Rocketry Planet

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.

Many of you will be receiving a mailing from the National Association of Rocketry regarding the legal battle that's starting to take shape in Washinton with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Many have already drifted by the NAR website and found the bulk of the mailing's information presented in a letter from the president, located at: http://www.nar.org/NARfrompres.html. After several back and forth email exchanges with Mark Bundick, president of the NAR, we agreed to work together to face this situation head-on.

Just today, I sat down and addressed an email to all of the hobby rocketry vendors who are listed on Rocketry Online. What follows is the heart of that letter:

Tuesday, November 23, 1999

Dear Industry Representative:

You are being contacted as a manufacturer or vendor of the hobby rocketry industry with a vested interest in the contents of this email. As you are well aware, the hobby organizations are taking on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms headlong in a legal battle to gain regulatory relief for hobby rocketry enthusiasts who fly motors with greater than G-class impulse. That legal battle promises to be both lengthly and costly to the organizations and that is where you can help.

The National Association of Rocketry has recently begun a fund drive from their website where they have offered individuals the opportunity to contribute to the legal defense fund online using a credit card if the user so desires. They are also welcome to mail in checks as well. These contributions are entirely tax deductible to the contributor. Due to the amount of money it will require to fight this battle, the combined funding requirements are in excess of $85,000.

What can you do to help? As representatives of the hobby rocketry industry, you are being asked to do whatever you can to help. Something as simple as adding a link from your web site to the fund drive contribution page can help your online visitors find their way to make these needed contributions.

When you consider that your business' very future depends on the ability of flyers being able to gain access to rocket motors, doesn't that make you want to help? I am asking you, as a member of the industry, with everything to lose, to consider one of these opportunities:

1. Add a link to your website that directs visitors to the NAR fund drive contributors page at: http://www.nar.org/NARfrompres.html Start by making a contribution yourself and then encourage others you know in the hobby to do the same.

2. Pick a special kit, offer it as a fund drive special and donate the proceeds from its sales to the fund, or pick a specific time frame and donate a percentage of total sales to the fund. Without our success in this legal battle, there may not be future sales for you to worry about.

3. Sponsor raffles, contests and other events at your local launches and donate the funds to the fund drive. Instigate your local flyers to be inventive in ways to generate enough contributions to preserve their hobby.

The time has come for all of us to step up the plate and do our part. Many of the flyers want to do something, they are looking for some leadership in just what they should be doing. You can be instrumental in that regard by showing them how to help everyone succeed.

With your help, we just may preserve our hobby for the future generations. Without your help, we are sure to doom it. Please help. Be a part of the preservation of hobby rocketry. Everyone involved needs every else's help, so please be generous, both with your effort and with your contributions. Our future depends on it.

Cordially,

Darrell Mobley
Representing the High Power Rocketry Manufacturers and Dealers Association

It is important for the general public of the rocketry community to be aware of what we are facing. In our communications with the ATF, our efforts have been either misinterpreted at best, or ignored at worst. They simply have not been forthcoming about the incident reports, the methods by which they analyze explosive materials, the threat they perceive to public safety, etc. Because of this, we have no recourse but to take it into a legal setting.

There's no guarantee we'll win this suit. We may spend all this money and still lose. If we do lose in court, a Congressional attempt will cost us much more, but at least remains open as an avenue for us to tackle if we fail here. But you must understand that without an attempt, we will gain absolutely nothing. We can not afford to sit by and take no action.

Now. I am going to hand you the ball and see if you run with it.

Listen carefully: If you do nothing, we will lose everything. If you do something, we may gain everything. No pain, no gain. We simply must try. Will you?