Late to the party here, LOL.
Yes, this is an old guy's hobby, but times change and that is inevitable. You have to change the bait or you won't catch any fish.
When I was a teenager it was all about cars. How many cubic inches? But I didn't have the money to do that.
Then came computers. How big is the hard drive?
Then car audio systems. How many watts of bass?
Then the Honda bumblebee cars with cheap nitros kits that added plenty of power.
Then the internet and facebook. What is your internet speed? How many followers?
How does model engine building along with the need for advanced skills and a mentor and expensive machinery fit into that???
A retired engineer friend of mine was the sponsor for a robotics club at a city high school. He loved it especially when kids would come back for a 2nd or 3rd year and there were a few helpful parent volunteers. Modern technology, competitions, battles, build kits, a wealth of online information and facebook groups. Plus learning some useable modern skills. That is tough competition for us old farts, LOL.
And as an aside, I recently went to a clock makers guild meeting that I accidentally found out was having a meeting a half hour from where I live. Similar, a bunch of older guys with a wealth of knowledge and stories. They were lamenting the fact of the clock makers clubs aging-out and not attracting new members. (actually, there was me and 2 other new-member prospects at that meeting.) I had one old clock and was interested and talked to several of the members there. A topic came up later in the business part of the meeting (by a dynamo get-work-done member) about the guilds up-coming loss of free server space and how this was a perfect opportunity to also upgrade the website to more attractive and modern look without old fuzzy 10 year old photos and too much text on the home page. The president was somewhat negative, wanting an estimate of how many new members their "investment" might attract. (The club treasurer said there were plenty of funds available.) The idea was put on the back burner. During that meeting with a total of maybe 35 people, the president never came over and introduced himself to me, or to the other 2 new attendees. And I never got a follow-up email or call even though I registered and paid my fee for the meeting.
I think many older clubs might complain a little, but they are actually ok with the status quo, and their lack of new blood is mostly self-inflicted. Reminds me of the old saying: "To have a friend, you have to be a friend."
Just my observation.
Lloyd
edit- P.S. Taking the time to develop new friendships is hard to do when you already have so much fun stuff going on in your own shop. And with the internet, we have all found each other. Isn't that a bit of a good thing? Not too many of you fine folks within driving distance of my place.
Yes, this is an old guy's hobby, but times change and that is inevitable. You have to change the bait or you won't catch any fish.
When I was a teenager it was all about cars. How many cubic inches? But I didn't have the money to do that.
Then came computers. How big is the hard drive?
Then car audio systems. How many watts of bass?
Then the Honda bumblebee cars with cheap nitros kits that added plenty of power.
Then the internet and facebook. What is your internet speed? How many followers?
How does model engine building along with the need for advanced skills and a mentor and expensive machinery fit into that???
A retired engineer friend of mine was the sponsor for a robotics club at a city high school. He loved it especially when kids would come back for a 2nd or 3rd year and there were a few helpful parent volunteers. Modern technology, competitions, battles, build kits, a wealth of online information and facebook groups. Plus learning some useable modern skills. That is tough competition for us old farts, LOL.
And as an aside, I recently went to a clock makers guild meeting that I accidentally found out was having a meeting a half hour from where I live. Similar, a bunch of older guys with a wealth of knowledge and stories. They were lamenting the fact of the clock makers clubs aging-out and not attracting new members. (actually, there was me and 2 other new-member prospects at that meeting.) I had one old clock and was interested and talked to several of the members there. A topic came up later in the business part of the meeting (by a dynamo get-work-done member) about the guilds up-coming loss of free server space and how this was a perfect opportunity to also upgrade the website to more attractive and modern look without old fuzzy 10 year old photos and too much text on the home page. The president was somewhat negative, wanting an estimate of how many new members their "investment" might attract. (The club treasurer said there were plenty of funds available.) The idea was put on the back burner. During that meeting with a total of maybe 35 people, the president never came over and introduced himself to me, or to the other 2 new attendees. And I never got a follow-up email or call even though I registered and paid my fee for the meeting.
I think many older clubs might complain a little, but they are actually ok with the status quo, and their lack of new blood is mostly self-inflicted. Reminds me of the old saying: "To have a friend, you have to be a friend."
Just my observation.
Lloyd
edit- P.S. Taking the time to develop new friendships is hard to do when you already have so much fun stuff going on in your own shop. And with the internet, we have all found each other. Isn't that a bit of a good thing? Not too many of you fine folks within driving distance of my place.
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