Hello fellow ROCketeers,
I wanted to take a second to thank the membership for recently re-electing me to the Board of Directors. According to our election chairman, the turnout this year was fantastic. This is a great testament to the strength of our club. I also want to thank my fellow Board Members for selecting me to serve next year as our President. I am both humbled and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving ROC and the hobby that I love so dearly.
As you may or may not know, many things go on behind the scenes that make it possible to hold launches. Your Board of Directors are mostly responsible to see that these on-going tasks are taken care of. But there are others and without their hard work and dedication, our launches would not be possible. There’s also launch day volunteers. The folks who tow equipment trailers, who help with set-up/tear down, who sit in the hot sun at the registration table, that graciously volunteer a couple hours to LCO and Pad Manage and probably others that I can’t think of right now. All the above are needed to run a safe launch. We do these things because we love rocketry, it’s rewarding and it’s a great way to pay forward what ROC has meant to us. Please take a moment to thank a volunteer, thank a Board Member and thank the folks who make all this happen. I promise you it will make their day. If you feel you can contribute in any capacity, we’re glad to have you. Just ask any of us how you can help. We’re happy to teach.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t say something about our vendors. All of them drive many miles to support our club. They selflessly devote their time and knowledge to help anyone who asks. The expenses they incur from various permits and fees make it difficult to do business, yet they show up month after month. The best way our club can show appreciation is to support them. Give them your business and tell them how much you appreciate what they do.
ROC is stronger than ever. Our membership is growing. We are probably the largest rocketry club in America, maybe the world. ROC’s primary objective and purpose is to promote model and high-power rocketry as a hobby through the uniting of like-minded individuals. It’s exactly this objective that makes our community special and unique. I encourage each and every one of you to become engaged with your Club. Whether it’s volunteering a couple hours on launch day, helping someone prepare for their certification, contributing to Roc-chat conversations or even helping a child launch their very first rocket, you will have become an important part of the fabric of ROC. Of course, if you just want to come out and fly rockets with us, that’s great too. We are here for you.
I am proud to be your President and look forward to a safe and exciting year. I am committed to this Club and will do everything in my power, with the help of the Board of Directors, to make our Club the best ever. Please feel free to approach me at a launch and say hi. I may be busy, but will always take the time to listen.
Sincerely,
Mike Ostby
Rocketry Organization of California 