Here's one of the most intelligent statements seen on r.m.r. in a long time:
"It is still going to take the local chapters out beating the street inviting people because this is so new to most." -- Bill Eide
Do you want to know how to get people to get involved in hobby rocketry? There's a secret that was used by the ancients when they wanted to recruit people. I am going to reveal it, though I dread what ancient and terrible curse I might experience for spreading the secret on USENET. I will take the terrible risk.
Here is the secret:
If you want to involve people in an activity, invite them to come with you.
I'm not quite clear on why this is a secret. Personally, it seems obvious.
If you want people to launch rockets, invite them personally. Don't just say "Come to a rocket launch some time." It doesn't work very well. Say, instead, "There's a rocket launch on the xth day of the month of Bleen. Would you like to come along with me?" Offer to help them build some small kit so they'll have something to launch.
This works with anyone from age 5 to age 70. I can't personally vouch for it working with anyone outside that age range, although I have heard anecdotal evidence that still works.
While you're at it, you might want to invite some local rocketeers that you haven't seen in a while. Keeping current people involved is always cheaper than recruiting new ones. You'd be amazed at how a simple phone call can make someone feel that they're appreciated.
Zooty
(In no way is this meant to criticize the Discovery Channel effort. That raised public awareness, which is the main purpose of advertising efforts like that. Any people who have come into the hobby directly through those efforts should be thought of as a bonus. If anything, it argues well for the effectiveness of the effort to make people aware of the hobby.)