Sacramento L5 Society (SacL5) – Meeting Minutes

Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025

Time: 6:00–7:30 PM Pacific

Location: Zoom (virtual only)

Website: https://sacramentol5society.nss.org

1. Call to Order and Attendance

• Meeting began at 6:00 PM with greetings and introductions.
• Attendees included:

  – Joe Bland – President

  – Eric James

  – Ed Kulis – Secretary

  – Michael Abramson

  – Jan Rosten – Vice President

2. Reports & Updates

President’s & Treasurer’s Report (Joe Bland)

• Status of frozen checking account still unresolved.
• New checking account established; working to transfer SacL5 funds into an interest-bearing account.
• Contact made with old bank; issues noted with California registration and insurance.
• Need signed statement confirming SacL5’s status as a local NSS chapter.

SacL5 Website (Ed Kulis)

• Minutes posted with new picture.
• Website has now exceeded 20,000 visits.

NSS Chapters’ Assembly (Jan Roston)

• 22 chapters currently in good standing.
• Issues with attendance: Prathmesh absent for two meetings.
• By-law disagreements between Perri and Joe.
• Quorum clarified: ~25% of chapters (6 out of 22).
• Leadership concerns raised: potential votes of no confidence for Prathmesh Raptre and Bland Dozal (Cuyahoga Valley Space Society).
• Executive Secretary Perri assumes chair role if chair absent.
• Plans for Goddard Launch Celebration with student involvement.
• Concern noted: SacL5 not receiving support from Chapters’ Assembly.

NSSCA Chapter Resources Subcommittee (Ed Kulis)

• Ongoing work; minor items to update (e.g., site references).

NSS Chapter Committee (Joe Bland)

• Discussion limited by Dave Stuart.
• Vote count issue: 5 total votes; 4 went to Prathmesh.
• Continued planning for Goddard Celebration.

3. Action Items

• Paul Turner – Contact Ken Davis (Sacramento School of Engineering and Science). Paul absent this meeting.
• Ed Kulis – Complete: Confirmed that SacL5 is listed on Benevity website.

4. Old Business

Eric’s Steam Engine Project (Eric James)

• Completed and demonstrated via photos.
• All mechanisms functioning; built largely from scratch with some re-machined parts.
• Discussion of related prototype engines by Joe Bland (hot-air engine, CCVC Closed Cycle Valve Cell Engine concept).
• Potential applications for lunar and planetary energy generation using temperature differentials.
• Michael Abramson emphasized importance of simple, practical energy solutions.

SacL5 Balloon Flight Device (Ed Kulis, Paul Turner)

• Continuing discussion of device for MiniCube flights (1–2 possible launches).

“Open Space Organization” White Paper (Michael Abramson)

• Continued development; additional discussion needed.
• Reference to Michael’s earlier email requesting input.

Potential NASA Grant Application (Joe Bland)

• Ongoing subject; needs further planning.

Manned Earth-Gravity Settlement Concepts (Joe Bland, Don Wade)

• Discussion of constructing lunar/Earth-gravity settlement.
• Mentioned related groups (Space Nurse group, tethers, crater rim transport, inflatable rotating stations).
• NASA momentum currently more lunar-focused.
• Propulsion concepts: atomic rockets to Mars, asteroid and Earth-Moon cyclers.

New Propulsion System Proposal (Joe Bland, Gerald Nordley’s concept)

• Further exploration and discussion deferred.

5. New Business

• General discussion, including mention of Project Hail Mary.

6. Space News & Open Discussion

• Ad Astra discussion on the Fermi Paradox highlighted by John F. Kross.

7. Adjournment

• Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM.