February 4th, 2026

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Meeting notes:

Club Updates and Membership Announcements: Jack Poehlman and other board members provided updates on club leadership, welcomed new and renewing members, and discussed ongoing efforts to maintain and grow the club's membership, with Jim Shea highlighted as the new membership coordinator.

Board Introductions: Jack Poehlman introduced the club's board members and officers, including Bryce Chanes (President), Peter Shirky (Secretary), Dale Woodford (Treasurer), Jim Palmer (Member-at-Large), and others, ensuring all attendees were aware of the current leadership.

Membership Growth: Jack Poehlman noted a significant increase in new and renewing members, describing it as one of the largest upticks since their tenure, and encouraged anyone who had not renewed since December to do so.

New Membership Coordinator: Jim Shea was recognized as the new membership coordinator, having volunteered at the previous meeting and already making a positive impact in the role.

Communication and Benefits: Jack Poehlman mentioned that an email with meeting recordings and other updates would be sent to members, emphasizing ongoing efforts to provide value to club members.

Feature Presentation: Practical Composite Structures for Rocketry: Robo Jopson delivered an in-depth technical presentation on composite structures for rocketry, covering design considerations, materials, manufacturing techniques, and practical examples, with active participation from Jack Poehlman, Shane Ferrell, Bryce Chanes, and others.

Design Considerations: Robo Jopson explained the importance of laminate symmetry and balance in composite structures, the impact of fiber orientation on strength and stiffness, and general rules for stacking sequences, emphasizing practical approaches over theoretical perfection.

Materials and Equipment: Robo detailed the essential materials and equipment for composite work, including types of fabrics, epoxies, adhesives, release agents, and the importance of PPE and cleanliness, recommending specific products and techniques for effective layups.

Tubing and Fins Manufacturing: Step-by-step processes for creating composite tubing and fins were described, including fabric cutting, layup, tensioning, curing, and post-processing, with practical tips for avoiding common pitfalls such as warping and delamination.

Nosecone and Mold Fabrication: Robo outlined the process for making nosecone molds and parts, including plug preparation, mold release, gelcoat application, fabric layup, and demolding, highlighting the use of braided sleeves and the importance of careful preparation.

Bonded Joints and Finishing: Best practices for creating strong bonded joints and achieving high-quality finishes were shared, including surface preparation, adhesive selection, fillet formation, and the use of a 'rocket rotisserie' for even epoxy application.

Q&A and Advanced Discussion: Participants asked detailed questions about peel ply usage, Mylar application, ply cutting methods, and simulation versus empirical design, with Robo and Bryce Chanes providing insights into both hands-on and analytical approaches.

Upcoming Events and Project Updates: Ken, Jack Poehlman, and other project leads discussed future meeting topics, upcoming launches, and provided status updates on major group projects including the 8X Orbital Transporter, Payload Lifting Booster, Nike Smoke, Red Ryder Revival, and WARP, inviting member participation.

Future Presentations: Ken outlined the schedule for upcoming meetings, including topics such as college rocketry projects, complex rockets, and fin design, and solicited additional presentation ideas and panel participants, especially for discussions on boost gliders and long-term hobbyists.

Board and Club Business: Jack Poehlman summarized recent board meeting outcomes, including new board member welcomes, project funding approvals, and ongoing discussions about launch operations, field protection, and club T-shirt planning.

Group Project Progress: Project leads provided updates on the 8X Orbital Transporter, Payload Lifting Booster, Nike Smoke, Red Ryder Revival, and WARP, detailing milestones, technical challenges, and calls for additional member involvement.

Upcoming Launches and Volunteer Needs: Details were shared about the February and March launches, including the MisFITS event, with a strong emphasis on volunteer recruitment for launch operations, contest direction, and outreach activities.

Contest Updates and Show-and-Tell: Peter Schurke and other members provided updates on ongoing and upcoming rocketry contests, celebrated recent achievements, and facilitated a show-and-tell session where members shared their latest models and projects.

Contest Results and Plans: Peter Schurke announced the continuation of FAI-style competitions, highlighted notable performances by Jim Wilkerson and Shane Ferrell, and discussed plans for a potential World Cup launch in September.

Show-and-Tell Session: Members, including Peter, Gordon, Shane, Ken, and others, showcased their recent rocketry builds and modifications, exchanged technical tips, and discussed creative approaches to model design and construction.

Advanced Composite Analysis and Manufacturing Discussion: In a post-meeting technical discussion, Bryce Chanes, Robo Jopson, and others delved into advanced topics such as simulation versus empirical design for composites, manufacturing variation, and the use of prepreg materials, sharing professional insights and practical advice.

Simulation Versus Empirical Design: Bryce Chanes asked Robo Jopson about the use of advanced simulation tools for composite design, leading to a discussion on the challenges of accurately modeling real-world loads and the value of empirical testing.

Manufacturing Variation and Prepreg Use: Robo and Bryce discussed the impact of manufacturing variation on composite performance, the advantages and limitations of using prepreg materials, and practical considerations for curing and oven setup.

Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: The group explored opportunities for in-person demonstrations, resource sharing, and potential collaborations with local aerospace organizations to enhance club capabilities in advanced composite manufacturing.

Follow-up tasks:

Membership Renewal: Send an email to members with meeting recordings and a reminder to renew club membership if not already done since December. (Jack)

Club T-Shirt Design: Provide input or suggestions to Matthew Juchems for the new club T-shirt design before the order is placed for the Misfits launch in March. (All members)

Panel Recruitment for Old Timers: Contact Ken if interested in joining the panel of "old timers" for an upcoming meeting, especially those with long-term or continuous involvement in the hobby. (All members)

Boost Glider/Rocket Glider Presentation: Reach out to Ken if you have experience with boost gliders or rocket gliders and are willing to present or join a panel on the topic. (All members)

Industry Speaker Outreach: Assist Ken in connecting with representatives from Stoke or other local companies for potential future presentations. (All members)

NAR Oral History Project: Look out for communications from NAR regarding participation in the upcoming oral history project and decide if you wish to contribute your story. (All members)

WAC Group Project Participation: Sign up to participate in group projects, including setup, breakdown, RSO, or LCO roles for upcoming launches, by adding your name to the sign-up sheet or contacting project leads. (All members)

Payload Lifting Booster Payloads: Contact the WAC payload lifting booster team if you have payloads you would like to fly on the six-inch rocket. (All members)

Misfits Launch Volunteering: Sign up for volunteer roles (e.g., LCO, registration, inspections) for the Misfits launch in March using the provided QR code or links, or by contacting Dale. (All members)

Contest Participation: Participate in upcoming S3, S6, S9, and glider contests at the next launch and check in with Peter for contest details or to compete. (All members)

World Cup Launch Field Reservation: Reserve the launch field for the planned World Cup launch in September in the Seattle area. (Peter)

Volunteer Age Requirements Clarification: Clarify whether Triple TMP or junior level 1 certification counts for inspecting high-power rockets at launches and communicate the result. (Jack)