Thank you, Mike, for your reply.
My "self-promotion” irritates some. Brings in a bunch of cash … (grin). But visitors to my Web site or attendees at my presentations are given information - in a style and format that is entertaining AND informative. I am darned proud of each and every show. Never have I given the same slideshow to groups: Each has about twenty slides that are customized to their club or event. NEVER dull - it is an quite out of the norm for ham presentations - in all the RIGHT manners.
Critiquing AMSAT? When I think necessary, absolutely. No AMSAT-NA “game plan” for the future exists. They have no idea how to “market” themselves. Look at how AMSAT-UK put on the FunCube project: social media, daily Web site updates - IT WAS EXCITING TO JUST VISIT THE WEB SITE.
And there are lessons in marketing to be learned from NASA. Sure, they have a budget for public relations. But there are people within the amateur radio community who are marketing people and public relations pros I am sure.
In comparison, AMSAT-NA’s Website had a post in October - nothing the general amateur community was interested in. And then a post this week, declaring the cruise a “success."
But when AMSAT-NA posts a chart to show how less expensive it is to go on a cruise than hold a “symposium” in a major metropolitan area - then I knew they were being misled.
IF, of course, their main objective is to “build birds and disseminate information about them to the world.” This past elitist cruise symposium did absolute nothing I can find to promote STEM education and informing students, educators, and the ham community at large.
Enough for now. THANK YOU for your reply. It will be more than I ever hear from anyone at AMSAT-NA. It is time to prepare for Thanksgiving.
Clint K6LCS (909) 241-7666 - personal cell (909) 999-SATS - messages