Rocketry Planet

WORLD WIDE WEB -- Les Derkovitz of Las Vegas, Nevada has recently submitted his bid for candidacy for the Tripoli Board of Directors. Les was one of the founding members of Tripoli Vegas and served for quite some time as president of the Vegas club.

Below is the resume submitted by Les to Tripoli with his application:

Resume of Les Derkovitz

My interest in running for a board seat is motivated by my personal feelings of wanting to do something to positively contribute to Tripoli and the hobby that has bitten me and hung on for so long. Since recent situations within the organization have unfolded, I feel it imperative that I throw my hat into the ring and work on behalf of the membership to move Tripoli forward in a direction that the members want to see it go.

If you read the news group, you probably wonder if the organization is worth anything or can it be saved. Personally, I don't think we are in such a gloom and doom situation, and I feel that even though we are currently facing some of the most challenging problems since the inception of the organization, our members can look forward to a long life of support to the High Power hobby from Tripoli.

My time in rocketry goes back to the late 50's when I turned out my first motor on the metal lathe in 8th grade metal shop. Just like Homer Hickum in the movie October Sky, when his mother came flying out of the house to see a blown up fence with Hommer's first rocket attempt, my mother came flying down the basement, when I lit that first motor yelling, "Leslie what the heck are you doing!"

While attending a college in New York State, I heard a rumor that you could buy rocket motors in the bookstore, which I couldn't believe. Sure enough it was true so armed with some motors, a body tube, some fin stock and a nose cone, I returned to the dorm where I made my first "Estes" styled rocket. Soon I was popping off three stagers from the parking lot of the dorm (it was out in the country).

My first High Power rocket was launching an 8mm movie camera out at Eldorado Dry Lake in the late 60's using an Enerjet motor with students in my rocket club. Taking a pause in the hobby for 15 or so years to raise a family, I returned to High Power in the late 80's and since then have gotten through level three and I am a TAP member.

The mid 90's saw my move into experimental rocketry where with the NASSA Group I have come full circle and designed and built my own motors. The dream I had in Junior High School now lives 40 years later as I have been very successful at designing, building and flying motors up through full M's to date. I also participated in the design and construction of NASSA's successful P project at Balls in 2000, and the same for the Q project, originally ready for launch at BALLS 2001, but now rescheduled for BALLS 2002. If it weren't for the experiences from Tripoli, and the help and support of its members, this childhood dream would have never lived. By serving as a board member I'm hoping to get the chance to give back to Tripoli some of what it has given to me.

Even though I have had a chance to assist Tripoli by twice serving on the Motor Testing Committee, and having been the one to certify many of the AeroTech and Kosdon by AT motors that are on the current list, I am looking forward to serving as a Board Member to further my contributions so that others may have the chance to benefit from the organization like I have.

There are some things I am looking forward to addressing should I be elected to the BOD. First is a resolution to the current lawsuit. I would also like to see some much needed changes to motor certification requirements. I'd like to see sensible term limits for the President and Board Members. Because of my current interest in the experimental areas of the hobby, I would also like to again address something like a level 4, which would give current level 3 people something else to shoot for instead of suffering from the current level 3 syndrome of, "now I have it so drop out while I'm on the top".

Looking forward to serving you,
Les Derkovitz #0698