Tag: Willow City School House

Day 18-Stage 1 & 2-Flight Readiness Crew

Today I want to continue my series of thank yous for all those that helped with the SystemsGo Rockets 2015 launches. I still have a few groups to send these out to, so bear with me, I am trying not to leave anyone out. Each and every participant, is a vital necessity to keeping the program operating to the best possible potential.

The crew in the spot light today, is the group that each school’s students meet up with first. This group sets up shop at the Willow City Fire Station, and the Willow City School and Community Center.

This is where the work begins to qualify each vehicle for flight. Small repairs that are needed and can still be made at this point in order to prepare it for flight are also done here.

The crews at Stage 1 and 2 have the responsibility of determining if the vehicle can be tested safely, and if it is completely ready. They have to determine if the guidelines and specifications given to the classes ahead of time have been met correctly. They do this by following a check list called the “Flight Readiness Review.”

Each vehicle must pass this set of checks and balances to be approved to move on to Stage 3 and ultimately to the launch pad. This crew also has the occasional unpleasant job of having to inform a group that a vehicle has been declined for flight due to simply not being ready or that it has some factor that has caused it to be deemed unsafe to fly at this time.

This doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. They try their best to help and correct whatever can be corrected, so that all vehicles will get their opportunity to fly. They never want to disappoint the students, these guys want more than anything to help and see everyone get to a successful test. But, safety and readiness have to come first.

They probably have one of the hardest and sometimes unpopular positions there, but at the same time it is very rewarding for them when the can safely approve the rockets for the next stage. When all the rockets for the day have moved past Stage 1 and 2, then this crew comes to mission control to see where they can further assist the group for the rest of the day.

They have a long day because they usually have schools waiting as early as 5:00 in the morning to have their rockets checked.

This group really deserves a big thank you for all they do. This year’s Stage 1 and 2 operatives were, Captain Gene Garrett, Doug Kimball, Pete Jenson, Harold Vanick, David Miller, and Danny Bell. Great job, gentlemen on another successful year.

www.systemsgo.org as always is the place for more information on this program. Take the time to get your school involved, the future of your students will be greatly benefited.

Day 13- Hill view Ranch (The Rocket Ranch) & Willow City – A Big Thank you

Today’s blog is going to be short. It is really just a big shout out to Camey Stewart, the owner of Hillview Ranch, and Willow City and the owners of the surrounding ranches, the Willow City Volunteer Fire Department, and the Willow City School.

First a huge thank you to Ms. Camey Stewart for the use of her ranch each year where the event is actually used as a launch site. This event couldn’t happen without you and your generosity toward SystemsGo and the rocket project as a whole. It takes a big heart to allow this on your property and all that it entails. I know the place takes a bit of a beating each year and this year with the rain, it was probably more than usual. I know that it is greatly appreciated by all. You are a blessing to this educational program.

Second Willow City and most of its residents as a whole. What a fantastic community to allow all these schools to come out, and hold this event in your area.  You are all helping to further the lives and educations of all these students and their futures in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. The fact that the community allows them to come out and have a place to launch rockets, and have the ability to hunt for them and recover them so that each group can complete their projects through the post analysis phase is truly phenomenal. Just having the permissions of the land owners in the area to allow recovery teams come onto their property and search and recover rockets is a big thing in itself.

Third, the Willow City Volunteer Fire Department for both allowing the use of their fire station for Stage 1 rocket inspection, and to supply a truck and volunteers at the launch site and fire house for assistance as needed. Your group is such a vital part of the group. I know you are greatly appreciated, and what’s a day spent watching rockets and smiling students worth anyway? I know for myself as a volunteer it is well worth the time and effort and having you there as support and help makes it that much more.

Also to the Willow City School House/community Center for allowing Stage 2 rocket inspection on your site. Providing the parking and facilities there as well is always a great plus. It amazes me each year as I drive by to the ranch at how full your site is with buses and students even in the early hours.

I can’t give enough praise to all of our friends and neighbors in this area that give so much of themselves, their time, like I already mentioned, just the permissions to be there to this outstanding educational program. The Slogan on the police mule in the featured picture says it all, “Our Community, Our Commitment”, and this community has definitely made a lasting commitment to our students’ education and future.

Lastly, as just one of many volunteers to SystemsGo, I want to say thank you to you for developing this program for our students. I personally have had two daughters go through it and continue on in things that it inspired in their futures. I couldn’t be prouder of each o of them, and I couldn’t be happier that they had this opportunity. Also, thank you SystemsGo for allowing myself and my family to be a continued part of the volunteer staff.

SystemsGo is igniting the lives of students across Texas! Thank you all!

www.systemsgo.org as always is the place for more information on this program. Take the time to get your school involved, the future of your students will be greatly benefited.