Here's a repeat of my post to RMR about NARCON.
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I just returned from NARCON a few hours ago and thought I would share some observations and thoughts about what went on there.
This was my first time attending a NARCON. I've been to quite a few other conventions, however, like the Microsoft Developers conference, the IBM SHARE conferences, and a few other software/data processing conferences with attendees numbering in the thousands. All that is to say I'm not unfamiliar with the whole conference "scene". As such, I can say that NARCON was as well run as any professionally organized conference I've been to. Sure there were a few glitches, every conference has them. But the true measure of how well a conference is run is by how the glitches are addressed and backup plans are put into place. In that regard I think WOOSH did an admirable job.
As I mentioned, this was my first NARCON so all of the presentations were new to me. I gather that people who've attended several will often get repeats of the same basic info. If that is the case we have no one to blame but ourselves. We as members of NAR and the rocketry community at large are the ones who provide the majority of the presentations at a conference. If I've heard it once I've heard it a dozen times: rocketeers are the most helpful bunch of hobbyists around. If you want a good conference, we need to harness the same helpful, sharing attitude exhibited on the flying field and put it into getting people to present topics at NARCON.
The range of topics presented seemed to cover a wide field of interests, from the basics to more advanced concepts. Some were very specific, such as presentations on boost glider construction, and others were more general, such as an overview of various types and uses of electronics. WOOSH seems to be very active in NAR competition and so many of the presentations covered aspects relevant to becoming a better competitor: plastic model conversion techniques, using light-weight materials, scale modeling ideas, and the afore-mentioned boost-glider session, for example. Note the concept here: competitors sharing successful techniques and ideas with people who they do or may compete against. That's the spirit of NARCON!
A major theme of the convention was that of the rocketry community paying forward by being involved with the education community. That theme was evident from such things as the choice of venue (the University of Wisconsin - Parkside campus rather than a commercial hall) to having a member of the staff from UW-Parkside as one of the opening speakers to having no less than 5 sessions devoted to rocketry in the school or youth groups.
Other random thoughts:
- It really became obvious that rocketry is predominantly a white, middle-aged, male hobby. While I generally remove myself as far from the "politically correct" crowd as possible, perhaps our hobby would have less of a problem with our perceived image if we could attract a broader cross section of the population.
- The idea of having a sport rocket launch coincident with the
conference was a good idea that was unfortunately hindered by Wisconsin's notoriously windy March weather. I've chased rockets further in March than any other month!
- The vendor community did a fantastic job of supporting the conference with donations. Quest in particular must have donated a couple of dozen kits. To illustrate: after a session Saturday morning I was looking over the raffle prize winner list, which consisted of a full page single spaced list of prizes, donors, and winners. One of the WOOSH crew asked what I'd won. "Nothing yet", I replied, "Is this everything?" "No", he says, "this is page 1 of 7!" That's a bunch of prizes! Thank you, vendors!
- One thing I'd love to see at a NARCON is presentations from some of the major players in the vendor community. It would be really great to hear reps from Aerotech, Cesaroni, or Animal Works talk about making motors, or the guys from PerfectFlite, Adept, or Blacksky discussing altimeters, or someone from PML, LOC, or ASP chat about kit design.
Anyway, that's probably enough rambling. I had a great time and learned a lot. Thanks, WOOSH! Hope to see you all at NARCON 2005.
-Scott
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I just returned from NARCON a few hours ago and thought I would share some observations and thoughts about what went on there.
This was my first time attending a NARCON. I've been to quite a few other conventions, however, like the Microsoft Developers conference, the IBM SHARE conferences, and a few other software/data processing conferences with attendees numbering in the thousands. All that is to say I'm not unfamiliar with the whole conference "scene". As such, I can say that NARCON was as well run as any professionally organized conference I've been to. Sure there were a few glitches, every conference has them. But the true measure of how well a conference is run is by how the glitches are addressed and backup plans are put into place. In that regard I think WOOSH did an admirable job.
As I mentioned, this was my first NARCON so all of the presentations were new to me. I gather that people who've attended several will often get repeats of the same basic info. If that is the case we have no one to blame but ourselves. We as members of NAR and the rocketry community at large are the ones who provide the majority of the presentations at a conference. If I've heard it once I've heard it a dozen times: rocketeers are the most helpful bunch of hobbyists around. If you want a good conference, we need to harness the same helpful, sharing attitude exhibited on the flying field and put it into getting people to present topics at NARCON.
The range of topics presented seemed to cover a wide field of interests, from the basics to more advanced concepts. Some were very specific, such as presentations on boost glider construction, and others were more general, such as an overview of various types and uses of electronics. WOOSH seems to be very active in NAR competition and so many of the presentations covered aspects relevant to becoming a better competitor: plastic model conversion techniques, using light-weight materials, scale modeling ideas, and the afore-mentioned boost-glider session, for example. Note the concept here: competitors sharing successful techniques and ideas with people who they do or may compete against. That's the spirit of NARCON!
A major theme of the convention was that of the rocketry community paying forward by being involved with the education community. That theme was evident from such things as the choice of venue (the University of Wisconsin - Parkside campus rather than a commercial hall) to having a member of the staff from UW-Parkside as one of the opening speakers to having no less than 5 sessions devoted to rocketry in the school or youth groups.
Other random thoughts:
- It really became obvious that rocketry is predominantly a white, middle-aged, male hobby. While I generally remove myself as far from the "politically correct" crowd as possible, perhaps our hobby would have less of a problem with our perceived image if we could attract a broader cross section of the population.
- The idea of having a sport rocket launch coincident with the
conference was a good idea that was unfortunately hindered by Wisconsin's notoriously windy March weather. I've chased rockets further in March than any other month!
- The vendor community did a fantastic job of supporting the conference with donations. Quest in particular must have donated a couple of dozen kits. To illustrate: after a session Saturday morning I was looking over the raffle prize winner list, which consisted of a full page single spaced list of prizes, donors, and winners. One of the WOOSH crew asked what I'd won. "Nothing yet", I replied, "Is this everything?" "No", he says, "this is page 1 of 7!" That's a bunch of prizes! Thank you, vendors!
- One thing I'd love to see at a NARCON is presentations from some of the major players in the vendor community. It would be really great to hear reps from Aerotech, Cesaroni, or Animal Works talk about making motors, or the guys from PerfectFlite, Adept, or Blacksky discussing altimeters, or someone from PML, LOC, or ASP chat about kit design.
Anyway, that's probably enough rambling. I had a great time and learned a lot. Thanks, WOOSH! Hope to see you all at NARCON 2005.
-Scott
_and 1 mile from the presidents Helo compound. They promised not to throw anything at us as long as we didn't sent anything their way
