THE TIME HAS COME for every individual in the hobby rocketry realm to step up and face the music. The future of our hobby is under attack and its time we did something about it. In an era of widespread apathetic constituencies, we need to have the intestinal fortitude to show the regulatory agencies that we expect some sort of cooperation in our requests. If any of you require a dose of spinal Viagra, just email me with a prescription request.

AFTER READING Brett Keller’s “YOUth Really Can Make a Difference,” I started thinking. Thinking about the decline in youth activity in rockets. It has been found that the average age of “rocketeers” is around 40. This shocked me. I know there are those in the hobby of rockets that are 60-80 and that is fine -- it is just that when you think about it, there are a lot of them, more than teens.

IN THE HIS OPINION ARTICLE "YOUth Can Make a Difference!" (Sept 13, 1999), Brett Keller made a very profound statement. He wrote: "I'm not a member of any of the big national organizations, because they can offer very little to me until I turn 18 (in just under 3 years). Sure, I'll get the nifty magazine, but I can order that separately. Other than certification and supporting clubs I don't see that they are doing anything. Not that I am anti-NAR or anti-TRA, so don't take me wrong. It's just like one of the chatters said; 'the youth of today want something substantial, more bang for the buck'."

I’VE BEEN HEARING for a long time that youth involvement in rocketry is in decline. After hearing a lot of discussion and reading through several threads on the discussion forums, I think I need to share a few thoughts. I wasn’t too aware of the problem until recently during some discussions in the chat room. The people I was talking with wanted to know what I thought would help the major organizations interest kids. It took me a lot of thought, but finally I came up with my answer.

QUITE A FEW tourists were passing through, though not many braved the summer heat to take a look at the old ships. I did my best to avoid their masses, and found myself in the company of some old wrecks. A handful of ships and broken pieces lay scattered, tossed about as if by a giants hand, or some unimaginable storm.

I’VE REVIEWED SEVERAL POSTINGS regarding “Duty of the RSO”, RSO training, “Bozo filters”, certification time requirements and enforcement, public image of the sport, “Kids with G motors” and differences between TRA and NAR.

I received an email the other day from Derek Deville discussing his candidacy for the upcoming Tripoli Rocketry Association's Board of Directors elections, and it got me thinking. I knew of Derek through his involvement with Tripoli South Florida, where he serves as president of their prefecture, but it also reminded me that elections were drawing near and I wondered where was my ballot.