What is most important in making a club attractive?

I would like to apologize to all the other members due to my actions in this thread as I allowed myself to get carried away and derailed this thread so far it will be difficult to get it back on track again. And it was a good thread with many good discussions. I will again ask a mod to move this part of the discussion

solid_fuel said:

I will again ask a mod to move this part of the discussion

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A better solution would be to remove the individual whose only purpose in posting here it derail discussion and generally be an annoying troll.

Cheers

That would be half the people who responded.

Ez2cDave said:

Be "family-oriented" . . . Keep all family members happy . . . Have activities for non-flyers ( especially girls/women ),

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Impossible and a waste of club resources. This is a rocket club. I couldn't care less about activities for non-flyers. If you come to a rocket launch on a frozen corn field in the middle nowhere, well, that's what you get. My wife rarely attends launches, and when she does, she brings a chair and a book.

Buckeye said:

Impossible and a waste of club resources. This is a rocket club. I couldn't care less about activities for non-flyers. If you come to a rocket launch on a frozen corn field in the middle nowhere, well, that's what you get. My wife rarely attends launches, and when she does, she brings a chair and a book.

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I'm inclined to agree. The *environment* should be welcoming to all, but the focus is on launching rockets.

One big item (literally and figuratively) not listed in the original poll is the quality of the launch field (size, accessibility, absence of rocket-eating trees and bodies of water). Unfortunately it's a tough one for the club to control, because getting and hanging onto *any* decent field is tough. But it is something that would factor into my assessment of the desirability of a club.

Also previously mentioned and at least somewhat important is presence of an on-site vendor. I don't know if any of the NJ clubs have any on-site vendors anymore since Heavenly Hobbies moved out and it is really a bummer.

Unless you're blessed to be in an area where you have a choice of good clubs, though, you take what you can get. I'm very glad that Radical Rocketeers is near enough for me, great group of guys and a nice large farm (although depending on the wind direction and the state of the crops recovery can be a challenge.) I haven't tried out GSSS yet mainly because... well, I just haven't. The field is quite a bit smaller but it is all grass, probably a great place to fly LPR when there's not much wind.

But I'm definitely jealous when I see some of the fields you guys in other parts of the country fly on. BARC has a great field, and one of these days somehow or other I gotta get my butt down to MDRA.

I think the single most important thing to do is to find a bunch of people who enjoy the same things as you and then have fun doing those things. Having fun is contagious. Don’t sweat the small things and don’t constantly be on the lookout for things to be done wrong. People will tell you what they want if you’re open to them.

First post here. ( I've been hiding in the shadows) Thought I'd finally jump in.
I had never been to a launch before 2017. My son and I showed up at a ROC launch with an Estes v2. The first person who helped us get signed in and get us headed in the right direction was what made it a great day. Now I'm getting ready for my level 2 flight and it's a hobby my son and I can enjoy, Were hooked on the hobby do to a good first experience.

Funny thing is the first person to help use was DaveW6DPS

DaveW6DPS said:

A better solution would be to remove the individual whose only purpose in posting here it derail discussion and generally be an annoying troll.

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But..... I like it here.....

Mhight said:

Funny thing is the first person to help use was DaveW6DPS

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I'm glad you caught me on a good day! I do try to keep grumpy old man side of my personality in check at launches.

Hopefully we will be launching again soon!

Another consideration for a club is paying attention to who are the first contact at a launch for new people. Most launches have some sort of sign up/information table. Volunteers for that spot should be naturally welcoming people. Not all of us are wired that way. That isn't a value judgement per say. It's reality that some of us prefer being 'behind the scenes'. Thankfully there are lots of ways all types of people can be involved at a launch.

dr wogz said:

No One mentioned 'Pad girls'.. a cute girl in some painted-on, too-short of a dress on holding the pad number sign. Like they do for Boxing or wrestling to announce the round..

(now it's derailed! )

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Club dues would go up quite a bit.

Field quality and distance are important. Friendly members and welcoming attitude is a close second. Third would be launch equipment quality. Vendor attendance, porta potty, food vendors, are nice to have but not show stoppers.

Our local field is bad for recovery, so I hit the regional launches in range. Local membership is low.

To attract mre distant folks, the regional launches need to be 2 or 3 days for a worthwhile trip. 3 days in my neck of the woods since 1 is usually lost due to bad weather.

Greeting new members (or potential members) is a great idea and goes along with friendliness. Many people join groups as outsiders and will quickly pick up on whether they are going to remain that way. And, staying connected. When someone joins, does someone ask about what they are looking for and how the club can help them, or just consider them as new help?

I guess I'm just dumb Joe. Feel free to disparage me.

58pan said:

I guess I'm just dumb Joe. Feel free to disparage me.

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?????

BigRiJoe said:

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

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I'm done. Move along. Nothing to see here.

(Prior post retracted.)

a nice leather wrapped grip...oh wait not that kind of club, never mind .
Rex

Smoking is a fad.

Hijacking threads is common in chat groups. And, it's cool with me. If you are interested in something, you just stay focused on the subject and get a chuckle occasionally with what people post.
So, wondering if the train is completely off the tracks on this one?
I think it was a very good subject. But, now a bunch of votes are in and I'm wondering what the conclusions will be. Particularly, for the leaders of clubs, do the results line up with what you thought, and the way the club runs? Is anything going to change in the club you are in?

The conversation could continue with a bit of a change of focus, with a new thread and a new pole. Of the same list (or one expanded based on feedback in this thread) what have you felt was lacking in clubs you've joined or launches you've attended? What I mean is, for example, friendliness is the hands down biggest vote getter for what's important, but in my experience there's been no lack of it, so I expect it would be a lot lower in the follow-up poll. I just bet there are other things that would look better or worse from this different angle.

Bat-mite, you started this one; interested in starting another?

jqavins said:

Bat-mite, you started this one; interested in starting another?

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I think you're on for this one!

The continued help and friendliness of the club is what keeps me around, lots of people and too many to name.

What got me to come to the second launch was the first contact though. Bill talked to me about my rocket, was super friendly, explained how launching and the pads work, and encouraged me to fly my L1 that day. That first launch is critical for getting people to come back, and it the super simple things like where to park and how to fill out a flight card that trip people up.

Yea, the first launch thing. Maybe if RSOs were a little more diligent about sorting out the newbies and making sure thy get the attention they need. I almost didn't come back after my first launch because a bad experience.

I’m not sure that’s only the job of the RSO. Did you explain you were new and could use a little guidance?

I think it’s incumbent on all the attendees to be welcoming to newcomers. I’ve never made a club meeting - all my interactions with both clubs near me have been at the range. I’ve been the n00b, and I’ve been the person explaining the process. I’m lucky to fly with two friendly clubs. Pad support varies over the year. And there are both water hazards (with snapping turtles- big ones) and rocket eating trees. And I overstepped once, unwittingly.

But I still plan on showing up tomorrow with some rockets in hand. And if some one new approaches me with questions, I’ll do my best - even if my rocket just shredded.