The Range Head, July 2000

Jack Hagerty, LUNAR #002

This month's meeting will be at the usual place (the Carnegie Building) at the usual time (7:30 to 9:30). The date, the 13th, is a little odd since it's technically only the second Wednesday, but that's because the month started on a Friday so the launch will be on the third weekend and, well, never mind . I don't want this to turn into another "new millennium" debate!

One the agenda are my report on my trip to NARAM in August (I'll bring slides to show if there's time) and the final auction of Lynn Kissel's stuff he donated to the club in January. In this case it's the RMS motor casings. There are a pair of 18/20's, a 29/180 - 29/240 set (that's two different length tubes with one set of end closures), and a damaged 29/40-120 casing (a CATO blew out the forward closure but the tube and aft closure look OK) . Speaking of NARAM, there's too much to mention in a column item, so I'll have a separate article on that.

The launch this month will be a regular sport launch, but, as mentioned a few months ago, moved back one day to Sunday the 17th at the request of LARPD. We will, however, have a special event going on.

In the last issue I mentioned the large amount of stuff that LUNAR is accumulating in the form of donations; far too much to sell at our twice-a-year meeting auctions. We've decided to go ahead with the silent auction format at this month's launch where all of the items will be placed along one edge of the string enclosed area. Each item will have a sheet of paper attached where, if you like an item, you can write down your bid. There are no minimum bids. At a pre-set time, say between 11:00 and noon, we'll close the bidding and the one with the highest bid on each sheet gets it.

Among the "big ticket" items are the club's original computer (an AT&T 6312 which, I'm told, is quite collectable now) and some more items from the ever generous Lynn Kissel. Lynn has decided to clear out most of his hobby items while he's in DC, and I think you people will be blown away by the things he has given to the club. Just as a teaser, there's an original, still-in-the-shrink- wrap, Estes Saturn V 30th Anniversary kit, his "Skye H'eye" (I hope I spelled that right) video broadcast rocket with both the original monochrome and color CCD units, and his gorgeous home made wood and brass transport boxes. We also have lots of miscellaneous kits, parts and hobby tools. This is a perfect opportunity to stock up for those winter projects at almost no cost!

Each year the East Bay Radio Controllers, an R/C Airplane club, puts on a show for the public on their site just north of Livermore. It's actually on BART property and is on the eastern edge of town, north of the 580 freeway (just before you go up the Altimont Pass).

Since we also deal in flying models, and really exciting ones, they've asked us to put on a demo for the past two years' shows. The first year was a big success, but last year got squeezed out by getting the permit process started too late (which was probably academic since the day of the show was hot, dry and breezy so the Fire Marshall might have canceled the permit anyway).

This year it's on Sunday, October 8th. They usually schedule us right around the lunchtime break, essentially giving the spectators something to watch while their people are eating lunch. We also get to set up a club table with fliers and as big a static display as we want. That's always a big draw. After the demise of the Livermore Air Show, this is a great way to get our club in front of the public.

Joe Heckenbach has coordinated it the past two years since the show date always falls on the weekend of my anniversary (and it's 20 years this year!) and he's agreed to do it again. He'll send out the guidelines to everyone interested, so contact him directly at jheckenbach@earthlink.net and he'll get the ball rolling.

Doug Blasco will be continuing his survey to see what everyone wants in the way of T-Shirts, hats and other logo items. If you haven't responded to him yet, please do so that we can get the orders placed. In the mean time, Doug feels that he hasn't done enough volunteering for the club yet. He contacted me a month or so ago asking if he could do publicity for the club. He asked:

"I have been toying with the idea of getting us some media coverage. I know that the first question that will be asked is if I am an official spokesperson for the club."

To which I responded:

"How official do you want to be? If you want to be 'press agent' you could speak on the club's behalf, but not obligate it to any anything (like a public demo) without consulting the board. A press agent-type person would be a big help, if you want to take it on."

Well, that's all it took and Doug's rarin' to go. I still have to discuss it with the board to create this "media liaison" position (if there is a quorum at the meeting we'll do it there so that the other members can make suggestions as well) but I think this would be nothing but a benefit for us.

Just an early reminder, since there's no newsletter next month, that the October launch is our second night launch of the year. As usual, we will be starting early enough (~4 PM) that those of you not wanting to fly by night rules can get plenty of flying in before dusk.

Joe Heckenbach had a suggestion that since the launch is relatively close to Halloween, we all come in costume. I think it's a cute idea, but we should make it optional. Kids would probably be ready, but a lot of adults wait until, oh, October 30th or so before starting theirs :-)

I wonder how many "space" themed ones we'd get?