Stu Barrett is seen here field-testing a new brand of Nomex shirt during 2003's Skye Dance XXXVI.

WORLD WIDE WEB — The Tripoli Rocketry Association has ended the official resume submission period for candidates, setting the stage for the 2008 Board of Director elections.  Even with three candidates up for re-election, the candidate turnout was relatively small.

While the turnout was lower than expected, TRA Election Committee Chair Guy Soucy seemed pleased with those candidates who did volunteer. "Although we do not have the quantity of candidates that we have seen the past few years," Soucy stated, "we have maintained the quality of the candidates."

Up for re-election this year are Tripoli President Ken Good and Terry McCreary, PhD.  Both Good and McCreary are multi-term candidates, having held their positions for more than one term.  Board member Darren Wright, a one-term member elected in 2005, is not seeking re-election.

Debra Koloms is shown here receiving her Level 3 certification from BRS' Ray Halm in 2003.

Two candidates are seeking their first elected position in the 2008 election: Debra Koloms, an ophthalmologist from Watertown, New York, and Stu Barrett, president of the Austin Area Rocketry Group and well known for his Anti-Zipper design, a construction technique for eliminating shock cord airframe destruction during marginal recoveries.

Good, a well known and respected rocketeer and one of the original founders of Tripoli, has been a mainstay in the fight against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, leading a lawsuit aimed at removing the cumbersome regulatory restrictions strangling the hobby today.  Good's purchase of an Estes X-Ray in 1966 led to a lifetime fascination with hobby rocketry, and ultimately led to the friendships that formed the basis of the organization. 

Good with a reunion of the Tripoli "Old Guard" in 1996. From left to right: Art Bower, Sarah Bower, Curt Hughes, Ken Good, Theresa Graham, Francis Graham.

Terry McCreary, author of Experimental Composite Propellant, a book on the fundamentals of making rocket motors.

Although he drifted away physically from the hobby as real life was shaping the man, rocketry was never that far from Good's mind. A reunion with his original crew in the mid-90's led to Good's reintroduction to the hobby, and the rest, as they say, is history.  He's been a "good" friend of the hobby all his life and a "good" president of the organization, reshaping it after it went through some growing pains during the last ten years.

McCreary, author of Experimental Composite Propellant, a primer on the fundamentals of making rocket motors, is a familiar name among rocketry enthusiasts everywhere, especially those that pursue amateur and research rocketry.  A professor at Kentucky's Murray State University, McCreary is well regarded for his knowledge of rocket propulsion and was called upon to submit testimony in the landmark lawsuit Tripoli has waged against the BATFE.  McCreary also has five other publications to his credit dating back to 1988.

Tripoli will be sending out postage paid ballots to active members shortly and members are encouraged to take advantage of the process and cast their votes.

05-22-2008 10:34 PM  #1
Steve_Shannon Growing more clueless...   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 2054	Re: Tripoli sets four candidates for 2008 BOD elections Great slate!

05-22-2008 10:57 PM  #2
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1226	Re: Tripoli sets four candidates for 2008 BOD elections Guy Soucy is a good guy. Terry McCreary same thing. Ken Good I do not know, but I do know I disagree with the policies maintained under his presidency which results in vendor shame and member abatement and launch rules of a nature to scare away crowds. His lawsuit policy resulted in no real progress while ignoring the thing the judge gave Tripoli to make real progress if only they filed a statement, and as far as NFPA, that is a total disaster supreme. Large consumer rocketry is dead under this administration and one thing they want to avoid at all cost is outside advise as to how to fix that. Darren Wright doesn't act like he likes me much but say what you will, he has rocketry interests at heart. Vote for him. I don't know Debra but a female perspective can't be bad, and Stu is from TX and in my book that is a definite "vote for me" since they have the most active clubs in the world. Not kidding. I wish they would all research my postings about federal causes of action and NFPA rule changes and do my bidding if only because it would help lone ranger rocketeers. Just Jerry

05-23-2008 02:47 AM  #3
jsdemar NAR/TRA L3   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 353	Re: Tripoli sets four candidates for 2008 BOD elections Quote: Darren Wright doesn't act like he likes me much but say what you will, he has rocketry interests at heart. Vote for him. "Board member Darren Wright, a one-term member elected in 2005, is not seeking re-election." I can hear the crowds at the whistle stops... "STU, STU, We Want You!". Grown men are crying. Teenage girls are passing out. "Grin and Barrett, Vote for Stu!"

05-23-2008 08:49 AM  #4
QuickBurst Certified Level Three TRA   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 53	Re: Tripoli sets four candidates for 2008 BOD elections Quote: Stu is from TX and in my book that is a definite "vote for me" since they have the most active clubs in the world. Not kidding. Just Jerry Teared me up. Yup ... Go Texas!! A vote for Stu Barrett is a vote for rocketry. Stu can count on my vote.

05-27-2008 09:17 PM  #5
StuBarrett Certified Level Eleven   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 127	Re: Tripoli sets four candidates for 2008 BOD elections You guys are too much. We are lucky to have such quality folks running for the BOD. Truth be known, I've voted for all three of the others before. Stu