15th April 2011, 07:14 PM
A couple of clarifications and some thoughts and a challenge...
Yes, we want input from across the whole sector; BAJR, RESCUE and CBA members, individuals who care about heritage, the past, archaeology and the environment all have a contribution to make and a voice which needs to be heard- that is what this initiative is all about. However, I think the most useful input is in defining the campaign issues and proposing strategies for dealing with the perfect storm we are all facing.
I go back to 38 Degrees- that name and concept was a project and no-one had heard of it until it was launched. The point was the site and project was created in such a way that people could take the idea and the issues and run with them, perhaps without even having to think that the support was there to bind it all together. It now operates as a successful and influential, democratic voice. I am not aware anyone feels it was foisted undemocratically on an unwilling public by the individuals and organisations which set it up.
Simailarly the Mortimer concept was put together because we wanted to get past first base as quickly as possible and give people who care the mechanism and resources to get on to the real issues which is the campaign, without having to worry too much about how. It might be possible to do it better, probably is in an ideal world, but the point is it has been done and it is ready for people, for you, to make of it what you want.
And yes, there has been advice from both people with training and experience in both marketing and political campaigning and in branding and designing commercial and political web sites. The conclusion was that outside of our archaeological beltway, the name, while not perfect, has the potential to gain traction with the public for all the reasons I outlined in my earlier posts i.e. it is a package and a product, not just a strap line or a slogan, important though those are. It is the whole deal, a campaign and the mechanism to run a campaign.
It is not perfect and will not please everyone, but then what will. As we have seen with Mortimer, any name could become an issue.
I could say we will call it Picard or perhaps Jean Luc, as said character was an amateur Archaeologist as well as Captain of the Starship Enterprise.
I would also float the questions as to what cute, furry, tufty, twee Meerkats have to do with selling a Price Comparison web site, or a stereotypical male, English nationalist Bull Dog have to do with selling car insurance, or even for that matter why associate a stripy faced mammal with a committed, lively and outspoken archaeological resource site and forum? Bajar is the warring planet on Star Trek Deep Space Nine...
In the end, as has been said in other posts, this is to big and too important for any one person, forum or organisation.
So in that light, let's park the name discussion for a bit to allow me to pose a question and a challenge about the campaign...
If we [BAJR, Mortimer, our colleagues in the other organisations in the sector] can begin to provide you with the infrastructure and logistical support to campaign locally and nationally for the issues we all care about...
What would your strategic aims for the campaign be?
What will you personally commit to do to help the campaign?
Andy B
Yes, we want input from across the whole sector; BAJR, RESCUE and CBA members, individuals who care about heritage, the past, archaeology and the environment all have a contribution to make and a voice which needs to be heard- that is what this initiative is all about. However, I think the most useful input is in defining the campaign issues and proposing strategies for dealing with the perfect storm we are all facing.
I go back to 38 Degrees- that name and concept was a project and no-one had heard of it until it was launched. The point was the site and project was created in such a way that people could take the idea and the issues and run with them, perhaps without even having to think that the support was there to bind it all together. It now operates as a successful and influential, democratic voice. I am not aware anyone feels it was foisted undemocratically on an unwilling public by the individuals and organisations which set it up.
Simailarly the Mortimer concept was put together because we wanted to get past first base as quickly as possible and give people who care the mechanism and resources to get on to the real issues which is the campaign, without having to worry too much about how. It might be possible to do it better, probably is in an ideal world, but the point is it has been done and it is ready for people, for you, to make of it what you want.
And yes, there has been advice from both people with training and experience in both marketing and political campaigning and in branding and designing commercial and political web sites. The conclusion was that outside of our archaeological beltway, the name, while not perfect, has the potential to gain traction with the public for all the reasons I outlined in my earlier posts i.e. it is a package and a product, not just a strap line or a slogan, important though those are. It is the whole deal, a campaign and the mechanism to run a campaign.
It is not perfect and will not please everyone, but then what will. As we have seen with Mortimer, any name could become an issue.
I could say we will call it Picard or perhaps Jean Luc, as said character was an amateur Archaeologist as well as Captain of the Starship Enterprise.
I would also float the questions as to what cute, furry, tufty, twee Meerkats have to do with selling a Price Comparison web site, or a stereotypical male, English nationalist Bull Dog have to do with selling car insurance, or even for that matter why associate a stripy faced mammal with a committed, lively and outspoken archaeological resource site and forum? Bajar is the warring planet on Star Trek Deep Space Nine...
In the end, as has been said in other posts, this is to big and too important for any one person, forum or organisation.
So in that light, let's park the name discussion for a bit to allow me to pose a question and a challenge about the campaign...
If we [BAJR, Mortimer, our colleagues in the other organisations in the sector] can begin to provide you with the infrastructure and logistical support to campaign locally and nationally for the issues we all care about...
What would your strategic aims for the campaign be?
What will you personally commit to do to help the campaign?
Andy B