mmur-@teleport.com
DaViD AuKeR wrote:
"As far as advertising goes, just having results in the Oregonian used to
be fairly the norm, but now we have the e-mail list...which goes to
nobody but those already in the sport. I think it is absolutely GREAT!,
but perhaps we're getting a bit inbred with all OBRA, no Oregonian?"
The results the used to be in the Oregonian were mostly there because Candi
and/or I used to call them in. This was a big pain to do since you had to
call the results and spell each name. The advent of the fax helped a bit
but it became much less likely that the results would get printed, even if
the fax was followed by a phone call. E-mail has not helped this since it
is VERY rare that e-mailed results will be printed (or even read).
Eventually we concluded that our energies could be spent more efficiently in
other directions.
DaViD AuKeR also wrote:
"Maybe we could use some OBRA funds to put an occasional ad in the
Oregonian (maybe the Tribune, etc?)...as well as getting results in (if
anyone knows the hot "in" at the Oregonian, let us know!)."
I have the Oregonian ad rate in front of me. There are several options,
obviously. Just for example a 2 column x 2 inch ad (about business card
size) run once on a weekday is $290.32. This doesn't seem like all that
much but if OBRA were to run one ad per week that would work out to about
half of the total annual budget for the organization. Is this the best
place to put our money? If we think it is then is there someone who will do
the artwork and footwork to get it placed?
On the other hand there are many low or no cost places that we can get the
word out about upcoming events and bike racing in general. Chasing all
these down, however, is a time consuming job. Someone has to do it.
Often I hear comments that start with "OBRA should...". Unless this is
followed by "...and I am going to..." it is unlikely that anything will be
done. People need to realize that OBRA is not a large organization with a
large budget. The amount of money is very limited and the amount of
manpower is even more limited. There is no "staff". There are only a
handful of people who also have real jobs and life obligations to meet. If
you see something that you think would help bike racing in Oregon it is time
that you step up to the plate and volunteer to coordinate that program.
Mike Murray
P.S.
I want to be sure that David knows that the last paragraph was not directed
at him since he has done his fair share (certainly more than most) for
several years.