To ROC Members, Flyers and Spectators,
The ROC Board has been looking for every opportunity to get back to
launching rockets while complying with all applicable state and local
public health orders. As it stands right now, we do not see a way to
comply and keep our flyers, spectators and volunteers safe, so June
ROCstock will most likely need to be cancelled. We are still holding out
hope that something changes so that we could try to fly but it is highly
unlikely. If something does change that would allow us to hold a launch an
announcement will be posted by Sunday, June 7th.
ROC is a NAR Section and therefore must follow NAR guidelines in order to
hold sanctioned and insured launches. NAR's Covid-19 Policy recommends
that "NAR sections follow all applicable national, state, and local
requirements, restrictions, and recommendations for the physical location
of the event(s)." Although San Bernardino County has rescinded their
public health order ROC will comply with state guidelines. At this time
the California Department of Public Health recommends that all gatherings
should be postponed or canceled. At a very minimum San Bernardino County
will need to enter into stage-3 of California's Roadmap to Recovery and
give us their okay to hold an event before ROC can consider resuming
launches. At that time the ROC Board of Directors will re-evaluate and
post an update. At which time ROC does return to launching there will be
protocols to follow and possibly limits to gathering size.
Please understand that the ROC Board is looking for ways to get back out on
the playa. We all want to get back to launching. We're all itching to fly
the projects we've been working on. Many of us are going stir crazy cooped
up at home. But ROC's primary obligation must be the safety, health and
welfare of its members and the people who attend our events. If anything
changes, and there is a way to hold a launch, we will. But until then
please be patient. Before we know it we'll be punching holes in the sky
again.
Please stay safe everyone.
Mike Ostby,
ROC President
