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.

As it turned out, it was in my mailbox when I got home that afternoon, and it was an intriguing read to say the least. Besides the usual candidates I had seen many times before, there were a couple of new names, names with really good resumes.

If you are like me, you are aware that there is an undercurrent of sentiment that demands high ethics, above standard behavior and good performance from our elected representatives who make the collective decisions of our hobby organizations. We hold these individuals up above the fracas, placing them on pedestals of great expectation, while seemingly overlooking our responsibilities as the members who put them there. It's easy to point your finger at them for their actions, but for every finger you point, there are three more pointed back at you. Try it — point your finger at something and see how many point back at you.

I'm sure you have all heard the demands on these volunteer hobby representatives. I mention this because it is, after all, still a hobby. Sure, some people have turned segments of their involvement in the hobby into full time jobs, but more power to them — if you can make a living doing what you enjoy, isn't that the real dream? But my point is that we, as the membership of these organizations, have a much greater responsibility than the people we elect to represent us. Sure, that's the underlying tenant of how America is supposed to work, but do you really contribute to your society?

Voter apathy has spread like a creeping disease through the country, swallowing up the last vestiges of duty to one's country. It has run rampant through our hobby, almost virus-like, in the form of, "I just want to fly rockets." But I ask you, "What have you done to preserve this hobby for the next generation?" If your only actions are so self-centered that your only concern is here and today, then you should stop and take a look at how you handle personal responsibility. As a Baby Boomer myself, I find that we are the most self-absorbed bunch of whiners in history, always bitching about how something is affecting us but never doing anything about it until it lands in our laps, totally out of control.

Our hobby is aging in a world that is full of threats that we only had nightmares about 20 years ago. As such, the opportunity for increased regulatory scrutiny is plainly obvious. In fact, the very existence of the hobby's future could be under attack, but "I just want to fly rockets!" How selfish can we get?

We, as the bearers of tomorrow's hobby rocketry future, have a responsibility to preserve this enjoyable past time for our later generations. And we can start by facing the responsibility of selecting individuals who have offered to volunteer their time to work FOR YOU serving in the capacity of hobby organization leaders. You have a responsibility to cast your vote for the individuals you feel would best represent your convictions in decisions that will shape the future of this hobby. You have the responsibility to make a few marks on a postcard and drop it in the mail. For crying out loud, people, the danged ballot is already addressed with the postage paid! Our previous apathetic voter response is worse than some areas of the country where you have to get into your vehicle and stand in a line to pull a lever for your favorite politician!

It was a pleasure reading the resumes of professional individuals who possess the business acumen to make a difference in our future. Good luck to you! Volunteering to run for these positions isn't something that should be taken lightly nor should it be considered a popularity contest for those with weak self-esteem. It is an opportunity to make a difference, something that most of the candidates understand and accept. While they may accept their responsibility for preserving the future of our hobby, do you? Are you willing to let the whole thing vanish into extinction because you were too absorbed in "just wanting to fly rockets?"

Do the right thing — vote your conscience and if you haven't already, drop the card in the mail. The future is yours, what will you do with it?