WORLD WIDE WEB — The Tripoli Rocketry Association's Board of Directors is pleased to announce a new grant program for TRA prefectures to improve the services they offer to their members. Complete details of the program were sent to all TRA prefects on Monday.

The program, coined the Tripoli Prefecture Improvement Program (PIP), awards a $250 grant to allow prefectures to upgrade and improve a prefecture's launch equipment and services.

PIP is intended to help various prefectures obtain, upgrade and/or replace launch and ground support equipment, improving the services that Tripoli members currently receive.  Such equipment could include launch pads and accessories, public address systems, spectator fencing, portable toilet facilities, equipment trailers, launch pads and electronics equipment, NOS ground support and other logistical equipment and supplies.

All a prefecture has to do to apply for a grant is to submit a request to the Tripoli BOD.  The program is effective immediately, so at your next club meeting or launch, determine the services you wish to improve and submit your request.  The program is limited, so submit your request quickly.

The grant program is one way the Tripoli Rocketry Association is helping to improve the hobby. The program, announced by TRA treasurer Bruce Lee on Tuesday, is sure to be a hit. "I think this is important to show that Tripoli supports its prefectures," Lee said when asked about the program.

Website: http://www.tripoli.org/

06-18-2008 08:15 PM  #1
Steve_Shannon Growing more clueless...   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 2067	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements To clarify, the info was sent U.S.P.S. on Monday, so don't expect all us Prefects to instantly know the details. It sounds to me like it could be very useful though.

06-18-2008 09:08 PM  #2
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 3550	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Free money is always a good thing!

06-19-2008 12:08 AM  #3
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1252	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Quote: Free money is always a good thing! It beats the roughly $10,000 western clubs (over 1/3 by me personally) donated to TRA (which we received no actual compliance or other benefits from, considering the timeliness of a Kelly magazine), which was used by leaders of TRA for "personal expenses", intended for test stands to make motor testing far more frequent and regional. Oops. Just Jerry History really does matter. So you are saying "times have changed", "just in time for the post-nuclear HPR industry to thrive"?? I say hmmmmm. Close the barn door. The horse has left. Hurry!!!!!!!!!!!

06-19-2008 07:49 AM  #4
H_rocket Certified Level Three   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 552	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements We should protest the past by saying no? Yup the horsey is holding fins on model rockets. We can't undo the past. Last time I checked, you can't hang people for making bad decisions with respect to hobby activities -> No matter what the reason was. So I vote we push forward on every front and simply use the past as a lesson for how not to do it. I plan to grab our chunk and use it for outreach activities.

06-19-2008 08:39 AM  #5
DumasBro2 I Felta Thi Frat Boy   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 263	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Quote: Free money is always a good thing! Free????????? Where's the money coming from?

06-19-2008 10:55 AM  #6
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1252	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Quote: you can't hang people for making bad decisions with respect to hobby activities -> No matter what the reason was. Tripoli does all the time. Andy Woerner is banned for the X-wing thing and that was not even a Tripoli event! I am so banned I am removed by force for showing up to watch at a TRA launch. I do believe you are in error. Today. Quote: So I vote we push forward on every front and simply use the past as a lesson for how not to do it. I agree. One of my points that going along as the violations I cite were occurring real-time, myself and several others were reporting and begging for corrective action THEN, and the crap kept happening for OVER A DECADE IN A ROW. So obviously, it was formally endorsed behavior. I would declare that a bad thing. Quote: I plan to grab our chunk and use it for outreach activities. So they designate it for equipment and you will repurpose it for outreach. Now nobody supports outreach more than me, but that is NEW effort at misappropriations of funds. Not to worry it seems to be the TRA mantra and ethic. Just Jerry I didn't even complain yet about how $250 per club is a piss-ant figure.

06-19-2008 12:37 PM  #7
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 3550	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Quote: Tripoli does all the time. Andy Woerner is banned for the X-wing thing and that was not even a Tripoli event! Excuse me?

06-19-2008 02:35 PM  #8
BobbyB Hangar 11   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 15	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements My compliments to the TRA officers and BOD for recognizing a need and addressing it in a useful and positive manner. As for JJ being forcebly removed from a launch... Obviously not enough force was used as you can still type $#@!#$ in a one person effort to hurt the hobby. I know of 2 local clubs that will apply and I expect benefit from this program... Al.. you filling out the application yet or waiting til after NERRF ???? Bobby B

06-19-2008 02:39 PM  #9
Just Jerry Freeform rockets advocate   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1252	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Quote: As for JJ being forcebly removed from a launch... Obviously not enough force was used as you can still type $#@!#$ in a one person effort to hurt the hobby. Bobby B What is your definition of "$#@!#$"? Be specific. Just Jerry BTW my comments about current and past TRA administrative practice will not and can not have any adverse impact on if or how they give $250 to each prefect (club) for some equipment. There is a 100% disconnect. My point is to show they have a (long and) past practice of misappropriation of funds. I am pretty sure nobody actually disputes that.

06-19-2008 03:00 PM  #10
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 3550	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Quote: My point is to show they have a (long and) past practice of misappropriation of funds. I am pretty sure nobody actually disputes that. The important keyword here is past. The present administration is accomplishing something different.

06-19-2008 03:16 PM  #11
jmiller no title   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 34	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Quote: Free money is always a good thing! Not "free", it's coming out of dues paid in. What I don't understand is that I keep hearing we are so short of money for the legal battle. I'd bet that many, if not all Prefects apply for this, and this will be a chunk of change.

06-19-2008 03:47 PM  #12
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 3550	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Fortunately legal fees have been almost nonexistent since last summer. Perhaps this is excess funding put to another use in their absence? If every prefecture applied, the total would be under $32K.

06-19-2008 06:01 PM  #13
denverdoc Rana sapiens   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 2959	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Well both clubs I belong to are drooling in anticipation. If I may make a suggestion: for those clubs without Nitrous GSE or a vigorous EX program, consider a hedge bet and not just the usual goodies.

06-19-2008 09:27 PM  #14
jmiller no title   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 34	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Quote: Fortunately legal fees have been almost nonexistent since last summer. Perhaps this is excess funding put to another use in their absence? If every prefecture applied, the total would be under $32K. That's because Watson hasn't said a word since last summer! Lets say that a few months from now, things start moving. Why not bank the money until the case is over? That would be $32k less that members are asked to donate. I know, it's easier to "grant it out" now and plead for donations later...

06-20-2008 06:25 PM  #15
SpartaChris Certified Certifiable   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 127	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Quote: Tripoli does all the time. Andy Woerner is banned for the X-wing thing and that was not even a Tripoli event! You have your facts wrong. It WAS joint TRA/NAR event, and he was not banned, but left voluntarily.

06-23-2008 10:35 AM  #16
H_rocket Certified Level Three   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 552	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Quote: Al.. you filling out the application yet or waiting til after NERRF ???? Rob brought the form to NERRF and we setted on a valid use under the guidelines Quote: So they designate it for equipment and you will repurpose it for outreach. Now nobody supports outreach more than me, but that is NEW effort at misappropriations of funds. I was in error. We have made the application and will use the funding to improve our PA system. A much needed saftey step. Then our operating budget will have some breathing room to fund continued outreach. Oh yeah, thanks for the accusation of fraud. Really makes you a stand up guy in my book. Quote: I didn't even complain yet about how $250 per club is a piss-ant figure. Naw...too easy.

06-23-2008 10:49 AM  #17
SpartaChris Certified Certifiable   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 127	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Thank god for the ignore list. /OT

06-25-2008 09:41 PM  #18
Rocketjoe13 Certified Level One   Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 11	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements We'll say thanks to Bruce Lee and the Tripoli BoD for the offer and have filed paperwork looking to improve our club operations and the opportunity to fly with safety and fun in mind.

08-27-2008 02:07 PM  #19
Planet News Newsbot   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 0	Re: Tripoli prefecture grants allow equipment improvements Bruce Lee is reporting that prefecture PIP grant money is still available, so fill out the forms and give them to Bruce at LDRS and you can take home a check with you. Not going to LDRS? Mail them in while there are still funds available.