42 replies to this topic

[chrismdunford]

It's really great to hear these positive posts. What the society needs at the moment are people prepared to take an active part. Currently there are more vacancies than there are volunteers. Three busy people cannot do all the things that are needed to make the society what it once was.

[Rob.L.]

 

 

So then,

 

as I see it we need a bit more positive forum activity from people out there and I am sure that there are some of us who could assist the current society management to carry out some of the work.

 

I have limited experiance in pyrotechnics specificly but have a reasonable understanding of the legal position, culture and practice around this sort of thing. Chemistry demands this.

 

Any one who would take on a task would be hard pushed to match the expertise of the likes of Wayne, Phil, Phil, Vic and all the other people in the background here, all of which have surmounted the impossible on our behalf. They really have.

 

What I am saying is if folk were to help then we would need training to some extent. I certainly would.

 

I am also a member of a target sports club and over the last two and a half years have seen the membership and committee turn a bad situation into a fantastic newly built range that has just been signed off by the NRA last week.

 

We were nearly without somewhere to go due to our position of being ill treated by the host on the range were were using. Instead of giving up, the very experianced and gifted committee took on the task of finding a new home. With blood, sweat and sleepless nights by many of us we created a brand new center here in the south west of england.

The learning curve for us has been immense and sacrifices have been made by a large portion of the membership.

 

My own life has altered as a result. It has cost me stress and some difficulty.

 

Pyrotechnics is not unlike target sports as the two are often misunderstood, looked down upon and are not the accepted norm. God forbid if you are into both! Ha! 

We at the club have a mission to encourage more people into the sport and widen the appeal. This is what needs to happen here. We have even seen new juvenile members helping with the installation of range hardware.

 

Remember we are not getting younger!!

 

I am stunned to see how positive the law is in regard to pyrotechnic amateurs, the situation is the best it has ever been historically and all in a climate of the fear of terrorism. It is a big responsibility to be involved in all this and even more important to provide a future for the young experimenter, a safe, lawful but fun future.

 

Perhaps we could all have some more conversation sometime?

 

 

[cooperman435]

Hi guys and welcome Rob,

 

After a month or so now of extremely furious work, I think that we're in a position to start replanning the AGM for this year, so will be making some phone calls and sending out emails to try and secure a location again.

 

It's unlikely to be a fancy event as like I said when I offered my self as Chair, I am a busy man, very passionate about the UKPS and pyro but extremely busy. If anybody is willing to help in any way with any part of the AGM arrangements, please PM me as it will be very much appreciated. 

 

I hope to put details up very soon

 

Phill

[Rob.L.]

 

 

That is really good news to hear.

 

A bit of further encouragement may come from a conversation I had about an hour ago with a very good friend of mine.

 

Both Him and his Wife have offered the use of suitable land and a club room facility for the purposes of amateur pyrotechnics gatherings and also to use suitable bunded areas for LAWFUL experimental fireworks or compositions.  The only drawback is it is in Somerset. I know mid country is better.

 

They are well known to the Authorities and have other suitable areas for use of this nature that have already been used by various agencies. Obviously this is offered to the legitimate Pyrotechnics community with no nonsense and absolute visibility to the Home office and Police.

 

The best bit of all is that once a month the clubroom and facility is offered for free, yes free.  The sites may be used a bit more than that subject to our conduct and attitude.

 

The reason for the offer is that they want to see the legitimate community thrive and go forward. I know it is not the answer to all the problems at the moment and I trust that a steady move forward can make use of generous opportunities like this.

 

Hope that is a start.

 

Obviously in time I can help a bit with some basic practical things but I do not have the level of experiance necessary for certain aspects of the society, some of the stuff can only be dealt with by specialist skill sets.

 

On another note but kind of relevant.......

 

One thing I have in mind is that there are a number of individuals out there who are looking for the opportunity to become involved in chemistry and/or pyrotechnics.

I have resurected my interest in a chemistry and science forum and can see that there are some genuine souls treading a nervous path through the mire of the law and social acceptability surrounding their interests. This type of individual/s are the people who need the safety net of an organised enviroment and legitimate aims.

I should just say here I am well aware of the wide catchment of forums like this and the dangers of some of those folk giving us all a bad reputation or worse. Places like that are an open minefield as much as they are a great resource. Users beware! eyes are on you.

I hope you all do not mind me chatting about this but if these people are not swept up by the likes of us then they will 'wither and die' or get into a frightening situation with the authorites. None of which serves anybody well.

 

Any more experianced opinions on this?

 

Mods, I understand that I am a bit off topic with this second part of my post but feel for now that there needs to be a bit of discussion to get things going and open positive contribution is possibly needed for a bit.

Hope that is o.k.

In future i will open another topic in the relevant forum. Just don't want a discussion to be lost.

[Vic]

Any news on the AGM date, this needs sorting fast.

[rocketpro]

How strange.  

When pyro was illegal, this forum thrived  - now that it is legal, this forum is all but dead!

[Starfire]

It was the same with cb radio

[Rob.L.]

Well folks,

 

I don't think it has anything to do with it being legal or not.

 

Availability of chemicals, fear of terrorism (social acceptability)

 

Fear of the EPP application process?

 

Things on here may be in a situation at the moment but the real question is what are you guys going to do to help?

 

I want to see things go forwards. Every ounce of negativity, even if it may be true in part, is not going to serve us well at all.

 

This is not going to be an overnight process.

[Rob.L.]

Ok, on topic now....have the guys got any closer to the AGM date.

 

I have gained the use of a facility which could be used for the AGM this time. No interest then?

[Vic]

Thank you for your offer Rob, I am interested but I cannot speak for other staff members.

[Rob.L.]

 

 

Ok.

 

As a self employed person I can understand how life gets on top of you at times but even then if I don't communicate with people they start to get understandably cheesed off. Then I loose the good will of my customers.

 

Time is always against us.

 

I know some of you have been waiting a long time for a set date for the AGM to happen.

 

I wonder if anyone else has offered help here? It may be there is stuff going on behind the scenes that is about to be announced?

 

Even if there is no conclusion it would be nice for all of us to see a little more of an update or some transparency in the process.

[Rob.L.]

Hello All,

 

Over the past few weeks I have been wondering about all the issues that face us all as members of the society and forum and have been trying to understand and catch up with it all as best as I can.

 

Whilst I do not know all of the ins and outs I have had some very positive conversations with people recently and can say that regards to the AGM we are all going to have to be patient for a little while longer.

 

Please do not assume anything other than there are severly limited resources for all the planning.

 

It will happen and I have no doubt it will be a watershed for the entire community.

 

If I had the opportunity to communicate anything to all current and prospective members it would be this:

 

Please remember that we are the product of the sum of the effort put in, that applies to anything, not just our interest.

Secondly it is vital that we all focus on why we are here and the priceless opportunity we have within the UKPS to have a vital link to to the authorities. We cannot exist for long without this in the current political climate.

We all love science and pyrotechnics and as long as that is our ultimate goal we will get past all other issues. We need to start meeting again, travelling to see each other and organising small events that we can all enjoy.

I know that chemical supply and the licencing system can be a hurdle for some but with co-operation help can be given and a legitimate local suply chain established, this is something I am currently working towards and will be speaking to legitimate people currently doing this to find a sensible and safe way forward.

 

We all have to believe in ourselves here, members old and new, the relative novices like me to the more experienced members who can assist us to get it right.

 

Please reply positively to this thread and even have a change of heart if you need to. It is a new day people, one that WE cannot waste.

[wayne]

A great and positive sentiment there Rob, so nice to see!

 

Please believe that the UKPS is far from finished, things may be a little quiet but it will bounce back once everyone un-mothballs their kit and gets stuck in - I'm a perfect example...Things have been in mothball for quite a while but I see a time in the near future when things will be dusted off and things start happening again.

 

It only takes one person to start regularly posting project information, updates, techniques etc for this to stimulate the rest.

 

It will happen and with the attitude that Rob and other show, it will be sooner rather than later...