Skymonster wrote:Tommy wrote:I didn't stop by the stand, as there was too much to do at the show on Sunday, but I walked past and I've got to say the UKHAT stand looked pretty sharp and professional for what it was. Banners and all.
I think that's because - by their own admission - they've spent most of the money donated so far not on helping to save a Herald, but on a fancy tent, a few banners and some merchandise.
This seems a silly argument to hit them with though.
All similar organisations do (and should) divert some monies - especially the first couple of pounds - to get themselves off the ground and get their name and brand out there. No point in diverting everything to the Herald if funding dries up because nobody knows about them.
Only they can say about how many donations they received, or even how much of an impression they had. However, had they not spent that money on a tent, some banners, and merch, then however many thousands of the sell-out crowd at Cosford wouldn't have seen them, this thread would not have been bumped to the top.
As I said in my long December rant - merchandise and branding should be one of the very first things that is funded out of donations. In theory at least, that stuff starts the proverbial pebble that hopefully causes an avalanche.
I still don't think I could bring myself to donate a single penny to this organisation. They have, and have had, a plethora of (some embarrassingly basic) issues which should not have been issues. But, as I say, credit due where credit's due.
Edited to add -
I also want UKHAT to know that UKAR isn't the place of doom and gloom many think it is. Sure, we'll call out poor decisions. But we should, and do, give praise when people get things right.
This is the benefit of forums like this over UKHAT's own Facebook page, where its just full of lovely happy-clapper comments.
This is the real deal, the unfiltered opinions of their target market, hosted somewhere that's impartial. By no means the opinions of all, or even a majority, but those opinions that are given, are honest. None of us have a stake in UKHAT, so we can say exactly what we think.
As I've said many times before, organisations and airshows have at their hands a tremendous, (and free to them!) marketing tool in places like this.
If they are considered to have cocked-up, we (UKARians, not just staff) should call that. They (not just UKHAT) should be mature enough to take it on board. And likewise, when they get things right, we should also call that.
Frustrating as absolute hell this place must be to airshows and charities and the like. But like that honest friend who'll tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear, when praise is given, it's all the sweeter for it.
And, Insofar as UKHAT's image is concerned, they looked sharp at Cosford, and should be proud.