it only takes two (2) to charter a Section. If you’re not sure how to find members to get started, a list of potential ones can be provided upon request. There are no fees involved with chartering and the process is simple and painless. Once chartered, Sections are entitled to provide FREE launch site insurance for their landowners! If eligible, a Section Grant can also be applied for to help with other Section costs such as safety gear, launch equipment, promotional items, etc. For more information or to start the chartering process, please contact the SAC Chairman.
SAC Contact – Chuck Neff, NAR Section Activities Chairman, at sections@nar.org.
As of October 13, 2020.
Active NAR Sections: 219 (+2 overall change since last month)
New Sections – The NAR would like to welcome the LeHigh Valley Rocketry (LVR) Section #878 out of Easton, PA and the Washington Academic Rocketry Network (WARN) Section #879 out of Lynnwood, WA. For more about these Sections or to find the one closest to you, visit the NAR Club Locator page.
Section Grants – Since 2014, the NAR has granted almost 270 Section Grants totaling over $65,000! These grants have been used to purchase a variety of items such as safety gear, range equipment, as well as marketing materials. Sections can apply once per year at any time using the simple online application found HERE. If your Section hasn’t applied for 2020, please do so and take advantage of this generous NAR benefit!
Launch Sites – Is your Section looking for a launch site? The online Section Guidebook has a chapter on Launch Sites which contains a lot of useful information that may help you find and secure permission for your Sections launching activities. There are also chapters on Starting a New Section, Section Management, Publicity, & Running Launches, to name a few. All of the information in the guidebook isn’t just for Sections. Individual NAR members may also find it useful. If you haven’t used this great resource, I recommend checking it out!
Section FAQ’s – Did you know there is a list of Section related Frequently Asked Questions/Answers accessible to Section Leaders on the NAR Sections Group list? If you are a Section Leader/Officer and are not a member of the group, send an email to the Section Activities Chairman and request an invitation to join. Please include your Section Name, Number, and your leadership role.
SAC Contact – Chuck Neff, NAR Section Activities Chairman, at sections@nar.org.
As of September 14, 2020

Active NAR Sections: 217 (+3 overall change since last month)

New Sections – The NAR would like to welcome The Forgottonia Rocketry Group (TFRG) Section #875 out of Macomb, IL, the St. Augustine Rocketeers (StAR) Section #876 out of St. Augustine, FL, and the Rocket McRocketface Club (RMRC) Section #877 out of Staten Island, NY. For more about this Section or to find the closest one to you, visit the NAR Club Locator page.

2020 LAC Newsletter Award – Congratulations to the NAR Headquarters Astromodeling Section (NARHAMS) #139 and Editor, Don Carson, for being selected as this year’s winner! Their bimonthly electronic newsletter, Zog-43, won out over several finalists and brought home the coveted Rockwell Trophy! For more information on the LAC Newsletter Award, including details on how your Section can enter, go to the  NAR website.

2020 Website Excellence Awards – Congratulations to the Monroe Astronautical Rocket Society (MARS) Section #136and their webmaster, Bill Clune, for their 1st Place finish! Their website topped the judging criteria and edged out the other three finalists, the Southwest Michigan Association of Spacemodeling Hobbyists (SMASH) Section #500, the Blue Mountain Rocketeers (BMR) Section #615, and the Dallas Area Rocket Society (DARS) Section #308. You can find out more about the Website Excellence Award here.

Section Activities Recognition Award – The Section Activities Committee would like to recognize Pamela Gilmore for her service as the Website Excellence Award manager from its inception in 2010 until 2019. Thank you for your service to the NAR, its Sections, as well as its Members!

Section Member Affiliation – Are you a member of a Section? Please log into your NAR account and make sure that your Section affiliation is correct.

SAC Contact – Chuck Neff, NAR Section Activities Chairman, at sections@nar.org.