January 2020

Are you like Calvin; perfect in every way? Could you be a rocket bigot and not even realize it? Do you know a rocket bigot? The ones I know would never consider themselves a bigot and would be deeply offended if they were accused. Are you asking yourself what a rocket bigot is? Well, it's pretty simple.  Like any other form of bigotry, a rocket bigot is anyone who considers their particular portion of the hobby more important, or better, than any other area. It goes well beyond a simple difference or preference, a rocket bigot looks down upon other flyers who have different rocketry interests than theirs, they feel threatened by difference and if they could, and sometimes do, they try to exclude those who fly a different type of rocketry, or at least limit their access and participation. In simple terms they prefer to be exclusive, rather than inclusive. I believe the attitude comes from fear. Fear of losing out to anything that's different than what the bigot personally enjoys.
  
The not so funny thing is I have heard some rocket bigots say they support all areas of the hobby, regardless! Then turn right around and work diligently to limit all other areas of rocketry in favor of their own agenda. They never realize that to strengthen any portion of the hobby, strengthens the whole.

I've seen rocket bigotry and discrimination take many forms. Most commonly it's based on the number of newtons produced by a particular engine, high or low, but it can also can be based on age, gender, club field and equipment use, competition or sport, even the interpretation of the Safety Codes. And for the sake of avoiding a riot here, let's not even talk about EX and making your own motors.
 
What is really sad about this form of bigotry is that in a day and age when NAR and TRA leaders are trying to grow the hobby and their respective organizations, there are those within their own ranks, long time members, who question whether or not a particular newton group, kids, women and even senior citizens should really be allowed to participate. Some pose these questions in a quiet manner by their overall attitude, some question openly.
 
Rocket bigots have little effect on other flyers when they are flying as individuals and not with a club, but when they are members of a club or organization, their negative attitudes and actions can quickly cause animosity, friction and  fragmentation within NAR, TRA and their home sections.  

With so many attractive hobbies these days other than rocketry, you'd think most club officers would embrace diversity and be more tolerant of those flyers who may be somewhat different in their approach and participation of the hobby but that's not always the case. Our local club does a pretty good job but I've seen others that are very polarized and on both ends of the spectrum. 

I believe any real rocketry enthusiast would like to see his or her Section or organization do everything possible to include everyone from water rockets to P motors, scale, sport or other and since it's the time of year when new resolutions are made, perhaps now would be a good time for everyone to stop and consider for a moment what you can personally do to promote every facet of the hobby. Whether it's your facet or someone else's, make a resolution for 2020 to go out of your way to make sure everyone you fly with feels welcome at your field no matter who they are or what they fly. 
 
Take a Rocket Babe or a rocket babe to your next launch, regardless of what they fly. 

New Year's Resolutions

The Road To Opportunity

Yep, it’s the road to 2020! Time to wipe the slate clean and start another year and rocketry is no exception. Have you made any plans or set your goals yet? Consider taking your skills to the next level. Maybe it’s time to try staging or clustering or better yet, staging and clustering and if you’ve done that for low and mid-power, try doing it for HPR. Maybe add a video camera payload to your favorite rocket; it’s not that hard or expensive to do these days.