May 23 2010 Special launch report (5/25/2010)
Rocket Launch &
Fundraiser
Date:
Sunday, May 23
Time: 3 pm to 8 pm
Location: Chateau
St Croix Winery, 1998 State Hwy 87, St Croix Falls, WI 54024
For a downloadable
PDF flier about this event, please click here.
Join us for a rocket launch and fundraiser at
Chateau St Croix Winery.
We are raising money to help send Todd and Caleb to Serbia for
the World Spacemodeling Championships - The Olympics of
Rocketry! The rocket launch begins at 3pm and is open to all -
feel free to bring your own rockets and join in. The launch will
be hosted by the Minnesota Amateur Spacemodeler Assn. (MASA).
Doors open to the fundraiser at 4pm, and will include dinner and
auction. Cost for the fundraiser is $8 for adults, $6 for
students.
"Nearly 20 MASA members attended the Todd Schweim / Caleb Boe
WSMC Launch and Fundraiser yesterday at Chateau St. Croix. The
organizing committee did a fantastic job pulling this event
together!!
A huge thanks to all the MASA members who helped at the
launch: Todd, Caleb, Linda, Jeff, Alan, Lyle, Dwayne and Susan,
Ken and Alissa, Dave and Nancy, Buzz, Mark, Craig B., Kevin A.,
Hunter, and Levi. (I'm sorry if I missed anyone)
The launch started shortly after 3:00 p.m. and finished
around 5:30 p.m. The launch was very informal, so we
didn't keep launch cards or a list of the flights. My best guess
is that we probably had around 100 launches, ranging from
birdies and a Mini Marz Lander on 13mm motors up to a pyramid on
a G motor. At one point, we estimated about 75 spectators,
including some very energetic kids who were willing to run
around and pick up our rockets. Considering how hot it was, we
were all grateful.
Caleb also launched one of his competition rockets. I can't
remember the details, but maybe Todd or Caleb can post more
information. As we all watched the rocket float away, I heard
one little boy tell Caleb "Wow, you guys are definitely going to
win!"
After the launch, we headed to the Chateau for dinner and the
auction. The Chateau is beautiful, and dinner was great.
There were a number of raffle items, plus a lot of silent and
live auction items to bid on. One auction item was a build
session and launch with Caleb and Todd, at the school of the
winning bidder's choice. I saw a couple of kids elbowing their
parents when that item came up (one lucky boy will be building
rockets with 23 of his classmates). I thought it was a great way
to pay it forward to the next generation of rocketeers.
Good luck at the WSMC, Todd and Caleb!" - Carol Marple
MASA members - please send in your thoughts about the
launch!
Todd Schweim writes:
Thanks very much to everyone who made the drive to the
St. Croix Falls, WI area yesterday. The MASA group pulled off a
really nice launch with maybe 75 launches. There was something
in the air for everyone, Estes starter rockets to Lyle's
pyramids.
Even though it was sticky hot, the club really came through.
I hope everyone had a good time, again thank you.
...
Tristan Chamberlin's father bought the bulk packs containing
24 rockets. They will be built at the St. Croix Falls middle
school. This couldn't go to a better class. I was at the school
two weeks ago to watch their straw rockets fly in the gym.
(Think micro max and stomp rocket combination.) It somehow
lacked the...fire and smoke!!! This will be better.
Maaren Schweim bought the X Wing fighter, what a perfect
gift. (grin)
There are four starter kits that somehow did not get into the
auction but were supposed to. I'm going to contact the second
bidder for the bulk packs and see if he would like them for his
son or daughters grade school class. He also has children in the
St. Croix Falls school system.
I'm not sure who the high bidder on the high power kit was.
There were dozens of items in the auction that are too
numerous to mention as well as lots of instant win items. I saw
a great little digital money bank that went to a MASA member.
Its use will be to save NARAM travel dollars.
Caleb Boe writes:
I would like to dido Todd's thanks. I appreciate
all your support. MASA did an excellent job putting on a
show. The crowd seemed to really enjoy it! My great
aunt and her daughter were there and they had a great time!
It was their first rocket experience, and they were very
impressed!
Buzz McDermott writes:
Kathy and I couldn't get to the launch until right at 4 pm. I
did manage to get in a couple of flights:
Flis Kits Drake (actually the NSL 2003 version of the kit) on
a D12-5
TARC rocket (left over spare rocket from my daughter's 2003 TARC
team) on an E9-4
Mini Red Max on an A10-3T, drag racing an E11 powered upscale
Red Max.
I wish I had brought along a couple of rockets to fly on
composite motors.
I saw several MASA members talking with spectators about the
basic MR hobby, MASA, black powder vs composite motors and where
to find starter sets (Hub Hobby was getting great praise). The
kids in the spectator group seemed to especially enjoy the
flights.
I ended up buying a half case of St Croix wines and Kathy won
the silent auction item she really wanted to get. To top
it all off, the food was great!
Aside from a bit too much humidity in the air it was a
fantastic afternoon. Even my non-rocket-flying spouse REALLY
enjoyed herself.
I hope Caleb and Todd raised a goodly amount of money for
their WSMC trip this summer.
Jeff Taylor writes:
I would like to thank Todd, Caleb, Linda, Maaren and the
entire staff at the Chateau (I'm not French - did I spell that
right?). It was a great evening. I walked away with two raffle
prizes - a digital piggy bank and gift certificate to the Top
Spot Tavern and Grill in Balsam Lake!
I got in quite a few flights, and with the excited kids
running to get the rockets there was no walking - which was
nice.
Good food, good people, good times! Best of lunch in Serbia!
We are proud of you guys!
Ken Hoyme writes:
I got to take home the PML Amraam 2 after a bloody battle
with Dwayne. I suspect a drag race with his new Mean Machine may
be in order.
We also came away with a basket with a bottle of cab and a
pair of play tickets. And Julie was top on a set of earings/necklace.
It was a fun time!
Alissa and I enjoyed the launch. I got a great shot of her
drag race with Buzz that I tried to load on Yahoo, but it hasn't
shown up yet. I thought I had lost my Estes Mini-Bertha (from
the 70's) but someone found it and turned it in at the winery
desk.
Great event! It was fun getting to know more club members as
well.
(Alan Estenson)
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