RULES OF THE LAUNCH & ROLE OF THE PENGUINS below
THE LAUNCH is directed by Launch Directors known as PENGUINS
The Launch of balloons at the Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally is coordinated by a designated Launch Team made up of Launch Directors, a Launch Officer and the Balloonmeister. Since the official "uniform" of the Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally Launch Directors is the tuxedo (provided for the last several years by Men's Wearhouse), the nickname given to this team is the PENGUINS.
The photo to the right is of the 2007 Launch Team.
The 2007 MVBR Launch Team included Dan Erhard, Harold Connell (replacing Sherry Richardson pictured above), Steve Waterman, Lauren Bishop, John Kemp (Balloonmeister in white tuxedo), Cati Waterman, JR Turner, Judy Fredrickson, and Jeff Woolwine
Penguin tuxedos provided by Men's Wearhouse
Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally proudly announces the
2008 Penguins
Dan Erhard (Launch Officer - Head Penguin), Jeff Woolwine, Cati Waterman, JR Turner, Lauren Bishop, and Galen Mullins. Assistant Penguins will be Tim Bishop and Chris Bishop
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1. NO SMOKING ON THE FIELD
2. N O BALLOON LAUNCHES WITHOUT THE THUMBS UP FROM A PENGUIN (or other member of the official launch team)
3. THE BALLOONMEISTER IS THE FIRST OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE LAUNCH AND WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION FOR A LAUNCH TO TAKE PLACE, OR BE CANCELED OR DELAYED
Penguin Jeff Woolwine gives a pilot the thumbs up at the 2006 MVBR
Penguin Cati Waterman works a row of balloons
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Role of the Penguins:
Launch Directors (Penguins) serve several purposes, all directed toward the safety of the balloon launch.
Penguins, with the assistance of the Launch Officer and the Balloonmeister, determine and direct balloons as to when and where they are to launch. They use a standard set of hand signals to communicate with the pilot. Thumb's up means "clear to go"
Penguins also serve to in control the crowd in terms of their proximity to, and/or activity around a balloon. When a launch officer blows his or her whistle, it is a signal to the crowd that a balloon is about to launch, and the crowd heeds this signal be moving out of the path of the launching balloon.