What is most important in making a club attractive?

Buckeye said:

Sounds perfect.....

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I'm not gonna lie it is nice when it is only a few of us, as long as at the next couple theres a few more people.

JJSR said:

" We have to grow the club"
" We have to attract more people"
WHY??
What is the fascination of BIGGER, BIGGER, MORE, MORE,,,

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Because "size matters" . . .

(1) More rocketeers, more security for the hobby in the long run.

(2) More rocketeers, more incentive for manufacturers, existing & new.

(3) More rocketeers, more assets for club . . . Maintenance, new equipment, prizes, activities, etc.

(4) More rocketeers, ability to spread responsibilities around.

(5) More rocketeers, more activity and variety of rockets flown.

If you want to be a "rocketry recluse", you might as well not even belong to a club, at all.

Dave F.

Bat-mite said:

So, considering that only five people voted for "Ability to host big launches," should the big, national launches go away? I mean, somebody has to host them.

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Nooooooooo. Big launches create a synergy and scale that small monthly launches do not.

If it weren't for the members our club would not have the equipment we do (due to some generous donations over the last 8 (?) years), the larger launches we hold while a lot of work are also a lot of fun too as we get to meet all kinds of rocketeers AND their families. The smaller launches are a lot of fun too, that's when we as club officers get to fly the most and setup and take down times are the shortest and least amount of work. As dshmel said big launches have a synergy about them which is why I am so looking forward to SodBlaster II this year (yeah!). Most of the less personalble rocketeers I have met have been here on TRF, that being said some of those same individuals when I have met them in person are actually pretty regular and well behaved individuals....

"If you want to be a "rocketry recluse", you might as well not even belong to a club, at all."

You know not all of us live in the desert where 50/100 vehicles can descend onto our field and not cause concern of the land owner. I don't know you, but as an officer of my club I have to think about more than just rockets. There's things like the impact of the landowners business, neighbors with rogue flights go off property, parking, dumbbells that can't follow directions about parking, helping find lost rockets. And (seems like) a million other things.
All the guys on here that are club officers know exactly what I'm saying.
BIGGER ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER...
There is a limit to the amount of member's a club can handle.

Bat-mite said:

So, considering that only five people voted for "Ability to host big launches," should the big, national launches go away? I mean, somebody has to host them.

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John, Quoting you from another thread "there really is no one correct answer."
The big launches are great for the health of hobby. I look forward to going to Red Glare every year. I'm always impressed at how well its run. You guys do a fabulous job year after year.

So, I talked this over with my daughter, 19, last night. She "gets" my rocket interest, but doesn't share it. I asked her, if you one day decided to give it a try and went to a club launch or meeting, what would keep you coming back?

Her statements were more about stuff that would happen at meetings than launches. The big one was hands-on educational activities for newbies. "Here's a built, unfinished rocket; decorate [her word] it as you please." Have a talk/lecture on the basics with the parts of a rocket laid out to be handled and examined while they're being discussed. And cookies wouldn't hurt .

Then I read down the list. As for friendliness of the members she said that she hadn't mentioned it because DUH! Adequate number of launch pads and condition of the equipment were next, launchwise.

DavidMcCann said:

My club is full of boneheaded, inefficient, know-nothing jerks.
.

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To clarify (as I’ve found I can not edit anymore) this is the exact opposite of what I find at my club. Everyone there is smart, helpful and friendly to all. It was meant as over the top sarcasm, and upon review just came off as sour.

Liquor and smoke free

BigRiJoe said:

Liquor and smoke free

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Why? I don’t mind if people smoke away from the rest of us. And it’s always nice to share an adult beverage after the days flight activities are finished.

solid_fuel said:

Why? I don’t mind if people smoke away from the rest of us. And it’s always nice to share an adult beverage after the days flight activities are finished.

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Smoke free within TBD yards of the flight line?

As for the adult beverages, emphasize "after the days flight activities are finished." Knocking back a few brews during the flight activities should not be allowed, imo. Alcohol and rockets don't mix, to paraphrase a tired cliché. And then afterwards people are about to drive home, but that's on their own heads.

solid_fuel said:

Why? I don’t mind if people smoke away from the rest of us. And it’s always nice to share an adult beverage after the days flight activities are finished.

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We have a rule stating that no alcohol may be consumed by those flying rockets, and it is discouraged to be on the field. But after the launch when the controller is shut down, have at it. I, personally, have a long drive and am exhausted after a day of launching, so alcohol would not be my friend.

I see having a beer after the launch either while sitting around shooting the **** or if you go a bar/restaurant is no different than going anywhere and having a beer. And as always take you trash with you. Including butts and bottles.

Trash clean-up is a must if you want to keep your landowner happy. Thanks for pointing that out.

jqavins said:

Smoke free within TBD yards of the flight line?

As for the adult beverages, emphasize "after the days flight activities are finished." Knocking back a few brews during the flight activities should not be allowed, imo. Alcohol and rockets don't mix, to paraphrase a tired cliché. And then afterwards people are about to drive home, but that's on their own heads.

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You must be attending some different launches than I've ever seen. At NO launch, big or small, have I ever seen anyone "knocking back a few , should not be allowed" during flight times. You talk like you have witnessed this in person. And smokers...really? I cant believe people still complain about OUTDOOR smoking especially at a rocket launch.

captbk said:

I cant believe people still complain about OUTDOOR smoking especially at a rocket launch.

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Yeah, it's not like every single person there has combustibles and explosives lying around.

jqavins said:

Smoke free within TBD yards of the flight line?

As for the adult beverages, emphasize "after the days flight activities are finished." Knocking back a few brews during the flight activities should not be allowed, imo. Alcohol and rockets don't mix, to paraphrase a tired cliché. And then afterwards people are about to drive home, but that's on their own heads.

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It’s not just your opinion. It’s in NFPA 1127, which serves as part of the Tripoli Safety Code:
(11) Participation by persons in prepping or launching of high power rockets, including spectators in the prepping areas, who have consumed alcohol, narcotics, medication, or drugs that could affect judgment, movement, or stability

I want my club to be all these things. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard.

Medium to large membership permits a club to have critical mass when it comes to infrastructure and staffing. Having enough quality launch gear help to avoid lines. Plenty of people helps spread the workload.

Monthly launches and regional or national events are completely different beasts. It takes a huge commitment to host big launches by the membership but at the end of the day, we see friends from literally coast to coast we wouldn't otherwise get to know. We see huge projects that are awe inspiring. And our biggest launches fund our club for the entire year, including maintenance and new equipment (as Steve Shannon mentioned, our monthly dues would not even pay for our annual porta-pots budget). On the other hand, monthly launches with mostly locals are a blast. We can yuck it up and fly our own rockets.

For us, everything in the poll is important and many of them are intertwined in such a way that some feed off of or depend upon others. For examplee, we have at least six TAP members as members, but we need them because of big launches and our University outreach.

I think clubs are great and frankly spend more time dealing with club stuff than building and flying rockets. But that's a big part of the fun for me.

Steve Shannon said:

It’s not just your opinion. It’s in NFPA 1127, which serves as part of the Tripoli Safety Code:
(11) Participation by persons in prepping or launching of high power rockets, including spectators in the prepping areas, who have consumed alcohol, narcotics, medication, or drugs that could affect judgment, movement, or stability

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Amen, Brother Steve . . . AMEN !

Dave F.

No see no argument's against "Hot Dogs"

llickteig1 said:

I want my club to be all these things. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard.

Medium to large membership permits a club to have critical mass when it comes to infrastructure and staffing. Having enough quality launch gear help to avoid lines. Plenty of people helps spread the workload.

Monthly launches and regional or national events are completely different beasts. It takes a huge commitment to host big launches by the membership but at the end of the day, we see friends from literally coast to coast we wouldn't otherwise get to know. We see huge projects that are awe inspiring. And our biggest launches fund our club for the entire year, including maintenance and new equipment (as Steve Shannon mentioned, our monthly dues would not even pay for our annual porta-pots budget). On the other hand, monthly launches with mostly locals are a blast. We can yuck it up and fly our own rockets.

For us, everything in the poll is important and many of them are intertwined in such a way that some feed off of or depend upon others. For examplee, we have at least six TAP members as members, but we need them because of big launches and our University outreach.

I think clubs are great and frankly spend more time dealing with club stuff than building and flying rockets. But that's a big part of the fun for me.

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Excellent, well thought out post.

I’ve got a large, young family. Five kids under 13.

I do not think a rocketry club “NEEDS” to be family friendly to be successful. That’s just simply not true.

I find my club very family friendly. No one who drinks is flying, and it’s typically restricted to after flight hours. Anyone during the day who isn’t flying is discreet. It’s not like we’re talking about frat boys doing keg stands. Drinking and acting like a mature adult are not mutually exclusive.

Participation by persons in prepping or launching of high power rockets, including spectators in the prepping areas, who have consumed alcohol, narcotics, medication, or drugs that could affect judgment, movement, or STABILITY. Alcohol puts your center of pressure ahead of your center of gravity

I never figured out why people who are smart enough to involve themselves I rocketry are dumb enough to smoke. Please enlighten me

Personal freedom to make bad choices.

Have you seen how rocketeers eat?

captbk said:

You must be attending some different launches than I've ever seen. At NO launch, big or small, have I ever seen anyone "knocking back a few , should not be allowed" during flight times. You talk like you have witnessed this in person.

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No, I haven't. I read here what I took to be less emphasis on the "after" part than I felt it warranted. I've read plenty in subsequent posts. Apparently my comment was unnecessary.

Ez2cDave said:

If you disagree about being intoxicated, stoned, or using profanity in front of children, please feel free to defend your position !

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OK, here goes.

Because a successful club should be friendly and "family-oriented"...

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Certainly. But it's my opinion that this attitude can be taken too far. In the real world, many people have a couple of drinks or even get drunk sometimes, and if it's not when the range is active, so be it. In the real world, people use "salty language" sometimes. There are parents who don't want their children ever to be exposed to the real world; I agree that events should be family oriented in that families are made to feel welcome and there are things for families to do, places to change a diaper, etc., but I don't agree with pandering to parents who wish to keep their children in cocoons. Cuss like a sailor? Even your fellow adults are liable to be a little bothered. Let out the occasional F bomb? That's just the real world.

Get drunk on the field, one warning . . . Do drugs on the field, you're gone !

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If the line is active then we're back to a safety issue, and there should be no more warning for drinking than for other intoxicating drug.

We need to set the right example for young people...

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No, that's their parents' job. And if a few of us set an example of what not to do then it's the parents' job to explain that. (That is, so long as the behavior does not put anyone in danger.) Most parents are willing and able to do that. While I want whole families among the membership, I can live without those few who expect me to raise their children for them, and to do it as if I were in their churches.

solid_fuel said:

Intoxicated/stoned is quite different from what I implied. And I never mentioned drugs or profanity.

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You certainly did not, nor did I take your comments that way.
Don't mind Dave - he sometimes takes things to an illogical extreme.

solid_fuel said:

Maybe I’m just from a different part of the world where at many friend/family gatherings alcohol is consumed in a responsible manner and don’t see responsible alcohol use as something frowned upon. And I also specifically mentioned after everything was wrapped up for the day. I in no way advocate for any alcohol use before or during flight activities.

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Responsible alcohol consumption is respected in all parts of this country where I ever lived or visited. With the possible exception of Utah. But they don't drink coffee either, so enough said.

Intolerant attitudes and prescriptive behavior norms (no smoking, no drinking, no swearing, no giggling, no displays of affection, or else) would be two major turn-offs for me in any informal social setting. That applies to rocketry club launches and get togethers.

Luckily, those problems do not exhibit themselves at any of the clubs, organizations, hobby groups, or rocket launches that I frequent.

a

captbk said:

I cant believe people still complain about OUTDOOR smoking especially at a rocket launch.

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One of my biggest annoyances is going out to get some fresh air (skiing, hiking, etc) and having to walk through a cloud of cigarette smoke. Smoking outside can still be discourteous to other people's breathing as cigarette smoke doesn't instantaneously dissipate and become undetectable. Nevermind the smokers who just drop their buttes on the ground or fling them out of car windows...

Dialog trumps banning things any day of the week. If you ban cussing, then people will do it just to be rebellious or to exercise their freedoms. However, if I say to the guy next to me, "Would you mind not cussing around my kids?" they will likely say, "Sure, no problem."

Likewise if you say that alcohol is absolutely banned from the field, there will be those who sneak drinks in and consume during the launch; whereas if you say, "Please save your drinks for after the launch," people are more likely to accommodate.

At least that's been my experience over the last 52 years.

I find most smokers are more aware of their smoke these days and try to avoid being "discourteous" to others. Say you walk over to someone elses easy-up or area (Im talking about being at a rocket launch) and they are smoking then you need so suck it up and deal with it, just like you would expect them not to smoke in YOUR area.