Attendees: (19) Chris Franklin, Charles Barnett, John Sullivan, Doug Probst, Mike Walsh, Chuck Meckfessel, Molly Meckfessel, Emma Meckfessel, John Buckley, Jason Garbus, Oliver Garbus, Dan Cella, Scott Nokes, Tanya Nokes, Chris Lageman, Don Hanson, Brian Hamilton, Larry Hileman, Dan Crank

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

Called to order at 7:00

New Attendees:  None

Achievements and Contributions:

• None noted at this meeting.

24 June 2025 SLRA Meeting Minutes approved

Treasury Status

• Current Balance $1,725.95
• Deposits: $110.00 from PayPal for membership dues
• Expenses: $272.49 for interpreter, Mike Walsh reimbursement.

Achievements

• Chuck Meckfessel passed Level 2 test (and Happy Birthday!)

SLRA Memberships Total = 2025 current total = 49.  (47 Senior/2 Junior Members)

New Members/First Meeting

Launch Reports:

• None at this meeting (unless I missed something?)

Upcoming Launches

• Elsberry HP Launch – Next Fall.  (Note: subsequent to the July meeting, excessive rainfall caused flooding in the Elsberry area.  The club is considering donating some financial help to the flood area.)
• Buder Park Launch – July 26
• Don Hanson noted that the Thunderstruck group (Pence, Indiana) will be hosting the next LDRS. 
• Mo-Kan (South Greenfield, MO)  http://tripolimokan.org  They generally launch the third Saturday of every month during the flying season.  Time: 12:00 CST-17:00 CST

Dates: August 16, September 20, October 18

• Central Illinois Aerospace – http://www.ciarocketry.org  Contact Greg Smith, Director of Operations, at 217-820-1678, or via email to operations@ciarocketry.org  Directions to their launch sites can be found on their website under the ‘Reconnaissance’ link.  Upcoming launch dates: July 28, August 16, August 30, October 11, October 25 from noon to 6 p.m.
• Quad Cities rocket Club (Note: near Wildman Rocketry) https://qcrc.clubexpress.com  Upcoming events: Midwest Power November 7-9, 2025.  Email: Info@QCRC.us
• Goat Ranch – July
• AirFest – August 29 to September 1 – hosted by Kloudbusters, Argonia, Kansas.  For details:  https://kloudbusters.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=325948&module_id=566855

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 the process for transitioning the SLRA website to Club Express.  Note: Joel was not able to be present at this meeting. 

• GSLMA Status.  Doug Probst will be taking the reins on maintaining communication with Buder Park North Greater St. Louis Modeling Association members.  Nothing new on this item at this time. 
• SLRA Support for Wash U/SLU Rocketry Teams.  No Interest expressed (possibly Jason Garbus?, or someone from CIA (Central Illinois Aerospace)? Note: Mike Walsh is not currently mentoring the teams.
• SLRA Trailers
•             * LP trailer presently at Don Hanson’s
•             * HP trailer presently at Mike Walsh’s for maintenance work – a recent work day was held
•             * Possibly put lights in the trailer
•             * Roof damage on HP Trailer from hail storm
•             * Once maintenance is complete, Mike will be taking it to the Storage rental location.

• Possible additional launch site – World Wide Technology Raceway.  At this point, Doug is still wanting to have an in-person conversation with the site owner before scheduling a launch.  Also, their weekend calendar is essentially full currently. 
• Box for the Buder Park launch fees?  (Note: $6 per day flying fees instituted recently.)  Thanks to Doug Probst for posting photos of the box on the SLRA website.  At least the ‘button pusher’ needs to be a NAR member and have Buder permit fees paid.  Club maintains attitude of making every attempt to comply with the Buder fees and NAR membership requirements.  (Note: The box for launch fees did not have any envelopes available at the 31 May launch for leaving payment for daily use.  Also – the grass at Buder Park was approximately a foot tall for the 31 May launch. Seems one of the mowers St. Louis County uses was down for repairs.)
• Doug Probst mentioned the possibility of another launch site in Illinois – the YMCA located in Maryville.  They would be OK with using their soccer field for this purpose.  However, note that the use of an adjacent hay field will not be permitted by its owner.
• Contact St. Louis County for reimbursement of permit fee for cancelled June launch? (sometime in the future)
• There was considerable discussion about the situation with access to Buder Park and the insurance issue which recently occurred.  Briefly: on June 9, we were notified by St. Louis County Parks that additional language was required in our Certificate of Insurance.  The NAR insurance representative was unable to agree to the additional language.  Chris Franklin is going to contact someone at St. Louis County Parks over the next couple weeks to see if it can be determined that the required language is somewhat redundant and can be put aside, or possibly have a separate contract between SLRA and St. Louis County which includes the problematic language?
• Doug Probst mentioned the Buder Park insurance issue at the last GSLMA Zoom meeting.  No one else had heard anything about this issue.
• Let Mike Walsh know if you are interested in pursuing a level 3 certification.  There is some new paperwork involved with the process.  Best to start early!
• Doug Probst mentioned the possibility of another launch site in Illinois – the First Baptist Church in Maryville, Illinois.  They have a large field adjacent to the church.  An effort will be made to contact them for use of the site for future rocket launches.  John Buckley will contact Chuck Neff at the NAR for advice/information on making first contact with property owners.

New Business    

• Chris Franklin contacted St. Louis County, and NAR and Tripoli membership will be added as valid organizations, in addition to the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) as eligible for use of Buder Park. 
• It appears at this time that single users (airplane or rocket flyers) can have continued access to Buder Park, with their own AMA or NAR insurance and payment of park use fees ($6 per day).  Further contact with St. Louis County Parks will be made in the near future regarding group/club use of Buder Park.  There still may need to be a separate contract/agreement between St. Louis County Parks and St. Louis Rocketry to the effect that we would not have any adverse impact with regard to St. Louis County’s sovereign immunity.
• Doug Probst mentioned another possible launch location – Collinsville Middle School.
• John Buckley noted that all NAR members should log onto the new NAR website and check their profile to be sure they are associated with the St. Louis Rocketry Association (Section #551).  This needs to be done manually by each user. 
• Club Elections – Annual club officer elections were be held at this meeting.  Existing office holders have agreed to another term, unless any challengers appear.  There were no additional nominees.  Therefore, the club officers for the next year will be:
  • President:                    Chris Franklin
  • Vice-President:           Charles Barnett
  • Treasurer:                    Dan Cella
  • Secretary:                    John Sullivan
  • Director:                      John Buckley
  • Director:                      Doug Probst
  • Director:                      Mike Walsh

• Dan Crank will be sending information via email in the near future to club members who would be participating in the Tripoli prefecture election.  Currently, Mike Walsh is the Tripoli Prefect for SLRA, with Dan Crank as the Secretary. 
• Missouri corporate report is due by August 31.  The secretary will be working on this. 

Adjourned 7:23

The Next SLRA Meeting/Build Session is next Tuesday, July 22nd, at the Sunset Hills Bandana’s BBQ (11750 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO 63127) Coordinate 38.53096/-90.38616.

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 

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 tabletops.   

This is also a great opportunity to bring rocketry-related questions to ask seasoned Low to High Power Rocketeers who will be in attendance. Interested in Competition rocketry, those questions can be answered as well.

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

Please note that we will be having annual club officer elections at this meeting.  If you wish to nominate someone, feel free to do so!

Present club officers:

President:                    Chris Franklin

Vice-President:           Charles Barnett

Treasurer:                    Dan Cella

Secretary:                    John Sullivan

Directors:                    Doug Probst, John Buckley, Mike Walsh

Happy Rocketeering!!!

Secretary John

Attendees: (22) Chris Franklin, Charles Barnett, John Sullivan, Doug Probst, Mike Walsh, Chuck Meckfessel, Molly Meckfessel, Emma Meckfessel, John Buckley, Jackie Buckley, Jason Garbus, Oliver Garbus, Dave DeWeese, Scott Nokes, Tanya Nokes, Chris Lageman, Rob Benton, Zane Stobie, Rob Chapie, Jessica Fox, Brian Hamilton, Dennis Tuchalsky

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

Called to order at 7:00

New Attendees:  None

Achievements and Contributions:

• None noted at this meeting.

22 April 2025 SLRA Meeting Minutes approved

Treasury Status

• Dan Cella not able to be present – info relayed via email
• Current Balance $1,888.44
• Deposits: $28.46 from PayPal for membership dues
• Expenses: $55 for storage fees.
• Mike Walsh has an expense to pass along to Dan Cella for reimbursement.
• Contact St. Louis County for reimbursement of permit fee for cancelled June launch? (sometime in the future)

Achievements

• Chuck Meckfessel – 20 year Tripoli pin (congratulations!)

SLRA Memberships Total = 2025 current total = 41.  (39 Senior/2 Junior Members) – no changes from last month.

New Members/First Meeting

• Greg Dieckhaus (Welcome!)

Launch Reports:

• None at this meeting (unless I missed something?)

Upcoming Launches

• Elsberry HP Launch – Next Fall. 
• Buder Park Launch – TBD – July 26
• NARAM 23-29 June in Muncie, Indiana
• Don Hanson noted that the Thunderstruck group (Pence, Indiana) will be hosting the next LDRS. 
• Goat Ranch – July

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 the process for transitioning the SLRA website to Club Express.  Note: Joel was not able to be present at this meeting. 

• GSLMA Status.  Doug Probst will be taking the reins on maintaining communication with Buder Park North Greater St. Louis Modeling Association members.  Nothing new on this item at this time. 
• SLRA Support for Wash U/SLU Rocketry Teams.  No Interest expressed (possibly Jason Garbus) Note: Mike Walsh is not currently mentoring the teams.
• SLRA Trailers
•             * LP trailer presently at Don Hanson’s
•             * HP trailer presently at Mike Walsh’s for maintenance work – a recent work day was held
•             * Possibly put lights in the trailer
•             * Roof damage on HP Trailer from hail storm
•             * Once maintenance is complete, Mike will be taking it to the Storage rental location.

• At next opportunity, add NAR membership as one valid organization, in addition to the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) as eligible for use of Buder Park.  (This may help with the Buder insurance issues.)
• Possible additional launch site – World Wide Technology Raceway.  At this point, Doug is still wanting to have an in-person conversation with the site owner before scheduling a launch.  Also, their weekend calendar is essentially full currently. 
• Box for the Buder Park launch fees?  (Note: $6 per day flying fees instituted recently.)  Thanks to Doug Probst for posting photos of the box on the SLRA website.  At least the ‘button pusher’ needs to be a NAR member and have Buder permit fees paid.  Club maintains attitude of making every attempt to comply with the Buder fees and NAR membership requirements.  (Note: The box for launch fees did not have any envelopes available at the 31 May launch for leaving payment for daily use.  Also – the grass at Buder Park was approximately a foot tall for the 31 May launch. Seems one of the mowers St. Louis County uses was down for repairs.)
• Doug Probst mentioned the possibility of another launch site in Illinois – the YMCA located in Maryville.  They would be OK with using their soccer field for this purpose.  However, note that the use of an adjacent hay field will not be permitted by its owner.

New Business    

• There was considerable discussion about the situation with access to Buder Park and the insurance issue which recently occurred.  Briefly: on June 9, we were notified by St. Louis County Parks that additional language was required in our Certificate of Insurance.  The NAR insurance representative was unable to agree to the additional language.  Chris Franklin is going to contact someone at St. Louis County Parks over the next couple weeks to see if it can be determined that the required language is somewhat redundant and can be put aside, or possibly have a separate contract between SLRA and St. Louis County which includes the problematic language?
• Doug Probst mentioned the Buder Park insurance issue at the last GSLMA Zoom meeting.  No one else had heard anything about this issue.
• It is uncertain at this time if single users (airplane or rocket flyers) could have continued access to Buder Park, with their own AMA or NAR insurance and payment of park use fees.
• Doug Probst mentioned the possibility of another launch site in Illinois – the First Baptist Church in Maryville, Illinois.  They have a large field adjacent to the church.  An effort will be made to contact them for use of the site for future rocket launches.  John Buckley will contact Chuck Neff at the NAR for advice/information on making first contact with property owners.
• Let Mike Walsh know if you are interested in pursuing a level 3 certification.  There is some new paperwork involved with the process.  Best to start early!
• Club Elections – Annual club officer elections will be held at the July 22 meeting.  Existing office holders have agreed to another term, unless any challengers appear:
  • President:        Chris Franklin
  • Director:          John Buckley
  • Treasurer:        Dan Cella
  • Secretary:        John Sullivan

Adjourned 7:39

The Next SLRA Meeting/Build Session is Tuesday, July 22nd, at the Sunset Hills Bandana’s BBQ (11750 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO 63127) Coordinate 38.53096/-90.38616.

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 

This is just a heads-up that we will be having elections for club officers. 

Presently we have:

President:                    Chris Franklin

Vice-President:           Charles Barnett

Treasurer:                    Dan Cella

Secretary:                    John Sullivan

All the above have agreed to stay on for an additional term. If someone else would be interested in stepping into a club officer role, come to the meeting and let us know!

Happy Rocketeering!

Secretary John

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Saturday, June 21, 2025 night launch at Buder Park has been cancelled.

Further discussion on this matter will take place at the Tuesday, June 24, 2025 club meeting.

The Next SLRA Meeting/Build Session is next Tuesday, June 24th, at the Sunset Hills Bandana’s BBQ (11750 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO 63127) Coordinate 38.53096/-90.38616.

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 

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 tabletops.   

This is also a great opportunity to bring rocketry-related questions to ask seasoned Low to High Power Rocketeers who will be in attendance. Interested in Competition rocketry, those questions can be answered as well.

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

Happy Rocketeering!!!

Secretary John

The draft minutes for last Tuesday's SLRA meeting are below. Send any revisions to: secretary@stlouisrocketry.org

Attendees: (18) Charles Barnett, John Sullivan, Doug Probst, Chuck Meckfessel, Molly Meckfessel, Emma Meckfessel, Don Hanson, Larry Hileman, John Buckley, Jason Garbus, John O’Neill, Scott Nokes, Tanya Nokes, Chris Lageman, Skipton Eberhart, John Hilker, Rob Benton, Tim Gannon

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

Called to order at 7:00

New Attendees:  None

Achievements and Contributions:

• None noted at this meeting.

22 April 2025 SLRA Meeting Minutes approved

Treasury Status

• Dan Cella not able to be present – info relayed via email
• Current Balance $2,058.20
• Deposits: $143.82 from PayPal for membership dues
• Expenses: $130.00 for storage and interpreter services.

SLRA Memberships Total = 2025 current total = 41.  (39 Senior/2 Junior Members)

Launch Reports:

• Mini-Midwest Power – Princeton, Illinois – Robert Benton flew Firestorm 54 on an Aerotech J350 to 5943’.  John Hilker – Flew 2.26” Black Brant to 4000’.  He also flew an Estes Nike Smoke on a G64.  Don Hanson flew a Nike Smoke on a J415 to 4441’, a Patriot on an L1256 to 8629’, and a ____ on a K805. 

Upcoming Launches

• Elsberry HP Launch – Next Fall.  Mike Walsh not able to be at this meeting.
• Buder Park Launch 31 May – weather looks promising.  Classic Estes Themed launch
• NARAM 23-29 June in Muncie, Indiana
• Don Hanson noted that the Thunderstruck group (Pence, Indiana) will be hosting the next LDRS. 

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 the process for transitioning the SLRA website to Club Express.  Note: Joel was not able to be present at this meeting. 

• GSLMA Status.  Doug Probst will be taking the reins on maintaining communication with Buder Park North Greater St. Louis Modeling Association members.  Nothing new on this item at this time. 
• SLRA Support for Wash U/SLU Rocketry Teams.  No Interest expressed (possibly Jason Garbus)
• 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.

• At next opportunity, add NAR membership as one valid organization, in addition to the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) as eligible for use of Buder Park. 
• Possible additional launch site – World Wide Technology Raceway.  At this point, Doug is still wanting to have an in-person conversation with the site owner before scheduling a launch.  Also, their weekend calendar is essentially full currently. 
• Box for the Buder Park launch fees?  (Note: $6 per day flying fees instituted recently.)  Thanks to Doug Probst for posting photos of the box on the SLRA website.  At least the ‘button pusher’ needs to be a NAR member and have Buder permit fees paid.  Club maintains attitude of making every attempt to comply with the Buder fees and NAR membership requirements.  (Note: The box for launch fees did not have any envelopes available at the 31 May launch for leaving payment for daily use.  Also – the grass at Buder Park was approximately a foot tall for the 31 May launch. Just saying.)

New Business    

• The St. Louis County Park Rangers were contacted for support needed during the upcoming June and October night launches.  Laura MacLeod did not think we needed park ranger support for the June launch at this time, unless we wanted to have a ranger present.  The club decided to forego the expense at this time.  The secretary will let Laura know of the club’s decision.
• The subject of a trailer maintenance day was brought up.  Will need to involve Mike W. 
• Doug Probst mentioned the possibility of another launch site in Illinois – the YMCA located in Maryville.  They would be OK with using their soccer field for this purpose.  However, note that the use of an adjacent hay field will not be permitted by its owner.

Adjourned 7:30