Outreach Opportunity

[Jeffrey Joe HintonModerator]

Yes, I’m reading along and am excited this is happening. Ideally the spark will hook another club member or two. Magazines and pictures and parts that folks can fondle help with static displays. I’d suggest keeping the flyer and advertizing generic etc. maybe something like Sponsored by Members of NCR with links to the website and NAR and TRA.

Our hobby has a funny way of ebbing and flowing with membership and participation. The FUN should never be taken for granted and while I admire the enthusiasm, I would caution all involved to take baby steps or be prepared to get consumed with making Outreach a personal mission to the point of distraction.

[BEAR]

My wife already says my rocketry is a distraction. If she only new. You may not realize it Joe, but you are a mentor of mine, as I try to keep the fun in dysfunction. 😆

[Anonymous]

Joe, he already has more support than he had expected…

It is important that people pay for lessons first, otherwise it is often ignored and forgotten. However, when a parent takes the time to attend a class with their child and purchased a basic kit, those lessons will not be forgotten by either of them.

I agree that things should be kept generic, since people are tired of constant advertisements. Let them ask for additional information after their curiosity has been tickled.

[BEAR]

I still have not been able to pin down a launch site that will give approval to the launch. I fear it is harder to educate the adults than the children. I am working on about 4 sites within a 2 mile radius of the store, all of them private where we might launch. My favorite site is the largest and is next door to the police station on Timberline and Drake. The owners (3 parcels and 2 owners) are corporations in Denver and Golden. I am waiting for a response. I have also contacted a couple of churches and they have not replied at this time. I purchased a couple of Estes Alpha IIIs this week and built one this morning. From the time I cut the package open, followed the instructions, and tried to do it the way I imagine we would teach the children on that Saturday morning, took me just under 30 minutes. I needed Elmer’s Carpenter’s glue, a ruler, a straight edge, and scissors; I would think that I might need some sandpaper also, and keep and X-Acto in reserve. I am also thinking that if I purchased some syringes, (without needles) I could put glue in them which might mitigate some messes and keep the glue from flowing very freely, since very little is needed. I also used a Q-tip to help spread the glue and keep it off the fingers and hands. I also thought I might print the ruler (scale), the straight edge, and the shock cord mount onto copy paper and have a page for each kit to make it easier, and maybe one syringe of glue per table. We are getting closer to making it happen, but until I have the launch site and permission secured, we are dead in the water. I may have to be more pro-active. I am thinking of going to the school board meeting this Tuesday night and go see the Fire Marshal to see if I can make an ally, so that I might procure a launch permit from the city parks and rec. department. I have to get past the gate keepers to the head honchos who grant permits before I will get what I want.

[Kevin OslerParticipant]

Hi guys,

Trying to firm up my calendar, just found out my daughter has to get a hip procedure done in Utah probably around the time of all this. Just making sure i have the proposed dates correct.

April 21st Wheatridge – are we going for 1 day or two?
April 28th Ft Collins – 1 or two days?
Cheyanne May 19th –

[BEAR]

1 day in Fort Collins. I am still trying to firm up a launch site.City parks -NO; Public Schools – NO; asking churches, slow to respond; private land, maybe.

[Dave Smith]

I have had to cancel the Arvada Hobbytown clinic. there is only one field in Arvada that allows launching with prior approval. So happens that the city is having a kite festival that day. bummer.

[BEAR]

Dave, I am planning on cancelling my event also. 🙁 I have not been able to secure a launch site that will not place me and the participants in violation of the city code. I am thinking it is now time to starting playing politics. I am thinking I need to get the fire marshal on my side first, if he/she will even talk with me. Then, if the fire marshal will support me, I go to the city council and see if I can talk with some of them one-on-one over coffee and try to get them to come to a launch. I would have to do the same with the City Manager. A major pain since I do not live in Fort Collins. I live in Wellington, 11 miles to the north. Since I am an outsider, they may not be willing to consider. It would help if rocketeers who are Fort Collins residents would take up the fight. If some would, I would be happy to participate.

[new2hprParticipant]

I wouldn’t push too hard until the fire danger is lower. I’ve got several places I’ve flown in Longmont, but with the grass this dry, I wouldn’t dare fly. My best field was easily large enough for G motor flights and took some work to secure the rights to fly there, but was worth it. Unfortunately, it’s now the Super Walmart East of Longmont. Bah!

-Ken

[Steve Huntwork]

There are many possible launch sites in Fort Collins. The difficult task was to locate one that was close to Hobby Town where the class will be held.

I talked to a local church with a large soccer field today that is in an almost perfect location.

Until they call the police and tell me NO, I will probably launch my little 1/8th A Micro-Max Crayon rockets from that soccer field almost every day.

People are terrified of lawyers and insurance companies today!

Fine, if their specific lawyers or insurance agents are willing to tell me no on camera, then I will quit launching my tiny rockets from their huge soccer field.

I also know that bad publicity on local TV is even more terrifying to them!

Remember, it is often almost impossible to get permission, but very easy to obtain forgiveness if you have not caused any harm.

[Author]

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