Frequently Asked Questions

What is the procedure to join the club?

The best way to join is to be sponsored by an existing member. The Crackerjacks, Inc. is a social club usually reserved for individuals recommended by an existing member. Exceptions to this policy are possible at the discretion of the Board of Directors. You may send an application (from the web page), a short biography, a summary of what you expect from club membership, and what you may have to benefit the club. You can send this information in an email to webmaster@crackerjacks.org.

How much does it cost a brand new member to join the club?

For an individual and his/her immediate family to join the club, the initiation fee is currently $125.00 plus the current annual dues of $75.00. Annual dues paid between 1 August and 31 December are reduced to $50.00 for the remainder of the calendar year. Annual dues cover the period from 1 January to 31 December for a specific year. Annual dues are due to the Treasurer not later than 1 March each year for that calendar year. Dues paid AFTER 1 March require the payment of the initiation fee again.

What do the annual dues cover?

The annual dues (which include the member and his immediate family) cover:
1) membership in the club;
2) a photo membership card (for the individual only);
3) six issues of the Passfire, the bi- monthly newsletter mailed to your household;
4) a color PDF file of the Passfire delivered to your email mailbox;
5) access to the Crackerjacks Mailing List, a web-based forum for the exchange of comments and ideas relating to fireworks;
6) access to answers to legal questions concerning fireworks handling, transportation and storage;
7) partial payment towards annual club expenses such as insurance and fireworks purchases for club sponsored events.

Who is included in my immediate family?

An individual member's immediate family is defined as parents, spouse, significant other, son or daughter under 18, and legal variations of the above.
My son or daughter wants to become an official member, how much does that cost? The Crackerjacks, Inc. waives the initiation fee for any immediate family member (as defined above) that would like to become a full member. Therefore, a son or daughter would only have to pay the yearly dues to become a full member. Full application process including board approval must still be met.

What does it cost a member or guest to attend a club shoot?

Note that annual dues DOES NOT cover admission to shoots, seminars or other events. Current rates for attending a shoot are $25.00 per shoot day for members (or $75.00 for all 4 shoot days) and $35.00 per guest per shoot day (in advance) or $40.00 per guest per shoot day at the door. Guests are defined as anyone outside the member's immediate family. There is no discount for children on the guest fee.

Is there any way to get discounts?

You can pre-purchase member shoot passes prior to 1 April. The benefit is that you get 4 shoot passes for the same price as 3. These passes are good until the end of the calendar year and are non-refundable. You can also pre-purchase guest passes prior to 1 April. The price of a guest pass purchased a the door is $40.00. These guest passes may be pre-purchased for $35.00 for the first one, and $25.00 for each additional pass. These passes are good until the end of the year and are non-refundable.

Other than dues and fees, what is expected of a member?

The FIRST requirement of a club member is to know, understand, and follow all of the appropriate safety rules concerning the use and transportation of fireworks. Members attending the club shoots are required to conduct themselves in a safe manner by following all of the safety rules and immediately reporting violations to the officers. Every member is expected to volunteer at least 1 hour of time at each shoot that he attends. Most members donate 2-3 hours of time. This time can be spent on setup and teardown of the field, registration, or safety. The Shoot Czar coordinates all volunteer efforts. In addition, it is expected that each member stay for Sunday clean up at least once per year.

If a member gets hurt at a club function, will the insurance or club pay for my
medical bills or other expenses?

No. The club insurance exempts anyone involved in the event. This includes members, families, and guests. If you, your family, or your guests get hurt the club and its insurance company is not responsible for damages or expenses. You are notified of this upon joining the club. In addition, you will be asked to sign a waiver to acknowledge this at each event.

What is the proper name of the club?

On official documents, the club is named The CrackerJacks Inc.

How old is the club?

The CrackerJacks is the oldest regional fireworks club in the United States. The first club meeting was held in early November of 1976 at the Holliday House tavern located on Harford Road at Northern Parkway. It was attended by Jack Leonard, Joe Gross, John Cochran, Richard Doyle, and Dennis Coster. The entertainment for the evening was a presentation by Jack Leonard on the English celebration of Guy Fawkes Day. The first club dues were held in a Tootsie Roll bank. What are the official corporate documents maintained by the club? The document you are reading, the CrackerJack's FAQ, the club/corporation by-laws, and the safety guidelines. There are also periodic documents that are produced by the Board of Directors. Each member and prospective member should read each document carefully.

How many newsletters are published each year and when are they mailed?

The Passfire is published 6 times each year. You can expect to see an issue approximately
every two months. The issues are published just prior to major CrackerJack's events to
allow the members time to plan their activities accordingly.

Can I write an article or letter for the Passfire?

Absolutely! The Passfire editor is constantly looking for material to publish in the
Passfire. You can submit articles to webmaster@crackerjacks.org. Inclusion of such an
article is at the discretion of the editor.

Can I donate items or money to the club and use it as a charitable deduction on my
income taxes?

No. The club is designated is designated as a non-profit. But our IRS designation does
not allow us to accept tax-exempt charitable donations.

Are any fireworks or special effects banned from the club?

Yes. The following items are prohibited by our standard safety rules, and require written permission from the board to be used in a special circumstance: Aerial Signal Flares, gas filled balloons or bags, and high explosives. Illegally manufactured fireworks are also banned from use during club shoots. Additionally, while Class C (consumer) fireworks can be purchased and shot by all members, only members completing the PGI Shooters Certification Course are allowed to shoot Class B shells. You may also be asked to complete the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
(ATF) Responsible Individual Application.

I would like to fire a device in an area outside its normally designated area. How do I get permission to do this?

No. In the interest of safety, only those areas marked for specific items will be allowed to be fired in those areas. Exceptions to this rule must have the approval of BOTH the Head of Safety and the Club President (or their official representatives).

How do I get reimbursed for materials and fireworks used at a shoot?

Only the Club Treasurer may approve purchases in direct support of a Club Shoot. There will be no reimbursement for items which are not pre-approved. Items used during a shoot, which are not pre-approved, are considered to be "donations" to the club. Items qualified for reimbursement will be paid within 30 days by the Club Treasurer.

Do vendors pay a fee to attend club shoots and sell fireworks?

Yes. Vendors pay a "vending fee" of $100.00 per shoot day with the same discounts as members. Vendors may pre-purchase shoot passes prior to 1 April for the calendar year at the reduced rate of $300.00 for all 4 shoot days. Each shoot pass includes 2 guest passes for company employees to attend the shoot to assist in vending.

Do vendors offer discounts to club members?

Vendors offer club members various discounts during the year. Fireworks offered for
sale at club shoots to members and their guests are deeply discounted. In addition to club shoots, several vendors offer discounts to current Crackerjacks, Inc. members. These include:

 
Kellner's Fireworks (www.kellfire.com) in Pennsylvania. They offers a 50% discount off their published list on Class C items. They also sell Class B and proximate fireworks, but do not offer a discount on these items.

 
Patriotic Fireworks (www.patfire.com) in Maryland offers a 20% discount off their published list on Class C items for members living outside Maryland.

Fireworks Productions Inc. (www.fireworksproductionsinc.com) offers a 50% discount off their published list on Class C items. They can provide displays, as well as sell Class B and proximate fireworks, but do not offer a discount on these items. Companies can cancel these discounts at any time. You must be on the current published membership list and present your photo-ID membership card to receive any discount.

How do I become an officer in the club?

Becoming an officer requires some effort. An individual may declare his intentions to seek a specific office anytime prior to the beginning of elections. Each officer on the Board of Directors serves for a 2-year period. Half of the officers are elected each year to provide continuity for the club. Elections are held each December for the following 2- year period. Candidates for office in the club must be active members, able to dedicate a substantial amount of personal time to the club and its functions, and be able to pass an ATF screening. Once elected, an approval application will be forwarded to the ATF and will include fingerprints and a current photograph. The officer receives official status upon clearance by the ATF.

Are there other positions of importance that do not require an ATF background
check?

Yes. There are several "appointed" positions which require less effort than an officer position, but are very important to the club's proper functioning.Each year, the Club president (with the Board of Directors approval) appoints ind ividual volunteers to specific club positions of authority. Lead shooters for the club shoots, Safety Czar, and other positions are some examples. These positions are the best way to learn some of the club inner workings to prepare a member for a future officer position.