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Journal of Space Flight, v. 2, issue 9, November 1950

Page 12

THE ROCKET NEWS LETTER
VOLUME III  NOVEMBER 1950  NUMBER IX

NEWS OF THE SPACE FLIGHT FIELD AND OF EVENTS IN THE CHICAGO ROCKET SOCIETY : : :
SOCIETY ADDRESS: MICHAEL CONLEY, SECRETARY, 237 NO. ADDISON ST., BENSENVILLE, ILL.
ROCKET NEWS INFORMATION CONTRIBUTED BY THE MEMBERS.

In part, Part 2:
(Chicago Rocket Society Publicity, Past-Present-Pending by G.A. Whittington)

In the ideal, a rocket society would operate this way (the manner toward which all the planning of the SOCIETY is pointed): Some members undertake technical studies, to which they bring original, unfettered thinking. Others, non-technical in background, man the society posts which keep the organization functioning smoothly as an educational forum on rocket science. There are some who merely attend and listen, and support the undertaking with their dues. Still others publicize the group -- and with it, the science of rocketry itself.

All these activities are mutually dependent, and of equal important. To say that publicity must be the most important function, is to make the tail wag the dog. Without something happening, there is no news -- therefore no publicity.

Publicists have a front-line position. Backed by club policies which result in accomplishments --NEWS MATERIAL-- and which are designed to exploit publicity potentials, publicists can do much. That is, they can if they correctly interpret the trends of the times, set practical objectives and organize the mechanics of publicity production.

This author submits that the SOCIETY already has all the prerequisites to effective publicity, EXCEPT the publicity organization and plans necessary to win favorable public mention. It is the intention of this paper to outline such organization and plans. It is to this end that Jack Grant should have directed his impassioned plans. 

Article II of the SOCIETY Constitution, to which J. Grant refers unfavorably, lists nine objectives of the SOCIETY. Work toward these objectives, any or all of them, would provide plenty of publicity material. Further, the Society has had an immediate objective, the Lunar Project, for more than three years. It seems to this writer that Grant is working for the elimination of the Lunar Project, in favor of a study of space flight possibilities in general -- which would provide the material for his proposed publicity program. This assumption follows quite logically from the proposals he makes.

Let's examine this objective in the light of present conditions. Oddly, public opinion today renders impractical only one of the Society's original nine objectives. That one is Section H of Article II, which reads: "Publicize and dramatize the idea of space flight as a rational, feasible and profitable objective of the nation."

PRESENT STATUS OF SOCIETY -- ITS EFFECT ON SOCIETY PLANS
When the SOCIETY was founded in 1946, most persons considered rockets dangerous toys and space travel a fantastic dream. This fact, the traditional obstacle of

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THE ROCKET NEWS LETTER VOLUME III NOVEMBER 1950 NUMBER IX NEWS OF THE SPACE FLIGHT FIELD AND OF EVENTS IN THE CHICAGO ROCKET SOCIETY : : : SOCIETY ADDRESS: MICHAEL CONLEY, SECRETARY, 237 NO. ADDISON ST., BENSENVILLE, ILL. ROCKET NEWS INFORMATION CONTRIBUTED BY THE MEMBERS. In part, Part 2: (Chicago Rocket Society Publicity, Past-Present-Pending by G.A. Whittington) In the ideal, a rocket society would operate this way (the manner toward which all the planning of the SOCIETY is pointed): Some members undertake technical studies, to which they bring original, unfettered thinking. Others, non-technical in background, man the society posts which keep the organization functioning smoothly as an educational forum on rocket science. There are some who merely attend and listen, and support the undertaking with their dues. Still others publicize the group -- and with it, the science of rocketry itself. All these activities are mutually dependent, and of equal important. To say that publicity must be the most important function, is to make the tail wag the dog. Without something happening, there is no news -- therefore no publicity. Publicists have a front-line position. Backed by club policies which result in accomplishments --NEWS MATERIAL-- and which are designed to exploit publicity potentials, publicists can do much. That is, they can if they correctly interpret the trends of the times, set practical objectives and organize the mechanics of publicity production. This author submits that the SOCIETY already has all the prerequisites to effective publicity, EXCEPT the publicity organization and plans necessary to win favorable public mention. It is the intention of this paper to outline such organization and plans. It is to this end that Jack Grant should have directed his impassioned plans. Article II of the SOCIETY Constitution, to which J. Grant refers unfavorably, lists nine objectives of the SOCIETY. Work toward these objectives, any or all of them, would provide plenty of publicity material. Further, the Society has had an immediate objective, the Lunar Project, for more than three years. It seems to this writer that Grant is working for the elimination of the Lunar Project, in favor of a study of space flight possibilities in general -- which would provide the material for his proposed publicity program. This assumption follows quite logically from the proposals he makes. Let's examine this objective in the light of present conditions. Oddly, public opinion today renders impractical only one of the Society's original nine objectives. That one is Section H of Article II, which reads: "Publicize and dramatize the idea of space flight as a rational, feasible and profitable objective of the nation." PRESENT STATUS OF SOCIETY -- ITS EFFECT ON SOCIETY PLANS When the SOCIETY was founded in 1946, most persons considered rockets dangerous toys and space travel a fantastic dream. This fact, the traditional obstacle of