Volunteer Job Descriptions

Volunteers going on shift should report to their scheduled slot 15 minutes prior to the start time in order to overlap the volunteer going off-shift. Volunteers going off-shift should stay and train the new volunteer until they “get the hang of it” and can handle the job by themselves. If there is any concern about whether you or another volunteer is up to the job, ask for assistance from the relevant lead.

Most positions have a description listed below.  The Mission Objective describes the intended outcome of the position. Procedures, duties, and equipment lists are there to support the volunteer in achieving the mission objective. Each post or job has a designated supervisor for the station. Questions or concerns may be directed to the relevant supervisor or the Event Director.

Registration

Supervisor: Joanne Finkelstein

Mission Objective: Make attendees feel welcome and valued. Check-in or register attendees. Provide information and hospitality. Stay organized. Accept payments. Project a sense of friendliness, organization, safety and professionalism. Take time with new rocketeers.

Procedure: When an attendee approaches the table, greet them warmly and with a smile. Respond to their request or inquiry in a positive way. For fliers, find them on the roster, collect the items they have registered/paid for, and present these items to them while describing what they are getting. Be friendly, swift, and efficient. Do not treat this as an “assembly line”. When a flier contacts you, stay with them throughout their entire check-in experience plus any additional help if required.

Example:

Hi Mr. Jones. Welcome to NSL. Glad you are here. May I see your NAR/TRA membership card and ID please?

• Match card to name on roster and ID.
• Match the wristband to the card and the roster.
  • Confirm HPR Level matches membership card and pre-printed wristband.
  • NOTE: Attendees must have a current NAR or TRA membership card in order fly high power and then only as appropriate to their certification.
• Collect their items. Confirm their HPR Level, volunteer status, etc.
• Collect any relevant fees.
• Go through everything you are issuing to them one item at a time. Make sure they have it all.
• Highlight the Safety Briefing protocol, and explain.
• Check their name off of the roster.
• Confirm their volunteer slot with them. All fliers must take one shift minimum. Generally discourage re-scheduling volunteer slots, but use your discretion. Invite them to take any open shifts.
• Ask if they have any questions. Do your best to accommodate any requests outside of the registration rules, fees, and memberships.
• If the flier needs to register, use a registration form and collect Cash or Check payment. Checks should be made out to the Southern Area Rocketry.
• If the flier needs to sign up for the NAR, they can sign up online (we will open a hot spot)

Equipment list: Smile, Chair, Water, Sunscreen, All registration packets, Cash box, receipt book, box of pens pencils and sharpies, Notepads, Printed Pre-Registration roster, Blank registration forms, Blank wrist bands, Event Schedule, Volunteer schedule

Safety Check/RSO

Supervisor: Allen Isdell

Mission Objective: Promote safety by examining rockets to make sure they are flight worthy. Help coordinate HPR testing / certification needs.

Procedure:

1. Confirm that the flier is certified to fly the rocket presented for inspection. See GOVERNING SAFETY REGULATIONS and GENERAL RULES.
2. Check the flier’s lanyard/badge. Handwritten badges must have a current card from the NAR, TRA, or CAR.
3. Confirm that the flier has attended a Safety Briefing.
4. Remind the flier that safety check is that – a check, and that ultimate responsibility lies with the flier of record.
5. Inspect and verify that:
   1. Verify that the high power rocket igniters are not installed in the motor(s) and the electronics are not armed.
   2. If radio control is being used, ask what frequency is being used.  For systems other than 2.4 GHz need to verify frequencies are deconflicted- if in doubt, call for help from the RSO.
   3. Motor is mounted and retained correctly.
   4. Fins, body connections, nose cone, and all other parts are secured properly- verify the use of shear pins on HPR rockets as friction fits can fail.
   5. Motor is a certified motor and will provide sufficient thrust for the rocket weight (we will look for a 5:1 thrust to weight ratio at launch), that the delay and electronic configuration is correct to ensure safe flight.
   6. Verify stability. The rocket should exhibit 2 Calibers of static stability. Marginal stability should be verified either by evidence of prior successful flights or by verification with a second party such as the RSO.
   7. Verify that the rocket will not exceed the waiver.  Flights will be limited to 90% of the waiver altitude without extensive flight performance documentation.
   8. Determine if the recovery system will operate properly. Proper delay, fresh batteries, cone or section separation friction or pins are correct.
   9. Determine if this is a heads up flight:
      1. First flight of a unique rocket?
      2. Is the rocket marginal in any aspect?
      3. Multiple stages or clusters?
   10. Confirm that the flight data card is fully and correctly filled out
   11. Sign the card if all conditions are satisfactorily met.
6. If the rocketeer is a NEW rocketeer:
   1. Describe / explain what you are doing and why.
   2. Provide extra customer service by carefully explaining what they should do next / where they should go, and what to expect.
   3. If convenient, alert Pad Assignment and Pad Helper to the new rocketeer.
   4. Make sure the flyer is using flame resistant wadding.
7. If the person wishes to take a HPR test, solicit help from the Launch Coordinator (Jorge Blanco).
8. Send the rocketeer to the pad assignment manger.

Equipment List: Certified Motor List, Small Scale, Large Scale, 2-way radio tuned to LCO channel, Fire Extinguisher, Water, Clipboard and notepad, Launch Cards, Pens and Pencils, knife, tape, sandpaper, “superglue” and accelerator.

Pad Manager/Support

Supervisor: DENNIS PERRIN

Mission Objective: Coordinate with LCO. Assign Pads, keep flight cards organized, provide the LCO with pod assignment board.  Advise rocketeers on launch rod tilt/alignment to prevent over-flying the camping area.

Duties and Procedure:

• Train your relief on the routine for one or two cycles.
• Assign the fliers to the pads, and point them toward the correct bank/array.
• Answer questions, provide guidance on how the launch system works.
• Enforce launch system safety and security.
• If there is a lot of flight activity, load a POD, give the LCO the associated POD assignment board and go to the next available POD. If flight activity is light, don’t wait for a POD to fill, send the POD assignment board to the LCO and move to the next available POD for assignment.  An “H” motor rocket CAN launch off the J,K,L PODS (but the reverse is not true)
• Collect POD assignment boards from the LCO as they get the rockets launched.
• Work to expedite operations to keep the guest wait time to zero.
• Monitor mis-fires. Coordinate with LCO and relevant rocketeers to ensure safe repair or re-try.
• Recommend “tilt” to rods and rails to prevent rockets over-flying spectator areas.
• Pick up trash; monitor for smoke/fire.
• Maintain continuous open communication with LCO.
• Verify that rocket launch rails/rods are angled away from spectators and parking areas.

Equipment list: Hi-Viz Vest, Smile, servant’s heart, patience, Water, Sunscreen, Leatherman tool, masking tape, Scotch Brite, sandpaper, voltmeter, pens/pencils. 2-way radio tuned to Launch Control

Launch Control Officer

Supervisor: Tom Thurmond

Mission Objective: Maintain safe, steady, smooth, continuous launch operations.

Duties and Procedure:

• Train your relief on the position for one cycle.
• Focus on launching. Work with the Pad Managers and Expediter to ensure safe and efficient launch area operations.
• Familiarize yourself with the launch control equipment and range layout.
• Receive POD assignment boards from the Pad Manager.
• Safely and expeditiously launch rockets. Halt operations for any unacceptable condition including but not limited to setbacks, weather, non-nominal flights, aircraft, personnel, etc.
• Observe rocket trajectories that appear to be overflying parking and spectator areas.
• Keep chit-chat and editorializing to a minimum; focus on getting the next rocket off the pad.

Equipment List: Smile, servant’s heart, patience, Hi-Viz Vest, Water Sunscreen, Sunglasses, hat, Pens and pencils, Clip board, binder clips, or similar tool for holding and organizing cards, 2-way radio on LCO channel, Air Horn, Binoculars.

Everyone is a Fire Spotter

Mission Objective: Promote safety by monitoring the range for fire, smoke, or evidence thereof.  Sound alarm and respond to locations where there is evidence or threat of fire.

Procedure: Watch each launch. Monitor the ground beneath the launch pad and visually scan for smoke or fire.

• If smoke or fire is detected, sound the alarm and alert LCO to halt launch operations.
• Advise parents/guardians of children to fall back a safe distance
• Proceed to the site after the LCO acknowledges the alert.
• Extinguish the fire.
• Ask the LCO to log and separate the launch card for later review if the fire threat is related to rocket malfunction.

Follow similar procedures for smoke or fires set by launch/engine failures, CATOS, and other flight irregularities.

Equipment List: Hi Viz Vest, Air horn or other alerting device, 2-way radio tuned to LCO channel, Fire Extinguisher, Shovel, Rake, Drinking Water, Sturdy footwear, Gloves, Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Binoculars, hat, Clipboard and notepad

Raffle Manager

Supervisor: Tom Thurmond

Mission Objective: Promote vendors who support our hobby. Generate revenue for the club to offset operating expenses.

Procedure:

• Check in with the Hospitality Director
• Make sure the raffle table is nicely displayed and set up.
• Promote the sale of raffle tickets.
• Every hour or so, take a few items up to the LCO to be raffled off. Wait until there is a break in the action so that raffle announcements don’t interfere with launch operations.
• Tape the relevant raffle ticket to its prize.
• Hand out prizes to people with matching tickets.