clreynolds
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The board of Indiana Rocketry, received notice from our land owner that the Ash Grove launch site will no longer be available for rocketry activities in 2015 and beyond.
We have expressed our thanks to the land owners for allowing us to use the property. And while we are all quite disappointed to receive this news, we have been most grateful for their generosity.
I'm sure you all will have many of questions, many I will not have any answers to. But let me give some brief background and details.
The original land owner, Mrs. Lorraine Garrott passed away almost 2 years ago. She was always most concerned about our outreach to schools and education. But, she never made any promises for long term use of the property. After the estate was settled, the new owner, a relative, had agreed to allow us to continue our activities. We were assured that the ownership of the land would remain with the family, but no long term promises were made for our use. As to the reasons for this change, I can quote from the letter we received.
"As your launches and the size of rockets launched have grown over the nearly 5 years [IRI] has used the site, each launch has brought a little more disruption or impaction to the ground."
"As the new steward of this farmland on behalf of my family, it is incumbent upon me to protect it for future generations by curtailing any and all launches."
"I wish Indiana Rocketry all the best in securing a new launch site to further its goals of improving the practice of amateur rocketry in Indiana."
The board and local members are actively pursing other launch sites in the area. We will finish out the year with launches in November and December. Check the club calendar for dates. This will also have a definite impact on our regional spring launch, "Thunderstruck". We have not canceled Thunderstruck, but logistics will require a go/no-go decision by January.
Curtis Reynolds
President, Indiana Rocketry, Inc.
We have expressed our thanks to the land owners for allowing us to use the property. And while we are all quite disappointed to receive this news, we have been most grateful for their generosity.
I'm sure you all will have many of questions, many I will not have any answers to. But let me give some brief background and details.
The original land owner, Mrs. Lorraine Garrott passed away almost 2 years ago. She was always most concerned about our outreach to schools and education. But, she never made any promises for long term use of the property. After the estate was settled, the new owner, a relative, had agreed to allow us to continue our activities. We were assured that the ownership of the land would remain with the family, but no long term promises were made for our use. As to the reasons for this change, I can quote from the letter we received.
"As your launches and the size of rockets launched have grown over the nearly 5 years [IRI] has used the site, each launch has brought a little more disruption or impaction to the ground."
"As the new steward of this farmland on behalf of my family, it is incumbent upon me to protect it for future generations by curtailing any and all launches."
"I wish Indiana Rocketry all the best in securing a new launch site to further its goals of improving the practice of amateur rocketry in Indiana."
The board and local members are actively pursing other launch sites in the area. We will finish out the year with launches in November and December. Check the club calendar for dates. This will also have a definite impact on our regional spring launch, "Thunderstruck". We have not canceled Thunderstruck, but logistics will require a go/no-go decision by January.
Curtis Reynolds
President, Indiana Rocketry, Inc.