Quality Review is Greatly Appreciated. Please provide feedback on any corrections that need to be made to secretary@stlouisrocketry.org

Attendees: (19) Chris Franklin, Charles Barnett, Dave Kovar, Doug Probst, Chuck Meckfessel, Molly Meckfessel, Don Hanson, Mike Walsh, Joel Weston, Larry Hileman, John Buckley, Chris Lagemann, Skipton Eberhart, John O’Neil, John Hilker, Ken Gianino, Jessica Fox, Robert Benton, Nina Fischer, John Sullivan

Sunset Hills Bandana’s BBQ; 11750 Gravois Rd, Saint Louis, MO 63127

Called to order at 7:00

New Attendees:  No new attendees.

Achievements and Contributions: Dave Kovar presented SLRA Lifetime Membership Award by club President Chris Franklin in recognition of his service as club President (2014-2022) and Secretary (2023- 2025).  Dave was instrumental in organizing the May 2024 STEM Apollo 11 45^th Anniversary Commemoration event in collaboration with other area STEM organization and attended by NASA White Flight Director Gene Kranz.   Dave spearheaded efforts to increase engagement with other Greater St. Louis Modeling Association Members utilizing Buder Park North as a Flying Field.   SLRA membership significantly increased during his tenure as President/Secretary, most notably with regard to Junior Members.   Most notably accomplished by organizing Buder Park Themed mid/Low Power Lauch events, multiple annual NAR Junior Membership Awards presentations, and presentation of First-Ever Tripoli Membership Award to Molly Meckfessel.  To top it all off, Dave co-authored a 2024 NAR Sport Rocketry Magazine article highlighting collaboration between SLRA and the Kansas Organization for Space Modelling (KOSMO) in organizing a rocketry event associated with the Kansas Cosmosphere’s historic Apollo 16 50^th Anniversary Celebration event. Congratulations Dave!

Dave is retiring in March 28^th after 40 years of employment.  He’s heading to Las Cruces New Mexico to begin his new-life chapter as a retiree.   He’ll surely be missed.

28 January 2025 SLRA Meeting Minutes approved

Treasury Status

• Current Balance $2,717.32
• Deposits: $258
• Expenses: $307.16

SLRA Memberships Total = 2025 current total = 32.  (28 Senior/4 Junior Members)

Launch Reports:

• Mike Walsh no Elsberry High-Power Launch event occurred
• John O’Neil reported having a Civil Air Patrol Launch in Joplin, MO (36 Launches)

Upcoming Launches

• Possible Elsberry HP Launch 29 March
• Buder Park Launch 29 March. (Elsberry HP Launch trumps Buder Launch)
• Central Illinois Aerospace HP Launch in Decator IL 29 March
• Thunderstruck (Pence, IN   HP Waiver (J Engine Max) 11-13 April
• MOKAN Launch 19 April & 17 May
• Mini-Midwest Power   Quad Cities Rocketry Club 27-28 May (Memorial Weekend)
• NARAM 23-29 June in Muncie, Indiana

Old Business

• Joel recommends going to Club Express (CE) as the location for SLRA website.  

The website would contain information regarding club activities and serve as a site for maintaining records of club activities (i.e. Meetings, launch events, membership.  Photos and videos would be posted and maintained on the SLRA Facebook Page.  Joel will be contacting a Club Express Representative to obtain information on pricing and process for transitioning the SLRA website to Club Express

• GSLMA Status.  Doug Probst will be taking the reins on maintaining communication with Buder Park North Greater St. Louis Modeling Association members.  At March 5^th GSLMA there was deliberation on the challenges of cleaning up the park due to ongoing rain.  A volunteer force may be needed to help cleanup the park.
• SLRA Support for Wash U/SLU Rocketry Teams.  No Interest expressed (possibly Jason Garbus)

New Business    

-   SLRA Trailers

      * Inventory needs to be taken for both trailers

      * Possibly put lights in the trailer

      * Roof damage on HP Trailer from hail storm

      * Don Hanson has the HP trailer and will be taking it to Mike Walsh’s house for maintenance.

      * Once maintenance is complete, Mike will be taking it to the Storage rental location.

Adjourned 7:31

General SLRA Meeting/Build Session Announcement

The First SLRA Meeting/Build Session is this Tuesday February 25^th, 2025 at the Sunset Hill Bandana’s BBQ (11750 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO 63127). 

The meeting location is in the basement of the restaurant.  You’ll need to enter from the back of the restaurant.   We have lots of room to spread-out. There are lots of tables for enabling us to have a coincident Build Session. 

If you have a rocket project you’re working on, bring it to the meeting.  Be sure to bring a table cover (newspaper/poster board) and cutting board to prevent damage to table tops.   

Schaefer’s Hobby is nearby as well.   They’re open till 6:00 pm. 

Restaurant Map
 
6:00 - 7:00 PM – Rocket Talk Social Hour/Dinner/Build Session
7:00 - ?:?? PM – SLRA Meeting
Post Meeting – More Rocket Talk and Build Session until 9:00 pm

If you’re a member of SLRA and are registered on the website, you can view minutes of previous meetings from our website’s Meeting Minutes Page, The unresolved discussions from our previous meeting will be the basis of our “Old Business” discussion at Tuesday’s meeting.

THE STANDARD AGENDA FOR ALL MEETINGS
New Meeting Attendee Recognition
Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting
Treasury Status
Recognition of Achievements and Contributions
Members expenses
Recent/Upcoming Launch Events
Old Business
New Business

Post-Meeting Rocket Raffle

Please email secretary@stlouisrocketry.com
 if you have new business for the meeting.

Attendees: (21) Chris Franklin, Jessica Fox, Charles Barnett, Dave Kovar, Doug Probst, Chuck Meckfessel, Emma Meckfessel, Molly Meckfessel, Don Hanson, Mike Walsh, Jason Garbus, Oliver Garbus, Dennis Tuchalski, Joel Weston, Larry Hileman, John Cella, John Buckley, Dave Deweese, Dave Pape, Nina Fischer, Estela Villa

Sunset Hills Bandana’s BBQ; 11750 Gravois Rd, Saint Louis, MO 63127

Called to order at 7:01 pm

New Attendees:  Nina Fischer & Estela Vila (Members of the Wash U Rocketry Club)

Achievements and Contributions:

• Joel Weston: New SLRA Launch Badges complete with number of years as SLRA member, and current year of membership (2025)
• Dave Pape reported SoSo now has a new home at the City Museum.  City Museum officials still unsure how to display SoSo.  Six different display scenarios are being considered.  Marvin the Martian Helmet was included in the donation.

26 November 2024 SLRA Meeting Minutes approved

Treasury Status

• Current Balance $2,19538.31
• Expenses: $55
• Dave K has been reimbursement for NAR and Tripoli Youth Awards  $12.91 Print Paper, and $21.69 Award Frames,
• Dave K has been reimbursement $160 for Buder Park Spooktacular fee.  Dave also paid club $70 for Tripoli Youth award initially paid and reimbursed to Doug Probst.
• Other Expenses = $55
• Deposits = $581.60

SLRA Memberships Total = 24

Launch Reports:

• Jason and Oliver Garbus traveled to Tampa Florida to attend a High Power Launch there.  It was the final event at the Lauch Site due to housing encroachment.  Oliver had the first launch of the day.  Oliver and Jason launched an additional five rockets throughout the remainder of the day.

Upcoming Launches

• Elsberry HP Launch 15 February and 8 March
• Buder Park Launch 29 March
• Central Illinois Aerospace HP Launches in Decator IL: 8, 22, and 29 March
• NARAM 23-29 June in Muncie, Indiana
• Midwest Power 7-9 November

Old Business

• Website:  Joel and Doug are tag teaming on tracking 2025 membership registration through the website.  Joel is testing Club Express as a possible location for our website. Joel has scheduled time with a Club Express Representative to gain further familiarization with the platform. Membership tracking appears to be me with Club Express.  Communication is not so easy. 
• Trailer Insurance:  Doug was not successful in obtaining insurance for the trailers.  SLRA President Chris Franklin was to continue efforts to obtain insurance for the trailers. Mike Walsh suggested establishing a Savings account for the trailer as a form of insurance.  Consider calling trailer as limited Liability Organization and the trailers as mobile Tool Rooms.
• Mike Walsh reported Fire Extinguishers have been purchased for $250.  Jason Garbus my get discount for any additional Fire Extinguishers that need to be purchased.

New Business    

-   Doug Probst now has SLRA website administrative access

-   Motion made and approved to eliminate High Power Launch Fees for SLRA members.

-   Dave Kovar announced his retirement date of 4 July 2025.  He’ll be moving to Las       Cruces, NM upon retirement

Adjourned 7:45 pm

The First SLRA Meeting/Build Session for 2025 is this Tuesday January 28^th at the Sunset Hill Bandana’s BBQ (11750 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO 63127). The meeting location is in the basement of the restaurant.  You’ll need to enter from the back of the restaurant.   We have lots of room to spread-out. There are lots of tables for enabling us to have a coincident Build Session. 

If you have a rocket project you’re working on, bring it to the meeting.  Be sure to bring a table cover (newspaper/poster board) and cutting board to prevent damage to table tops.   

Schaefer’s Hobby is nearby as well.   They’re open till 6:00 pm. 

6:00 - 7:00 PM – Rocket Talk Social Hour/Dinner/Build Session
7:00 -?:?? PM – SLRA Meeting
Post Meeting – More Rocket Talk and Build Session until 9:00 pm

If you’re a member of SLRA and are registered on the website, you can view minutes of previous meetings from our website’s Meeting Minutes Page,

Hope to see you at the meeting!!

Happy Rocketeering!!

Secretary Dave

From the prefect:

With the freeze/thaw cycle this week the field will most likely be a mud pit. There won’t be enough sunshine to dry that field out before next weekend.

Dan Welling called Mr. Mayes yesterday to ask if we should bother calling later in the week, but got the answering machine. He asked him to call back if he thought there might be a chance to fly next weekend… if no chance, don’t call back. So far we’ve not heard back, I would say that is our answer.

Better to cancel now and folks can make their own plans for next weekend than have them waiting for nothing.

Let’s hope for better luck in February.

Mike