Section News
NAR Section News (December 2024)
Active NAR Sections: 254 (no change since last month)
Section Renewals–Due to the upcoming transition to the new NAR website, the Section charter renewal process has been rescheduled. The new start date will be January 1st, 2025. As before, instructions for the renewal process will be sent to all Section contacts listed on the NAR website.
Charter A Section–Do you enjoy launching rockets with other like-minded people? Would you like to be able to offer FREE liability protection to your launch site landowner? Could you use some help dealing with a local bureaucracy to be able to launch your rockets? Charter as an official NAR Section and take advantage of the numerous benefits and resources! There are no fees involved and only two active NAR members are required for the initial chartering (depending upon the Section type). Send an inquiry to the SAC Chairman for more information.
Membership Certificates –Last chance to award your Sections 2024 Free NAR Membership certificate to a deserving rocketeer! Please take advantage of this benefit and get someone involved with the NAR soon! It’s FREE! Not sure where to find your Sections certificate? Send an email to the Section Activities Chairman for details.
Section Grants–Eligible Sections should apply for their 2024 Section Grant of up to $250 before the year ends!! Simply fill out and submit the online Section Grant Form to apply.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (November 2024)
Active NAR Sections: 254 (+2 since last month)
New Sections–The NAR would like to welcome the NJIT Rocketry (NJITRC) Section #983 out of Newark, NJ, and the Pecos Valley Rocketeers (PV Roc) Section #984 out of Roswell, NM. For more about these Sections or to find the one closest to you, visit the NAR Section Map Locator page. Want to charter a new NAR Section? Please go HERE.
Free NAR Membership Certificates–Don’t forget to award your Sections 2024 Freen NAR Membership certificate to a deserving rocketeer! Please take advantage of this benefit and get someone involved with the NAR soon! It’s FREE! Not sure where to find your Sections certificate? Send an email to the Section Activities Chairman for instructions.
Section Grants–Eligible Sections should apply for their 2024 Section Grant of up to $250 before the year ends!! Simply fill out and submit the online Section Grant Form to apply.
Section FAQ #6 – When does my Section Charter expire?
The Section Charters run from January 1st to December 31st of each year. The renewal process starts around December 1st of each year and is managed online. Instructions will be sent via email to the Section Contact listed on the NAR’s website. Always remember to keep that information up to date (see FAQ #12).
Section FAQ #12 – How do I submit changes to my Section listing on the NAR website?
Changes to your Section information can be submitted using the Online Form or submitted via email directly to the Section Activities Chairman.
Section FAQ #18 – When does my Launch Site Insurance Certificate(s) expire?
Unless noted otherwise on the certificate, all insurance certificates (Section & Landowner) run from April to April of each year (not January to December).
Section FAQ #19 – Do I need to resubmit my launch site each year for insurance purposes?
No, renewal of the insurance certificates is automatic and new certificates will be sent via email to the Section Contact before the older ones expire. If a site is no longer being used, please notify the Section Activities Chairman so it can be removed from the insurance database.
Looking for more information on Sections? Check out the Section FAQ’s and Section Guidebook or reach out to the SAC Chairman.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (October 2024)
Active NAR Sections: 252 (+5 since last month)
New Sections—The NAR would like to welcome the Rocky’s Launch Project (RLP) Section #978 Section out of Rochester, NY, the MUS Rocket Science Program (U Rock It) Section #979 out of Memphis, TN, the Oakland County 4-H Sport Rocket Club (OC 4-H SRC) Section #980 out of Oxford, MI, the Triangle Rocketry Guild (TRG) Section #981 out of Chapel Hill, NC, and the New Mexico State University Atomic Aggies (NMSU) Section #982 out of Las Cruces, NM. For more about these Sections or to find the one closest to you, visit the NAR Section Map Locator page.
Changes To Section Information—Don’t forget to keep your Section contact information up to date so potential members as well as NAR Leaders can reach you. Changes or additions to your Section information can either be sent using the Online Form or via email to the Section Activities Chairman.
Charter A Section—Do you enjoy launching rockets with other like-minded people? Would you like to be able to offer FREE liability protection to your launch site landowner? Could you use some help dealing with a local bureaucracy to be able to launch your rockets? Charter as an official NAR Section and take advantage of the numerous benefits and resources! There are no fees involved and only two active NAR members are required for the initial chartering (depending upon the Section type). You can find more information on the Starting a New Section portion of the Section Guidebook or simply send an inquiry to the SAC Chairman.
High Power Certifications—This is a reminder that High Power Certification documents are NOT to be emailed or snail mailed to NAR Headquarters. All certification forms and associated documents are to be submitted using the online Digital Portals found at the following links: JrHPP Level 1, Level 1, Level 2. Please remind all your Section Members as well as any Certification Candidates at your launches of this. Also, all applicants should be using the latest High Power Certification Applications for each level and not the older combined forms. Note: A list of the current application and written exam versions can be found here.
Looking for more information on Sections? Check out the Section FAQ’s and Section Guidebook or reach out to the SAC Chairman.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (September 2024)
Active NAR Sections: 247 (+1 since last month)
New Sections–The NAR would like to welcome the Amateur Rocketry Club of Folsom (ARC-F) #977 Section out of Fremont, CA. For more about this Section or to find the closest one to you, visit the NAR Section Map Locator page.
2024 Website Excellence Awards – Congratulations to the Wisconsin Organization Of Spacemodeling Hobbyists (WOOSH) Section #558 and their webmaster, Paul Kinzer, for their 1st Place finish! Their website edged out the other finalists: 2nd Place Summit City Aerospace Modelers (SCAM) Section #282, 3rd Place Music City Missile Club (MC2) Section #589, and 4th Place South Western (Ontario) Association of Rocket Modelers (SWARM) Section #752. Congratulations to all the winners! You can find out more about the Website Excellence Award here.
Launch Calendar–ARC, NASA’s Student Launch, and other rocketry competitions will be getting underway soon and Teams will be looking for launches to conduct their practice and qualification flights. All Sections should submit your launch events to be added to the NAR’s Event calendar. In addition to helping these teams, this is another way for potential members to find you and see what the NAR is all about. You can submit your events online HERE.
Free Membership Certificates–Don’t forget to award your Sections 2024 Free NAR Membership Certificate to a deserving rocketeer! Please take advantage of this benefit and get someone involved with the NAR soon! It’s FREE! Not sure where to find your Sections certificate? Send an email to the Section Activities Chairman for details.
Section Grants–Section Grant requests for 2024 are still being accepted. Get any needed Safety Equipment, Range Gear, or Promotional Items now by simply filling out and submitting the online Section Grant Form.
Section Member Affiliation–Are you a member of a Section? Please log into your NAR account and make sure that your Section affiliation is correct or add it as appropriate.
Looking for more information on Sections? Check out the Section FAQ’s and Section Guidebook or reach out to the SAC Chairman.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (August 2024)
Active NAR Sections: 246
New Sections–The NAR would like to welcome the Civil Air Patrol East Bay Cadet Squadron 18 (CAP Firebirds) #976 Section out of Fremont, CA. For more about this Section or to find the closest one to you, visit the NAR Section Map Locator page.
Launch Sites–Is your Section looking for a launch site? The online Section Guidebook has a chapter on Launch Sites which contains a lot of useful information that may help you find and secure permission for your Sections launching activities. There are also chapters on Starting a New Section, Section Management, Publicity, & Running Launches, to name a few. The information in the guidebook isn’t just for Sections. Individual NAR members may also find it useful. If you haven’t used this great resource, I recommend checking it out!
Section Drive–The Section Activities Committee is looking for passionate NAR rocketeers willing to form new Sections (clubs) and promote rocketry in their local areas. It only takes two (2) NAR members to charter a Section (one must be an adult NAR member) and if you’re not sure how to find other rocketeers in your area, a list of potential members can be provided upon request. There are no fees involved with chartering and the process is simple and painless. Once chartered, Sections are entitled to provide FREE launch site insurance for their landowners! Public Sections can also apply for an annual Section Grant to help with Section costs such as safety gear, launch equipment, promotional items, etc. For more information or to start the chartering process, please contact the SAC Chairman.
Section Related Questions–Remember, for the fastest response, all Section related questions should be directed to the SAC Chairman and not NAR Headquarters.
Section Member Affiliation–Are you a member of a Section? Please log into your NAR account and make sure that your Section affiliation is correct or add it as appropriate.
Looking for more information on Sections? Check out the Section FAQ’s and Section Guidebook or reach out to the SAC Chairman.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (July 2024)
Active NAR Sections: 246 (+3 since last month)
New Sections—The NAR would like to welcome the Blue Devils Rocketry (DHS Rocketry) #973 Section out of Davis, CA, the Southeast Nashville Homeschool Enrichment (SENHE) #974 Section out of Brentwood, TN, and the Pacific Academy Rocketry Club (PARC) #975 Section out of Irvine, CA. For more about these Sections or to find the closest one to you, visit the NAR Section Map Locator page.
High Power Certifications—The NAR continues to receive certification submissions that are incomplete and/or unreadable. Section Certification Team members need to ensure that all required information is filled out, including that supplied by the certification applicant, when either submitting it to the digital portal or returning it to the certification candidate for submission. Please double and triple check your forms before submitting them! Also ensure that you are using the latest exam materials (if applicable) and applications. You can check your versions against the latest releases HERE.
Section Types—There are three (3) types of NAR Sections:
Public Sections: Open to anyone and require at least two (2) NAR members to charter and then five (5) members to renew, one of which must be an adult NAR member. Public Sections are eligible for all Section benefits, including Section Grants and Landowner Site Insurance if they meet the minimum membership requirements.
Organizational Sections: Formed by schools or other organizations (e.g. ARC Teams, Scouts, etc.) that limit participation to their students, faculty and/or other members of their organization. They require at least two (2) NAR members to charter and renew, one of which must be an adult NAR member. All Section members are encouraged to join the NAR, but it is not required. The existing NAR members are responsible for all activities conducted by the Section. They are not eligible for Section Grants but are entitled to Landowner Site Insurance if they meet the minimum membership requirements.
Private Sections: Formed as a local group (e.g. friends, families, etc.), they require a minimum of five (5) NAR members to charter and renew each year, one of which must be an adult NAR member. Private Sections are also not eligible for Section Grants, but they do qualify for Landowner Site Insurance as long as they meet the minimum membership requirements stated above.
Looking for more information on Sections? Check out the Section FAQ’s and Section Guidebook.
Section Member Affiliation–Are you a member of a Section? Please log into your NAR account and make sure that your Section affiliation is correct or add it as appropriate.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (June 2024)
Active NAR Sections: 243 (+7 since last report in March)
New Sections—The NAR would like to welcome the Chatham High Rocket Team (CHRT) #966 out of Chatham, NJ, the Blue Grey Rocketry Association (BGRA) #967 out of Mercersburg, PA, the Pocono Area Rocketry Section (PARSEC) #968 out of Blairstown, NJ, the Columbia Aerospace Association ARC Team (CASA) #969 out of Columbia, MO, the HPR and Aerospace for Waldorf K-12 Students (HAWKS) #970 out of Makawao, HI, the Lehigh University Rocketry Association (LURA) #971 out of Bethlehem, PA, and the Lower Yakima Valley Rocket Clubs (LYVRC) #972 out of Grandview, WA. For more about these Sections or to find the closest one to you, visit the NAR Section Map Locator page.
Website Excellence Award—This year will be handled slightly differently with only those Sections requesting their website to be judged as being eligible for the award. The judging will start next month so make sure your site is up to date! You can visit the Website Excellence Award Web Page for more information about the award.
LAC Newsletter Award—The June 30th deadline will be here before you know it so don’t forget to submit your Section Newsletters to be eligible to win the coveted North American Rockwell Trophy! For more information visit the LAC Award Web Page.
Launch Sites—Is your Section looking for a launch site? The online Section Guidebook has a chapter on Launch Sites which contains a lot of useful information that may help you find and secure permission for your Sections launching activities. There are also chapters on Starting a New Section, Section Management, Publicity, & Running Launches, to name a few. All of the information in the guidebook isn’t just for Sections. Individual NAR members may also find it useful.
Section Grants—Don’t forget that Section Grant requests for 2024 are still being accepted. Get any needed Safety Equipment, Range Gear, or Promotional Items now by simply filling out and submitting the online Section Grant Form.
Section Member Affiliation—With the flying season in full swing, don’t forget to ask any new members of your Section (as well as existing members) to please log into their NAR accounts and make sure to add their affiliation to your Section.
Section Related Questions—Check out the Section FAQ’s on the NAR Website HERE.
Not finding your answer? All Section related questions should be directed to the Section Activities Chairman and not NAR Headquarters.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (March 2024)
Active NAR Sections: 236 (+2 overall since last month)
New Sections—The NAR would like to welcome the Western Area Recreational Pursuits of Colorado’s Rocketry Excellence (WARP CORE) Section #963 out of Grand Junction, CO, the Advanced Rocketry Collegiate Society (ARCS) Section #964 out of Viera, FL, and the Montgomery High School Aerospace Club (MHSAC) #965 out of Skillman, NJ. For more about these Sections or to find the one closest to you, visit the NAR Club Map Locator page. For questions, comments, or information on chartering your own Section, contact the SAC Chairman.
Charter A Section—Do you enjoy launching rockets with other like-minded people? Would you like to be able to offer FREE liability protection to your launch site landowner? Could you use some help dealing with a local bureaucracy to be able to launch your rockets? Charter as an official NAR Section and take advantage of the numerous benefits and resources! There are no fees involved and only two active NAR members are required for the initial chartering (depending upon the Section type). You can find more information on the Starting a New Section web page or simply send an inquiry to the SAC Chairman.
Section FAQ #28—Question: What are some of my Sections responsibilities to the NAR? Answer: In addition to helping the NAR with its general purpose to “aid and encourage by all suitable means all people interested in model rocketry and its related sciences” (see Article II of the NAR Bylaws) as well as agreeing to abide by the NAR’s Policies and Safety Codes, NAR Sections should provide help & support with the following NAR Programs/Affiliations as much as possible:
- High Power Rocketry Certification Program – administer exams as required and witness flights at Section launches
- American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) – provide mentors and witness qualification flights at Section launches
- narTcert Program – provide mentors and witness flights at Section launches
- NASA Student Launch Program – provide mentors and support as needed
- Other Student Rocketry Competitions and Programs – provide mentors and other support as needed
For more Section FAQ’s, click HERE.
Section Related Questions – Remember, for the fastest response, all Section related questions should be directed to the Section Activities Chairman and not NAR Headquarters.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (February 2024)
Active NAR Sections: 234 (-3 overall since last month)
New Sections—The NAR would like to welcome the Raffles World Academy (RWA) Section #960 out of Dubai, UAE, the Batesville-Independence Rocketry Dictorate (BIRD) Section #961 out of Batesville, AR, and the Maryland Eastern Shore Rocketry Association (MESRA) #962 out of Severna Park, MD. For more about these Sections or to find the one closest to you, visit the NAR Club Map Locator page. For questions, comments, or information on chartering your own Section, contact the SAC Chairman.
Section FAQ #18—
Question: When does my Launch Site Insurance Certificate(s) expire?
Answer: Unless noted otherwise on the certificate, all insurance certificates (Section & Landowner) run from April to April of each year (not January to December).
Section FAQ #19—
Question: Do I need to resubmit my launch site each year for insurance purposes?
Answer: No, renewal of the insurance certificates is automatic and new certificates will be sent via email to the Section Contact before the older ones expire. If a site is no longer being used, please notify the Section Activities Chairman so it can be removed from the insurance database.
Section FAQ #20—
Question: Why should my Section submit its events for addition to the NAR’s Launch Calendar?
Answer: While you own Section members may be aware of your events, those on the outside may not. People interested in rocketry visit the NAR’s website looking for clubs as well as launches to become involved with. Finding an event close to them that they can attend may mean a new member for your Section as well as the NAR, therefore promoting the hobby. Also, during the TARC (The American Rocketry Challenge) season, teams are on the lookout for local events where they can conduct practice as well as qualification flights. What better place to do that than at a Section launch where lots of experienced NAR members are present?
Section FAQ #21—
Question: How do I add my event to the NAR’s Launch Calendar?
Answer: Events (launches, meetings, demo’s, etc.) can be submitted using the online form found HERE.
For more Section FAQ’s, click HERE.
Section Related Questions – Remember, for the fastest response, all Section related questions should be directed to the Section Activities Chairman and not NAR Headquarters.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (January 2024)
Active NAR Sections: 237 (-7 overall since last month)
New Sections–The NAR would like to welcome the LaunchCA (LCA) Section #959 out of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. For more about this Section or to find the one closest to you, visit the NAR Club Map Locator page. For questions, comments, or information on chartering your own Section, contact the SAC Chairman.
Section Renewals–The renewal process is still underway and instructions were sent via email to all Section Contacts. If you are a Section contact and you did not receive the renewal message, please reach out to the Section Activities Chairman as soon as possible. As of 12/29/2023, the following Sections have not renewed their charters nor have they responded to inquiries about their intentions:
- Syracuse Rocket Club (SRC-NY) #566
- Starbound – Tyler Amateur Rocketry Of West Virginia (S-TAR OF WV) #734
- International Space University Rocketry Group (ISURG) #768
- MO Civil Air Patrol Aerospace STEM Academy (ASA) #770
- Reddie Rockets (RR) #777
- Northern Neck Rocketry Society (NNRS) #822
- A.S.P. Model Rocket Club (WASP) #829
- Rensselaer Rocket Society (RRS) #835
- VERSA Homeschool (VERSA) #843
- Yuma Arizona Model Rocketry Society (YAMRS) #884
- Jersey Shore Rocketry Society (JSRS) #898
- South West Austin Rocket Modelers (SWARM-ATX) #911
- UofSC Rocketry Club (USCRC) #918
- Bowling Green Rocket Club (BGHSRC) #929
- Mattawan Rocket Club (MTWNRC) #930
- Stratos (STRATOS) #933
- Sun City Summit Rocket Team (SCS) #939
- Monicas Rocketry Club (STMRC) #943
- American Rocketry Challenge CT Group (ARC-CT) #946
- Lone Star Rocketeers (LSR) #949
- Tribe Rockets (TR) #951
- International Rocketry Club (IRC) #952
- Parkhurst Rocketry Association (PRA) #954
- STEM Club Associated Rocketry (SCAR) #957
If you are a Section leader/officer or member of one of these Sections, please reach out to the Section Activities Chairman as soon as possible.
Section Grants–The 2024 Section Grants for up to $250 are now available!! Eligible Sections should apply by simply filling out and submitting the online Section Grant Form.
Section FAQ’s–Have a Section related question? Visit the Section FAQ’s web page for answers to most questions.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (December 2023)
Active NAR Sections: 244 (+2 overall since last month)
New Sections—The NAR would like to welcome the STEM Club Associated Rocketry (SCAR) Section #957 out of Calexico, CA and the Four Peaks Rocketeers (Four Peaks) Section #958 out of Mesa, AZ. For more about these Sections or to find the one closest to you, visit the NAR Club Map Locator page. For questions, comments, or information on chartering your own Section, contact the SAC Chairman.
Section Renewals—The renewal process is underway and instructions have been sent via email to all Section Contacts. If you are a Section contact and you did not receive the renewal message, please reach out to the Section Activities Chairman as soon as possible. If you are another Section leader/officer, please reach out to your Section contact to verify the renewal has taken place.
Section FAQ #6—When does my Section Charter expire?
Beginning January 1st, 2024, the Section Charters will run from January 1st to December 31st of each year. The renewal process will start around December 1st of each year and are handled online. Instructions will be sent via email to the Section Contact listed on the NAR’s website. Always remember to keep that information up to date (see FAQ #12).
Section FAQ #12—How do I submit changes to my Section listing on the NAR website?
Changes to your Section information can be submitted using the Online Form or submitted via email directly to the Section Activities Chairman.
Section FAQ #18—When does my Launch Site Insurance Certificate(s) expire?
Unless noted otherwise on the certificate, all insurance certificates (Section & Landowner) run from April to April of each year (not January to December).
Section FAQ #19—Do I need to resubmit my launch site each year for insurance purposes?
No, renewal of the insurance certificates is automatic and new certificates will be sent via email to the Section Contact before the older ones expire. If a site is no longer being used, please notify the Section Activities Chairman so it can be removed from the insurance database.
Click the link for more Section FAQ’s
Membership Certificates—Last chance to award your Sections 2023 certificate to a deserving rocketeer! Please take advantage of this benefit and get someone involved with the NAR soon! It’s FREE! Not sure where to find your Sections certificate? Send an email to the Section Activities Chairman for details.
Section Grants—Eligible Sections should apply for their 2023 Section Grant of up to $250 before the year ends!! Simply fill out and submit the online Section Grant Form to apply.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (November 2023)
Active NAR Sections: 242 (+2 since last month)
New Sections —The NAR would like to welcome the Parkhurst Rocketry Association (PRA) #954 Section out of Rockledge, FL, the Miami University Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (MURPL) #955 Section out of Oxford, OH, and the Propel Science Foundation (PROPEL) #956 Section out of Russellville, AL. For more information about these Sections or to find the closest one to you, check out the NAR Club Map Locator page.
Section Charter Changes—Starting with the next Section renewal cycle, the effective period for all active Section Charters will move from the current “April to April” time frame to the standard “January 1st to December 31st” Calendar Year format.
To provide ample time for charter renewal, that process will start on December 1st of each year and Sections will be given the month of December to complete the renewal process. Beginning on December 31st, 2024, those Sections that do not complete the renewal process by the end of December each year will be placed into an inactive status and any insurance certificates issued to them will become invalid after that date.
New Sections created during the month of December of one year will have their charters expire on December 31st of the following year (unless renewed).
This year’s renewal period will start December 1st, 2023 and all Section contacts will be emailed information on how to complete the renewal process (please make sure that your contact information is up to date!). However, since the current Section charters do not expire until April 1st, 2024, any Section not renewing by the December 31st, 2023 deadline will not be placed into an inactive status until April 1st, 2024 (unless requested to do so). Any insurance certificates issued to the Section will not be renewed.
Please note that the effective period for all insurance certificates (Section and Landowner) will not change. The insurance will continue to cover the “April to April” time frame.
If anyone has any questions regarding this change, please feel free to respond to the Section Activities Chairman.
Looking for more information on Sections? Check out the Section FAQ’s.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (October 2023)
Active NAR Sections: 240 (no change since last month)
New Sections—The NAR would like to welcome the Fog City Rocketry (FCR) #953 Section out of San Francisco, CA. For more information about this Section or to find the closest one to you, check out the NAR Club Map Locator page.
Changes To Section Information—Don’t forget to keep your Section contact information up to date so potential members as well as NAR Leaders can reach you. Changes or additions to your Section information can either be sent using the Online Form or via email to the Section Activities Chairman.
Charter A Section—Do you enjoy launching rockets with other like-minded people? Would you like to be able to offer FREE liability protection to your launch site landowner? Could you use some help dealing with a local bureaucracy to be able to launch your rockets? Charter as an official NAR Section and take advantage of the numerous benefits and resources! There are no fees involved and only two active NAR members are required for the initial chartering (depending upon the Section type). You can find more information on the Starting a New Section web page or simply send an inquiry to the SAC Chairman.
Section Grants—Don’t forget that Section Grant requests for 2022 are still being accepted. Get any needed Safety Equipment, Range Gear, or Promotional Items now by simply filling out and submitting the online Section Grant Form.
Section Member Affiliation–Are you a member of a Section? Please log into your NAR account and make sure that your Section affiliation is correct or add it as appropriate.
Section Related Questions—Remember, for the fastest response, all Section related questions should be directed to the Section Activities Chairman and not NAR Headquarters.
Looking for more information on Sections? Check out the Section FAQ’s.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (September 2023)
Active NAR Sections: 240 (no change since last month)
2023 Website Excellence Awards—Congratulations to the Monroe Astronautical Rocket Society (MARS) Section #136 and their webmaster, Bill Clune, for their 1st Place finish! This is the fourth straight year their website has topped the judging criteria and edged out the other finalists…2nd Place Southern Area Rocketry (SoAR) Section #571, 3rd Place Huntsville Area Rocketry Association (HARA) Section #403, and 4th Place ties, Summit City Aerospace Modelers (SCAM) Section #282 and South Western (Ontario) Association of Rocket Modelers (SWARM) Section #752.
Congratulations to all the winners! You can find out more about the Website Excellence Award here.
Launch Calendar—TARC, NASA’s Student Launch, and other rocketry competitions will be getting underway soon and Teams will be looking for launches to conduct their practice and qualification flights. All Sections should submit your launch events to be added to the NAR’s Event calendar. In addition to helping these teams, this is another way for potential members to find you and see what the NAR is all about. You can submit your events online HERE.
Free Membership Certificates—Don’t forget to award your Sections 2023 Free NAR Certificate to a deserving rocketeer! Please take advantage of this benefit and get someone involved with the NAR soon! It’s FREE! Not sure where to find your Sections certificate? Send an email to the Section Activities Chairman for details.
Section Member Affiliation—Are you a member of a Section? Please log into your NAR account and make sure that your Section affiliation is correct or add it as appropriate.
Looking for more information on Sections? Check out the Section FAQ’s.
Section Related Questions—Remember, for the fastest response, all Section related questions should be directed to the Section Activities Chairman and not NAR Headquarters.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
NAR Section News (August 2023)
Active NAR Sections: 240 (+2 since last month)
New Sections—The NAR would like to welcome the Tribe Rockets (TR) Section #951 out of Fredericksburg, VA and the International Rocketry Club (IRC) Section #952 out of Buffalo, NY. For more information about this Section or to find the closest one to you, check out the NAR Club Map Locator page. If you’re interested in chartering your own Section, you can find more information on the Starting a New Section portion of the Section Guidebook on the NAR website or you can simply send an inquiry to the SAC Chairman.
Launch Sites—Is your Section looking for a launch site? The online Section Guidebook has a chapter on Launch Sites which contains a lot of useful information that may help you find and secure permission for your Sections launching activities. There are also chapters on Starting a New Section, Section Management, Publicity, & Running Launches, to name a few. All of the information in the guidebook isn’t just for Sections. Individual NAR members may also find it useful. If you haven’t used this great resource, I recommend checking it out!
Section Drive—The Section Activities Committee is looking for passionate NAR rocketeers willing to form new Sections (clubs) and promote rocketry. It only takes two (2) NAR members to charter a Section and if you’re not sure how to find other rocketeers in your area, a list of potential members can be provided upon request. There are no fees involved with chartering and the process is simple and painless. Once chartered, Sections are entitled to provide FREE launch site insurance for their landowners! If eligible, a Section Grant can also be applied for to help with other Section costs such as safety gear, launch equipment, promotional items, etc. For more information or to start the chartering process, please contact the SAC Chairman.
Looking for more information on Sections? Check out the Section FAQ’s HERE.
Section Related Questions—Remember, for the fastest response, all Section related questions should be directed to the Section Activities Chairman and not NAR Headquarters.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
Section News (July 2023)
Active NAR Sections: 238 (+2 since last month)
New Sections—The NAR would like to welcome the Lone Star Rocketeers (LSR) #949 Section out of Corpus Christi, TX and the Wesley Chapel Rocket Club (WCRC) #950 Section out of Zephyrhills, FL. For more about these Sections or to find the closest one to you, visit the NAR Section Map Locator page.
Section Types –There are three (3) types of NAR Sections:
Public Sections: Open to anyone and require at least two (2) NAR members to charter and then five (5) members to renew. Public Sections are eligible for all Section benefits, including Section Grants and Landowner Site Insurance as long as they meet the minimum membership requirements.
Organizational Sections: Formed by schools or other organizations (e.g. TARC, Scouts, etc.) that limit participation to their students, faculty and/or other members of their organization. They require at least two (2) NAR members to charter AND renew. All Section members are encouraged to join the NAR but it is not required. The existing NAR members are responsible for all activities conducted by the Section. They are not eligible for Section Grants but ARE entitled to Landowner Site Insurance as long as they meet the minimum membership requirements.
Private Sections: Formed as a local group (e.g. friends, families, etc.), they require a minimum of five (5) NAR members to charter AND renew each year. Private Sections are also not eligible for Section Grants but they do qualify for Landowner Site Insurance as long as they meet the minimum membership requirements stated above.
All Sections require at least one (1) NAR Senior member among their membership.
Looking for more information on Sections? Check out the Section FAQ’s HERE.
High Power Certifications – The NAR continues to receive certification submissions that are incomplete and/or unreadable. Section Certification Team members need to ensure that all required information is filled out, including that supplied by the certification applicant, when either submitting it to the digital portal or returning it to the certification candidate for submission. Please double and triple check your forms before submitting them!
Section Member Affiliation – Are you a member of a Section? Please log into your NAR account and make sure that your Section affiliation is correct or add it as appropriate.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
Section News (June 2023)
Active NAR Sections: 236 (-5 since last month)
New Sections – The NAR would like to welcome the American Rocketry Challenge CT Group (ARC-CT) #946 out of Tolland, CT, the Civil Air Patrol Roswell Composite Squadron NM-082 (NM-082) #947 out of Roswell, NM, and the Army Rocketry and Engineering Sciences Team (ARES) #948 out of Peekskill, NY. For more about these Sections or to find the closest one to you, visit the NAR Section Map Locator page.
Website Excellence Award – All Sections that have websites linked from their club listing on the NAR’s website are automatically eligible. Judging starts this month so make sure your site as well as the link to it is up to date! You can visit the Website Excellence Award Web Page for more information about the award.
LAC Newsletter Award – The June 30th deadline will be here before you know it so don’t forget to submit your Section Newsletters to be eligible to win the coveted North American Rockwell Trophy! For more information visit the LAC Award Web Page.
Launch Sites – Is your Section looking for a launch site? The online Section Guidebook has a chapter on Launch Sites which contains a lot of useful information that may help you find and secure permission for your Sections launching activities. There are also chapters on Starting a New Section, Section Management, Publicity, & Running Launches, to name a few. All of the information in the guidebook isn’t just for Sections. Individual NAR members may also find it useful. If you haven’t used this great resource, I recommend checking it out!
Section Drive – The Section Activities Committee is looking for passionate NAR rocketeers willing to form new Sections (clubs) and promote rocketry. It only takes two (2) NAR members to charter a Section and if you’re not sure how to find other rocketeers in your area, a list of potential members can be provided upon request. There are no fees involved with chartering and the process is simple and painless. Once chartered, Sections are entitled to provide FREE launch site insurance for their landowners! If eligible, a Section Grant can also be applied for to help with other Section costs such as safety gear, launch equipment, promotional items, etc. For more information or to start the chartering process, please contact the SAC Chairman.
Section Related Questions – Check out the Section FAQ’s on the NAR Website HERE.
Not finding your answer? All Section related questions should be directed to the Section Activities Chairman and not NAR Headquarters.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
Section News (May 2023)
Active NAR Sections: 241
New Sections – The NAR would like to welcome the South West Arizona Group Rocketry (SWAG Rocketry) #940 out of Litchfield Park, AZ, the Fillmore County 4H STEAM and Arts Club (FCRC) #941 out of Geneva, NE, the Fayetteville Aeronautics and Space Team (FAST) #942 out of Fayetteville, AR, the St. Monicas Rocketry Club (STMRC) #943 out of Ridgefield, CT, the Mid America Rocket Society of Kansas City (MARSKC) #944 out of Overland Park, KS, and the TARC Star Destroyers (STAR DESTROYERS) out of Albuquerque, NM. For more about these Sections or to find the closest one to you, visit the NAR Section Map Locator page.
Charter A Section – Do you enjoy launching rockets with other like-minded people? Would you like to be able to offer FREE liability protection to your launch site landowner? Could you use some help dealing with a local bureaucracy to be able to launch your rockets? Charter as an official NAR Section and take advantage of the numerous benefits and resources! There are no fees involved and only two active NAR members are required for the initial chartering (depending upon the Section type). You can find more information on the Starting a New Section web page or simply send an inquiry to the SAC Chairman.
Section FAQ #28 – Question: What are some of my Sections responsibilities to the NAR? Answer: In addition to helping the NAR with its general purpose to “aid and encourage by all suitable means all people interested in model rocketry and its related sciences” (see Article II of the NAR Bylaws) as well as agreeing to abide by the NAR’s Policies and Safety Codes, NAR Sections should provide help & support with the following NAR Programs/Affiliations as much as possible:
- High Power Rocketry Certification Program– administer exams as required and witness flights at Section launches
- American Rocketry Challenge (ARC)– provide mentors and witness qualification flights at Section launches
- narTcert Program– provide mentors and witness flights at Section launches
- NASA Student Launch Program– provide mentors and support as needed
- Other Student Rocketry Competitions and Programs – provide mentors and other support as needed
For more Section FAQ’s, click HERE.
Section Related Questions – Remember, for the fastest response, all Section related questions should be directed to the Section Activities Chairman and not NAR Headquarters.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
Section News (April 2023)
Active NAR Sections: 241 (+3 since last month)
New Sections—The NAR would like to welcome the Flames Homeschool TARC Team (FLAMES) Section #937 out of Lake Frederick, VA, the FBCS – High Powered Rocketry Team (FBCS) Section #938 out of Slidell, LA, and the Sun City Summit Rocket Team (SCS) Section #939 out of El Paso, TX. For more about these Sections or to find the closest one to you, visit the NAR Map Locator page.
Section Renewals—The renewal process is underway and instructions have been sent via email to all Section Contacts. If you are a Section contact and you did not receive the renewal message, please reach out to the Section Activities Chairman as soon as possible. If you are another Section leader/officer, please reach out to your Section contact to verify the renewal.
Section Insurance Certificates–Remember that both the Section and Landowner Insurance Certificates expire on or around April 5, 2023. New certificates will automatically be sent to the Section Contact by the insurance company via email before that date. You do not need to resubmit sites if you currently have an active certificate. If you need to add a new site, you can submit it using the online Form.
Section Grants–Don’t forget that Section Grant requests for 2023 are now being accepted. Simply fill out and submit the online Section Grant Form to apply.
FREE Membership Certificates–A link to your Sections Free Membership certificate will be sent with the confirmation email when your Section is successfully renewed. Please take advantage of this Section benefit and get someone involved with the NAR soon! It’s FREE!
Section Member Affiliation–Are you a member of a NAR Section? Have you updated your NAR Account Profile to include your affiliation? If not, please take a moment to do so. Not sure how to do it? See below…
Section FAQ #10–Question: How do I add/change my Section Member Affiliation to my NAR account? Answer: To add or change your Section affiliation, log into your account on the NAR Website and go to the “Update My Profile” page by selecting it from the drop-down menu in the upper right corner. Then scroll down that page until you see the Section Affiliation fields. Select your Section from the drop-down list. Note: The Sections you list will be printed on your NAR membership card.
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
As of February 1, 2022
Active NAR Sections: 228
New Sections—The NAR would like to welcome the John Champe High School Model Rocketry Club (JCHSMRC) Section #905 out of Aldie, VA. For more about this Sections or to find the one closest to you, visit the NAR Club Locator page.
Section Designated HPR Exam Administrators—As mentioned in the HPR Services News article in last month’s eRocketeer, Sections may designate additional Level 2 and Level 3 certified members to administer the Level 2 and Junior Level 1 written exams. While this policy will go into effect on April 15th, 2022, Sections can now start submitting those names via email (preferred) or hard copy letter from the Section President to the NAR HPR Services Committee Chairman. Names will also be collected during the Section renewal process starting on or about March 1st, 2022. Keep in mind that only the names of Level 2/Level 3 certified members that are not Sections Leaders/Officers need to be submitted. Please contact the Section Activities Chairman with questions.
Section FAQ #28—Where can I find more information on the three types of NAR Sections? In addition to emailing the Section Activities Chairman, you can find more information about the types of NAR Sections in the “Starting a New Section” chapter of the Section Guidebook.
Click the link for more Section FAQ’s
Section Grants—Applications for 2022 Section Grants are being accepted! Simply fill out and submit the online Section Grant Form to apply for up to a $250 grant. If you need ideas on what to use the grant for, contact the SAC Chairman.
Section Renewals—The online process will start around March 1st. Section Contacts will be sent instructions via email on how to complete the process so please ensure your contact information is up to date. Submit any needed changes using the Online Form (preferred) or by email to the SAC Chairman.
SAC Contact—For questions or comments, contact the SAC Chairman.
Thanks,
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
As of January 1, 2022
Active NAR Sections: 227
New Sections—There are none to report this month but if you’re a NAR member who enjoys launching rockets with other like minded individuals, how about forming your own NAR Section? For more information, reach out to the Section Activities Chairman today!
Year End Reminders:
- Section Charters do not expire until April 2022. The Section Contact will be sent instructions via email on how to renew your Section Charter online towards the end of February 2022. Make sure that your Section information is up to date!
- Insurance Certificates do not expire until April 2022. The Section Contact will automatically be sent new insurance certificates via email towards the end of March 2022, before the current ones expire. If you have a site that you are no longer using, please EMAIL ME to let me know.
- The 2022 Section Grants for up to $250 are now available. Submit your online grant application HERE.
- The 2022 Free NAR Membership Certificates are now available. Remember, while the free memberships are to be used only for NEW memberships (not renewals or rejoins), they are open to ANY age.
- All Section related questions should be directed to the Section Activities Chairman and not NAR HQ. Sending questions/inquiries about Section related items to NAR HQ will only delay the process of getting you an answer. Also, many Section related questions can be answered via the Section FAQ’s on the NAR website or listed on the Section’s Group. I encourage you to check them out.
- Please continue to ask all of your Section Members to declare their affiliation with your Section on their NAR accounts. If you are unsure how to accomplish this, instructions can be found in Section FAQ #10.
SAC Contact—For questions or comments, contact the SAC Chairman
Thanks,
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
As of December 1, 2021
Active NAR Sections: 227
New Sections–The NAR would like to welcome the T Minus Pumas (PUMA) Section #902 out of Santa Rosa, CA, the FIRE Rockets (FIRE) Section #903 out of Upper Marlboro, MD, and the Santa Fe Soaring Saints (SFSS) Section #904 out of Gainesville, FL. For more about these Sections or to find the one closest to you, visit the NAR Club Locator page.
Section FAQ #6–When does my Section Charter expire?
The Section Charters run from April to March of each year (not January to December). The renewal process typically starts around mid-February each year and is handled online. Instructions will be sent via email to the Section Contact listed on the NAR’s website. Always remember to keep that information up to date.
Section FAQ #17–When does my Launch Site Insurance Certificate(s) expire?
Like the Section Charters, the insurance certificates run from April to March of each year (not January to December).
Section FAQ #18–Do I need to resubmit my launch site each year for insurance purposes?
No, renewal of the insurance certificates is automatic and new certificates will be sent via email to the Section Contact before the older ones expire. If a site is no longer being used, please notify the Section Activities Chairman so it can be removed from the insurance database.
Membership Certificates–Last chance to award your Sections 2021 certificate to a deserving rocketeer! Please take advantage of this benefit and get someone involved with the NAR soon! It’s FREE! Not sure where to find your Sections certificate? Send an email to the Section Activities Chairman for details.
Section Grants—Don’t forget to apply for your 2021 Section Grant of up to $250 before the year ends!! Simply fill out and submit the online Section Grant Form to apply.
SAC Contact—For questions or comments, contact the SAC Chairman.
Thanks,
Chuck Neff
SAC Chairman
As of November 3, 2021
As of October 1, 2021
As of September 1, 2021
Active NAR Sections: 223
As of June 3, 2021.
As of April 1, 2021.
As of November 10, 2020.
Active NAR Sections: 217 (+3 overall change since last month)
New Sections – The NAR would like to welcome The Forgottonia Rocketry Group (TFRG) Section #875 out of Macomb, IL, the St. Augustine Rocketeers (StAR) Section #876 out of St. Augustine, FL, and the Rocket McRocketface Club (RMRC) Section #877 out of Staten Island, NY. For more about this Section or to find the closest one to you, visit the NAR Club Locator page.
2020 LAC Newsletter Award – Congratulations to the NAR Headquarters Astromodeling Section (NARHAMS) #139 and Editor, Don Carson, for being selected as this year’s winner! Their bimonthly electronic newsletter, Zog-43, won out over several finalists and brought home the coveted Rockwell Trophy! For more information on the LAC Newsletter Award, including details on how your Section can enter, go to the NAR website.
2020 Website Excellence Awards – Congratulations to the Monroe Astronautical Rocket Society (MARS) Section #136and their webmaster, Bill Clune, for their 1st Place finish! Their website topped the judging criteria and edged out the other three finalists, the Southwest Michigan Association of Spacemodeling Hobbyists (SMASH) Section #500, the Blue Mountain Rocketeers (BMR) Section #615, and the Dallas Area Rocket Society (DARS) Section #308. You can find out more about the Website Excellence Award here.
Section Activities Recognition Award – The Section Activities Committee would like to recognize Pamela Gilmore for her service as the Website Excellence Award manager from its inception in 2010 until 2019. Thank you for your service to the NAR, its Sections, as well as its Members!
Section Member Affiliation – Are you a member of a Section? Please log into your NAR account and make sure that your Section affiliation is correct.
SAC Contact – Chuck Neff, NAR Section Activities Chairman, at sections@nar.org.