[roc-chat] Re: ROC News and Requests
- From: Richard Dierking <richard.dierking@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:09:17 -0700
Mike you should run for the Board. Just the fact that you care enough to
take the time to consider what's going on and post are enough
qualifications, I think. Well, you also have to be a ROC Executive member.
Regarding combining the events, I wasn't on the Board at the time ROCtober
started, but I happened to be there with Dok and Erik when the notion was
hatched. They were *very* happy when I accepted the position of ROCtober
chair because even then, there was lots for the Board to do. Although the
reasons for a special youth group launch and the ROCtober event are
admirable, we should also consider some realities. Please keep in mind
that we're just people chatting about this, and this is my 2 cents.
With the downturn in the economy, ROC like many other clubs has seen a
decrease in membership and participation. This means doing the same or in
some cases more (for example, meeting new BLM requirements) with less
people. Perhaps when ROC gets more participation we could consider more
large events. It takes a minimum number of people to set-up, safely run,
and pack up after a large launch and we're stretching this thin.
I have been to every ROCtober and November ROCstock for the last five
years. The weather is better in October.
Some members have been nice enough to fly their large projects for the kids
at ROCtober, but for many members, it's difficult to support two large
events that are only one month apart. So, instead of one event that does
very well, recently we've had two that don't do very well. Do you know
what I mean?
Many Scout leaders have indicated to me that although they think ROCtober
is great, their troop wants to go to ROCstock to see all the rockets and
big projects. Trying to funnel them off to a smaller launch to make it
easier for us to fly big rockets is not a good thing to do.
Hold one large launch in the fall will mean more traffic, but there will be
more people to help. I think the busy times are also fun times.
I'm personally asking for all the Executive members to consider running for
the 3 positions on the Board and offer their thoughts on these matters.
Thank you!
Richard Dierking
On Wed, Jun 20, 2012 at 10:18 AM, Michael Klett <xsive.guy@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> So many thoughts, so few are coherent...
>
> First, regarding self nominations. Over the years the board has done
> a fantastic job. I might consider it but I'm still a newbie and I'd
> be afraid of messing it up. The standards to be a member of the board
> seem incredibly high.
>
> As far as combining November ROCStock and ROCtober I'd be for it. I
> love the big launches but I realize that they are a lot of work.
> Combining the two would make ROCStock in June a bigger annual event
> and ROCtober would also be a bigger annual event. As far as Rick's
> idea about youth bringing parents back we still have the regular
> November launch to come back to. Additionally, not that it should
> matter to ROC so much but I think TRASD's Plaster Blaster event is in
> November as well so for those ROCketeers that are bi-clubal it's three
> big launches in 4 weeks.
>
> But as always, I'll support the board, cheerfully accept their
> decision either way, and continue to help out where I can. I wish I
> could help more than I do.
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
>
> On Wed, Jun 20, 2012 at 8:46 AM, <rtd@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > A few personal observations on ROCstock and ROCtober:
> >
> > When ROC first decided to hold ROCtober, five years ago, the idea behind
> it
> > was a bit selfish. We had been having more and more youth groups coming
> to
> > ROCstock, and the lines at the RSO tables kept getting longer and longer.
> > We decided to expand our October launch with the idea of inviting all of
> > the various scout and other youth groups to ROCtober, to hopefully
> relieve
> > some of the "pressure" on ROCstock.
> >
> > Well, our little plan backfired on us, but in the best possible way.
> >
> > At every ROCtober, we get a huge number of "newbie" kids, who have never
> > flown -- or in many cases, even seen -- rockets before. They inevitably
> > have a lot of fun, and their first question is always, "when can we come
> > back and do this again?". As a result, every November, many of those
> kids
> > come back, usually with their parents this time instead of just their
> youth
> > group leaders. Once the parents see the "big stuff", many of them go on
> to
> > join ROC and NAR or TRA, and get certified as HPR flyers. Even if they
> > don't become ROC and/or NAR/TRA members, they at least see what a great
> time
> > their kids have at our launches, and many of them keep bringing those
> kids
> > back to subsequent launches.
> >
> > My personal opinion is that I would like this to continue. I think that
> the
> > "one-two punch" of ROCtober and November ROCstock has brought many new
> > flyers into the hobby, and new members into ROC, NAR and TRA. ROC is a
> > non-profit organization with a scientific and educational mission. These
> > launches do a great job of helping us reach out to the next generation,
> and
> > introduce them to a hobby that makes learning about science painless and
> > fun.
> >
> > It *is* a lot of work running two multi-day launches in a row. We *do*
> need
> > the help of lots of volunteers to set up, run, and clean up after these
> > launches. But, I personally feel that it's worth the effort, and I would
> > personally vote to keep both launches.
> >
> > I look forward to hearing your perspectives.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > - Rick Dickinson
> >
> >
> > --
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> >
>
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