I'd like to take a quick moment to thank everyone who helped make NSL 2011 a success.

From John Wahlquist and his line-striping crew, who showed up on Wednesday to mark out the parking/camping and vendor areas, and put up the flag line, to Lee Scott, Richard Dierking, Steve Seeright, Matt Campbell, and everyone else who helped make Saturday's Potluck/BBQ come off without a hitch, your efforts are genuinely appreciated!

Mike Kramer, thank you for running the Saturday morning "Breakfast Scramble" egg-loft contest, and for managing the in-flight video camera loaner program, and editing the footage all together to show on Saturday night.

Melinda Oldham, Veni Van Norman, Jim Wold, and everyone else who helped out with registration and T-shirts -- thank you for helping to keep the chaos at least partially under control!  We couldn't do it without you.  And everyone else who stepped up to the task of helping with setup, range duty, and cleanup -- thank you, too.  This is truly a volunteer-run organization, and we are forever in your debt.  It is an honor to have you all on my team.

I'd also like to thank the NAR Board of Trustees, especially Trip Barber and John Lyngdall, who came out to fly with us, for allowing ROC to share the magic that we like to call "ROCstock" with the rest of NAR.  It was a pleasure meeting you, and I hope that this marks just the first of many times that we get to fly together.

The entire ROC Board deserves my thanks, as well.  Putting on an event of this size is a team effort, and I couldn't have done any of it without the assistance of each and every one of you.  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

And last, but certainly not least, John Van Norman, and everyone else who helped get Tom Emerson's Nike Smoke ready to fly, or who signed the rocket to wish him a safe journey on his final flight, thank you for helping me to honor the memory of a good friend.

Tom may no longer be with us, physically, but his friendship and the influence he's had on all of us will be with us all, in our hearts and in our memories, for the rest of our lives.  Tom, you will definitely be missed.  Fly high, buddy.

With less than a week left to the start of NSL 2011, we have CLOSED pre-registration.

You are still welcome to attend and fly at NSL 2011, but you will need to register in-person when you arrive.

ALSO -- we have received over 150 RSVPs for Saturday night's potluck dinner/BBQ.  To avoid getting into a situation where we might run out of barbecued tri-tip steak and chicken to feed the assembled multitudes, we are, regretably, having to cut off the attendee list right where it stands now.

If you haven't yet sent in your RSVP to Richard Dierking, then you should plan to come up with your own meal on Saturday night.  Note: There are several food vendors who will be on-site for the duration of NSL, so you won't be completely on your own....

Hi Rocket Folks:

It was brought to my attention earlier today that some of you who might be planning to attend NSL/ROCstock and have not been to one of our launches before might benefit from a little explanation about dogs at the launch site.

In general, we are a dog-friendly group, but we encourage anyone thinking of bringing their pet out to the launch to think twice and consider a couple of important considerations:

• Dogs can't be permitted to run unleashed, even though the lakebed is a huge piece of real estate.  We really can't deal with animals running around/pooping/getting amorous either in our active launch area or in the spectator/camping areas.
• Dogs who are tethered to keep them from wandering may be very uncomfortable.  The combination of extreme temperatures, alkaline soil, blowing dust and loud noises can make your pooch miserable.

So while it's not impossible to bring your pet and have a successful weekend, you need to give serious thought to whether you can make it a pleasant experience for the pet and for those around you.  Thanks for your consideration, and now go back to building your rockets!

------------------------------------------------
Greg Lyzenga
ROC Vice President - NAR #13295 / Tripoli #12088

Please RSVP!  (See the note at the end of this message.)

ROC would like to invite everyone in attendance at NSL 2011/ROCstock 33 to join us for a FREE semi-potluck-style barbecue dinner on Saturday night, right in the middle of things out on the lake bed (in lieu of the originally-planned off-site banquet).  ROC will be supplying the main course of barbecued tri-tip and chicken, free of charge.

ROC Members Lee Scott and Richard Dierking have graciously volunteered to organize and host the barbecue, and to cook the tri-tip and chicken for the main course.  They have run similar pot-luck dinners (at a slightly smaller scale) at many previous ROCstocks, and their hospitality is legendary.

Everyone is welcome, and it is NOT mandatory to bring anything but your appetite with you.  You are welcome to join us even if the only thing you can "bring to the table" is your friendship, camaraderie, and conversation.

However, to really make it a meal, we will be needing people to bring a number of additional items to share.  Here are some suggestions:

• Chips and Dip
• Bread or Rolls
• Butter
• Lots of Salad and Dressing (packaged salad + cherry tomatoes works best)
• Large Bowls for the salad, and salad serving spoons
• Condiments, such as Catsup, Salt & Pepper
• Beverages
• Side dishes
• Desserts
• Tables
• Chairs
• Plates and utensils
• Of course, you can always bring that special dish (and please don't feel like you have to bring a ton of it!)

The meal is scheduled to start at 7:00 pm, so if you're going to be bringing anything, please plan to bring it over by 6:45 pm.  Sunset is at 8:00 PM, so night launching will probably start at about 9:00 PM, after it gets fully dark.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you're planning to attend, please drop a line to Richard Dierking to let him know how many people are coming, whether they'll be eating tri-tip, chicken, or both, and what (if anything) you're planning to bring.  We need this info so we can plan what we'll need.  Also, it's very difficult to store left-overs on the playa (we just have coolers) and we don't want a lot of waste. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: NSL BANQUET CANCELED

The Banquet/Barbecue that was originally scheduled to be held on Saturday evening, June 11, during NSL 2011, has been CANCELED due to low turnout.

In addition to the cost of catering the food and drinks, an event like this has a number of fixed costs, including things like venue rental, tables and chairs, and so on.  Unfortunately, not enough people bought banquet tickets to cover all of the costs, and therefore we have been forced to cancel the banquet.

ROC apologizes for any inconvenience that this may cause.  We will be issuing full refunds for all banquet tickets purchased.

The events that had been previously scheduled to take place at the banquet, including voting for a winner of the in-flight video contest, have been relocated to the launch site.  We will be projecting the videos on the side of the ROC trailer on Saturday evening, instead of on a screen at the now-canceled banquet.

Hopefully, this change means that everyone will now be able to take advantage of the opportunity for night-flying!

The range will be open after dark on both Friday and Saturday evenings for night flights.  Night-flight rockets must carry lights that are clearly visible from launch thru landing, but other than that, there are no other special requirements.

The NSL 2011 and ROCstock 33 T-Shirt designs have been finished.  Many thanks to ROC members Troy Monroe Stacey and Greg Lyzenga for these fantastic designs.

Check them out, and place your order NOW for pickup at the registration sign-in table at NSL.

Don't take the chance that we might run out of your size -- pre-order NOW!

NSL 2011 is just over 2 months away, but you can still register to have a booth on the front row!

We're looking for Rocketry vendors, manufacturers, and others to display and/or sell their wares to all of the attendees at NSL.  If you're interested, please register as an official Sponsor of NSL 2011.  It's free, although we do expect sponsors to help us out with raffle prizes.  Full details are on the sponsor registration page.

In addition to a reserved front-row sponsolr space for you to set up your booth, sponsors may also submit a banner ad to be run in rotation on the NSL 2011 web site.

Reserved space on the front row, and a free banner ad for your business -- why not sign up today?

Please contact John Van Norman at yrockets2@vnav.com if you have any questions.

You may now register by mail for NSL 2011.  Simply download and print out as many copies of the attached registration form as necessary, and mail them in with your payment check.

Please feel free to make additional copies for you and your friends, as needed.

FREE loaner video cameras will be available!

The event

Contestants will submit movies taken from flights on Saturday June 11th during NSL 2011. At the end of the day, the best movies will be screened at the NSL dinner to determine the crowd favorite!

FREE!!! Loaner Cameras

ROC will have a limited number of loaner video cameras. The cameras are the light weight keychain cameras that can be taped onto all different size rockets. The NSL video booth will have the cameras, mounting supplies (ok so it is just masking tape), and will download and edit the videos for you.

Bring your own video camera?

Sure, just remember that the video MUST be shot on Saturday the 11th at NSL. If you bring your own camera, you need to do you own editing. Videos should be less than 3 minutes long. You will need to put your video on a memory stick and bring it to the NSL video booth during the day. Keeping things fair, judging will be done in two categories, keychain cameras, and 'Open Category' bring your own fancy stuff and you will be in the 'Open Category'.

Saturday morning, June 11th, PROMPTLY at 7:30 AM, we will be having the first annual ROC Breakfast scramble: a mass launch of egg lofters!

• Check-in will run from 7:00 AM to 7:15 AM.
• A Group picture of all participants will be taken at 7:20 AM.
• Pads will be assigned first-come, first-served, during check-in.

Three frying pans and guest chefs will be available.  The first egg launched and served (fully cooked) to the RSO wins a prize!

Most eggs launched in a single rocket without ANY breaking wins a prize!

Fly 'em like you Fry 'em!

NSL2011 - ROCstock XXXIII "Breakfast Scramble" Egg Launch

A Tongue-in-Cheek Production

Vendors, Manufacturers, Food Sellers, and other Sponsors are all weclome at NSL 2011.

Sponsor spaces -- reserved areas for you to set up your displays, stores, tables, etc. -- are available, free of charge, to any company or organization that would like to register as a Sponsor of NSL 2011.  These sponsor spaces will be located right up front, across from the launch range, to ensure that you get the maximum possible exposure to potential customers throughout the event.

All that we ask in return is that you donate goods or services to ROC, to be given out as raffle prizes during NSL 2011, and at Saturday night's banquet/barbecue.  ROC is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations may be tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.  (This is not tax or legal advice; you should consult with a professional to discuss your specific situation.)

Full details on becoming a NSL 2011 Sponsor are on the Sponsor Registration page.

The FAA has issued ROC our waiver for all of 2011, including NSL. (Note to ROC members: the terms of this year's waiver remain the same as they were in 2010.)

Here's the details:

• 19,000' AGL maximum altitude for all flights.
• Flights that are expected to go above 7,000' AGL must be on a RED flight card.
• Please use a RED flight card, and list the estimated maximum
  altitude for the flight, as ROC will be coordinating high-altitude
  windows for those flights with the FAA.
• The RED flight card serves as a reminder signal to all of the
  launch officials that there is something "special" about the flight.
• We will call the FAA to obtain a "high-altitude window" once your rocket is on the pad, and is ready to fly.
• Because we only call the FAA when we're actually ready to make a
  high-altitude flight, and let them know right away once we're back to
  our "normal" ceiling, they are usually very responsive to our requests
  for high altitude clearance.  If there are no aircraft inbound towards
  our site when we call the FAA, they almost always give us clearance to
  fly immediately.
• There will be night-time flying sessions after dark on both Friday
  and Saturday nights during NSL.  To fly at night, your rockets must have
  lights (either flashing or steady) that make them clearly visible from
  takeoff through landing.

The official "host hotel" for NSL 2011 is the Country Inn and Suites, in Barstow, CA. 

We have negotiated a special $79.00 per night rate for anyone coming to a ROC event.  The hotel is approximately a 25-30 minute drive from the lake bed, and features an indoor swimming pool and spa, free high-speed wi-fi Internet access, and refrigerators and microwaves in the guest rooms.

To get the special rate, use this link: http://www.countryinns.com/irock

(You may, of course, stay anywhere you want, including camping on the lake bed.)

If you choose to find your own hotel, our advice for the best deal would be to use your favorite travel reservation web site to search for places to stay in Apple Valley, Victorville, Barstow, or Big Bear Lake, CA.  All four areas are roughly the same drive time from the lake bed (between approximately 30 and 45 minutes), and there are a fairly wide variety of places to stay, suiting most price ranges and comfort and amenity levels.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Lucerne+Dry+Lake+CA&t=h&z=9 is a map that shows the launch site in relation to surrounding cities.  As you can see, Barstow is straight north on Highway 247 (which eventually becomes known as Barstow Road).  Apple Valley and Victorville are west of the launch site, about 30-45 minutes off Highway 18 and Bear Valley Road.  Big Bear Lake is about 30-45 minutes south of the launch site (and about 20 degrees cooler); just follow Highway 18 south from the Lucerne Valley Market, and up into the mountains.

Since NSL 2011 is being held in California, all motors used must comply with California laws and regulations.  This means:

• All motors must be classified by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) as either Model Rocket Motors or High Power Rocket Motors.
• Maximum per-motor impulse: 10,240 Newton-seconds (full "M")
• Maximum installed impulse per rocket: 20,480 Newton-seconds (full "N" equivalent)

Additionally, all motors used must have current certification from NAR, TRA, or CAR.  If in doubt, you can check the current combined certification list at the NAR web site.

The National Association of Rocketry's annual "sport" launch is being hosted by the Rocketry Organization of Rocketry (ROC) in conjunction with ROC's June ROCstock launch event.  The dates for NSL 2011/ROCstock 33 are: Friday, June 10 through Sunday, June 12, 2011.

The NSL 2011 web site (http://www.NSL2011.org) will be updated on a regular basis with additional information about the event as it approaches.