In my opinion, being a "strong" organization implies resiliency. We're a
volunteer-run organization, with everything that implies: mainly, that we rely
upon people's generosity with their time, effort, and finances to get anything
done at all.
Resiliency means that we are failure-tolerant. If someone doesn't show up, the
launch still happens. If someone drops the ball, someone else picks it up and
runs with it. If we need an LCO, someone steps up and mans the console and
microphone. If the trailer-tower gets a flat tire, someone else pulls it out to
the launch. If you forget your ejection charges, someone hands you their can of
BP.
In many ways, we're there now. Thanks to the work Kurt and others have done in
the trailers, the monthly launch equipment is very well-organized and easy to
tow, set up, and break down. Thanks to the work Cindy and others have done,
registration is straightforward to run. With the new wireless launch system,
it's fairly easy to set up and run the launch.
However, we're still lacking resiliency when it comes to personnel. There are a
number of jobs that are done by a small number of people, or by individuals,
that nobody else does, or is willing to do.
We've, quite honestly, lost a lot of the sense of communal ownership that used
to be pervasive. New members used to see that everyone would pitch in at every
launch, and would feel guilty if they didn't do so as well. Now that we're
bigger, we don't actually require the assistance of everyone on the lake bed,
so newcomers no longer see everyone participating, and no longer feel the same
peer pressure to do the same.
I'm not sure what to do about that.
The Apple Valley Gun Club requires everyone to be a member, and requires all
members to do a minimum of six hours of volunteer work a year (four hours the
first year you're a member). You can "buy out" your work requirement for $100
if you're unable to do it for some reason, but otherwise, if you want to use
the range facilities as a member, you have to put in the time. If you're not a
member, you can come as a guest of a member, but you can't just show up and
expect to use the ranges. You have to come with, and be supervised by, a member
who is personally responsible for you.
Personally, I like the fact that newcomers and spectators are always welcome at
ROC launches, and I'd hate to see that welcoming environment change. However,
maybe we could find a way to split the difference between our current approach,
and something like what AVGC does.
Just for discussion purposes, here's a (semi-serious) proposal:
Make ROC launches members-only for flying, but each member can bring up to a
certain number (two?) flying guests with them to any launch the member attends.
Anyone who flies has to pay the BLM fee.
Non-member adults can attend a maximum of two launches on their own, without
being a guest of a member, or becoming a member.
Youth groups can be handled by requiring the leaders to become members, and
allowing members to bring up to six minors as their flying guests. This ensures
that there's sufficient adult supervision for youth groups....
Membership renewal requires a minimum of six volunteer hours during the
previous year, or four hours if it's the first year. Volunteer hours can be
"bought out" for $100, but actually working the hours is generally expected
unless there's a good reason they can't be.
Membership costs $75 power calender year (our first increase in 22 years).
What's everyone think?
Cheers,
Rick Dickinson
On October 14, 2016 2:57:01 PM PDT, David Erbas-White <derbas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
On 10/14/2016 2:40 PM, R Dierking wrote:
and then what needs to be done.
So, now the question has changed to...
"What?"
David Erbas-White (wondering how long I can keep this going...)
