Fwd: FW: Action time for CA ModRoc law revision - AB 467.

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Kevin Zeng

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Mar 4, 2015, 11:36:27 PM3/4/15
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Hi all,

If you have not received this yet, I have forwarded the messages to you all. This is about California regulations concerning model rocketry practices, which will especially impact model rocketry.

If you are unaware of California model rocketry rules, the attached PDF will give you a fairly good idea on what current restrictions there are, and you may realize that your rocket is probably already considered in violation of these rules (e.g. no reloadable motors, no metal). As a result, if these regulations towards model rockets can't be changed, it is likely that the administrators of LUNAR will ban rockets that are in violation (they have been lenient about it in the past, as you may have realized), and our performance in TARC will suffer greatly.

I am asking for each team to prepare a letter (it doesn't have to be long) in favor for these new regulations, and how the lack of these regulations greatly limit our ability to compete in TARC and learn engineering. If this regulation can be passed, expect better TARC years to come!

Sincerely,

Kevin Zeng

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Raimondi <d.rai...@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Wed, Mar 4, 2015 at 7:25 PM
Subject: FW: Action time for CA ModRoc law revision - AB 467.
To: Alan Thym <Apjt...@aol.com>, Bill Taylor <bt4_...@yahoo.com>, Bob & Dianne France <rfr...@thefrances.com>, Brian Cheng <brianc...@gmail.com>, Cordell H <cord...@ymail.com>, Darren Fu <darre...@gmail.com>, "Egan, Cindy L.[SR]" <Cle...@srvusd.net>, Francesca <franc...@ymail.com>, Jainav Gohel <jgdu...@gmail.com>, Jeff Provost <jpro...@google.com>, Jon Mohn <jon....@gmail.com>, Kael <ka...@mac.com>, Kathleen Ciampossin <kciam...@sbcglobal.net>, Kelvin Lu <alla...@gmail.com>, "Ken Biba (Ken Biba)" <k...@bibafamily.com>, Kerrie Wu TARC <kai...@gmail.com>, Kevin Zeng TARC <kze...@gmail.com>, Michael Graves <michael...@gmail.com>, Mike Parker <mi...@4parkers.com>, mike stewart <m.ste...@gmail.com>, Pam Stewart <sparrow...@sbcglobal.net>, Patrick-Cupertino <pyz.pa...@gmail.com>, Rick Baldridge <rickba...@comcast.net>, Rob Briody GWiz Founder <rtbr...@gmail.com>, Stefan van Harmelen - Templeton HS <stef...@me.com>, terry Bohlen <tabo...@gmail.com>, Vignesh Varadarajan TARC <vign...@gmail.com>


TARC Teams, Teacher and Parents.  

 

Please read the summary Fact sheet attached.   Please help change the model rocketry regulations in the State.

 

I believe the TARC teams and youth will have the biggest impact to getting the regulations changed.  Please help.

 

Please review my previous email which explains a little more.

 

Thank you,


David Raimondi

LUNAR President

 

 

 

Fellow NAR TARC Mentors –

 

Voices from voters (like you) within California will be very helpful in getting the California Assembly to give favorable consideration to this long-overdue bill to align the California legal definitions of “model rocket” and “model rocket motor” to match the current NFPA Code 1122 and the definitions used by the NAR and in the rest of the USA.  Right now rockets over 500 grams and rockets using reloadable motors cannot be “model rockets” in California and therefore pyro licensed persons need to get involved.  Please write a letter of support for this bill to Assemblywoman Chang.  When Fred gets the form letter done I’ll forward that, but his fact sheet gives you the key points that need to be hit.  Citing your experience with seeing lots of TARC rockets fly safely that were either over 500 grams or used reloadables, or both, and citing how the current law limits the students who are trying to pursue this STEM program would be helpful as well.

 

Fred Shecter’s e-mail below says what is needed.  If any of you from Northern CA have a rocketry resume that looks impressive and would consider testifying as an expert on this issue, please let Fred know.

 

Thanks,

 

Trip Barber

NAR 4322L3

NAR TARC Manager

 

From: Fred Shecter [mailto:fredes...@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2015 10:39 AM
To: Mary Roberts; Trip Barber; Gary Rosenfield; Bill Stine; Ryan Coleman; Martin Bowitz; Ted Cochran
Cc: Lynell Jackson; Bob Sanford; Robert Vasquez; Marc McReynolds; Ross Iwamoto; Jeff Gortatowsky
Subject: Action time for CA ModRoc law revision - AB 467.
Importance: High

 

Please forward to anyone else who can help, and feel free to unleash the power of mailing lists and national websites as appropriate. I have attached the noted fact sheet to make it easier for all of you.

The proposed law to revise the CA laws that contain the antiquated definitions of Model Rocket and Model Rocket Engine has been introduced (AB 467) and I asked if it was time for people to start writing letters in support. The answer was “YES”, and here is what I was told by Christopher Finarelli who is on the Legislative staff of Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang, who is sponsoring the legislation:

 

****

The bill will be referred this week to its first committee.  A couple things would be helpful at this point. 

 

1.       Letter writing campaign.  I intend on putting together a form letter to make it easier on folks (though personal letters are encouraged).  If someone wants to write in the letter now they use information from the fact sheet I sent you: 

 

Letters should be sent to Assemblywoman Chang at the following address:

 

Honorable Ling Ling Chang

State Capitol, Room 3149

Sacramento, CA 95864

 

From there I will share them with the appropriate committees.

 

 

2.       I could also use help getting connected with someone who might be able to testify as an expert on the issue of model rockets. It’s easier if it’s someone from northern CA but not necessary.  It would also be great to get kids to come up and testify on how important model rockets are to them or educators who use model rockets as a platform for educational purposes.  The hearing will likely be in April sometime.

 

I will be meeting with the committee in the near future to get a sense of how they see the proposal.  Will keep you posted on that. 

 ****

 

If anyone wants to contact Christopher Finarelli directly regarding being available to testify, here is his contact e-mail:  Christophe...@asm.ca.gov

 

I have posted the “Fact Sheet” on our local NAR Section YahooGroup. A direct link to the file does not seem to work, so you’ll need to go to the YahooGroup Files page and then click on the link for the “Model Rocket_ Fact Sheet.pdf”. Once you have it you can print or save it and share it with others.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SoCalRocketNAR430/files

 

Thank you,

 

-Fred Shecter NAR 20117 (L2)

mailto:fred.e....@alum.mit.edu

 

 


Model Rocket_ Fact Sheet.pdf
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