The meeting was called to order at 7:58 pm (delayed a bit due to viewing of the Hale-Bopp comet).
The minutes from the March meeting were read and accepted.
Jim Filler has everything ready to go for ECRM. The rules for the meet were presented and discussed. Range duties will be mandatory. John McCoy discussed and demonstrated range setup procedures, specifically the changes for the relay launcher setup. John will also provide igniters for 1/4A R/G to all NARHAMS members.
Ed Pearson noted serveral other upcoming events. Goddard's Open House will be held on April 27, with a demonstration launch from 3 - 3:30 pm. The Rockville Consortium will also be held on April 27 at the Rockville Community College. The Knights of Columbus will be holding an altitude competition at Goddard on May 4 from 10 am to 1 pm. Help is needed at all of these events.
John McCoy was contacted about helping with a launch on April 25 at Bunker Hill Elementary School in NW DC. If everything can be arranged, the launch will be from 1 to 3 pm.
Jim Filler noted that the planning meeting will be set for sometime in May to plan the events for the next 12 months.
Alan Williams brought up an incident which gave rocketry a bad name several weeks ago. A boy in Riverdale, having nothing better to do while home alone, somehow managed to ignite a model rocket motor. His clothing caught fire, and he sustained burns on his upper body. There was some comment from a hobby store owner in Crystal City that model rocket motors were unstable and easily ignited. Alan sent a copy of the Stine report on safety in model rocketry to the local fire marshall.
Jim Filler is looking for volunteers to handle data reduction and tracking control at ECRM.
Ed Pearson moved to spend up to $50 for motors and wadding for the Rockville Consortium launch. Amidst the background noise, someone seconded the motion, and it passed.
The meeting broke up into demonstration groups for altitude data reduction, range setup, and R/G balancing, and was adjourned at 9:22 pm.