Re: [amsat-bb] Up-coming AMSAT Board Election - Gunther -

["Louis A. Mamakos" <louie@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

We need marketing people AND engineers at work on this.  It's all about
branding, and developing a brand identity.  This I've learned from 
product marketing people I've worked with over the years.

The mistake is calling it "ARISS" rather than "AMSAT's ARISS project"
*everywhere* it appears.  There ought to be AMSAT stickers on the flight
hardware, on the radios and microphones used to do the demos, etc.

louie
wa3ymh



> Jeff,
> I think you have a fairly correct perception of ARISS. The publicity and
> promotional value seems to go to ARRL & NASA. NOW: That is not their fault,
> but their virtue.. It needs to be a message to US. We need to be perceived
> as having a more "Up front" position in that program. That is up to US and
> how we package what we do for the program... After the election, we should
> all talk about that. There are some things we could probably due to increase
> the outside world's awareness within the ARISS project, without spending a
> bunch of money..
> More after the voting.
> Gunther
> W8GSM
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-AMSAT-BB@AMSAT.Org [mailto:owner-AMSAT-BB@AMSAT.Org]On
> Behalf Of Jeff Davis
> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2003 11:56 AM
> To: amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Up-coming AMSAT Board Election - Gunther -
> 
> 
> * Bob Bruninga <bruninga@usna.edu> [2003-07-10 09:39]:
> >
> > A School ARISS contact does not cost anything either other than a lot of
> > volunteer time and interraction with the students over a several week
> > period.  A lot better investment in HAM radio than a gee-whiz demo to a
> > lot of drunks on the beach.
> 
> Bob,
> 
> I'm not at home where I can look up AMSAT financial infoat the moment,
> but it sure seems that some AMSAT funds are spent on ARISS.
> 
> I happen to think that it is probably money well-spent, however, I often
> wonder how much "good will" this kind of thing adds to our bottom line.
> 
> For instance, the ARRL just _LOVES_ to show flashy pictures of satellites
> and the Space Shuttle when they tout the "high tech" nature of amateur
> radio.
> We are "good" for the ARRL and I assume that they are "good" to us. But I
> don't know that because that info isn't readily available. Does AMSAT
> get free ad space in QST? Do we get cheap ad space in QST?
> 
> I've been an ARRL member since 1977 and have no bones with the League,
> but it seems they do benefit in promoting amateur radio using sound
> bytes and pictures of satellite and space operations...
> 
> How much does the ARRL contribute to AMSAT-NA now that the P3D project
> is closed?
> 
> In the same way, NASA looks like the "good guys" with the ARISS project.
> I rarely hear a news report that mentions "AMSAT". It is usually touted
> as a "ham radio contact made with an elementary school", etc.
> 
> While we all enjoy the amateur to ISS communications we should also
> realize that the "publicity" sought by NASA has more to do with
> maintaining broad public support for the space program than anything to
> do with amateur radio or kids.
> 
> ARISS isn't done because NASA wants or needs ham radio in space. NASA
> needs public support and this is one avenue to get it...
> 
> Again, I have absolutely no bones to pick with ARISS, NASA or the ARRL
> but it sure seems that the amateur satellite community goes out of the
> way to do things that make those organizations look "good".
> 
> A little reciprocity would be helpful in these tough times, don't you
> agree?
> 
> PS - who is doing "gee-whiz demos for a bunch of drunks on the beach"?
> 
> --
> Jeff, Ke9v
> ----
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