A Challenge - Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

[Vypyrz]

Skip, I completely agree. Meager support for USARK from the private sector is someting that I have witnessed first hand through volunteering at shows. My opinion is that there are some things that the new regime at USARK should, at least, take into consideration. 1) In order to be professional, you should look professional. It's hard for me to convince someone that they should donate money to help protect their right to keep that little Ball Python that they just bought, if I am standing there in cargo shorts, t-shirt, and sandles. I do like the USARK t-shirts, but, when working in an official capcity, such as volunteering at a show, I think something like a Polo shirt with the USARK logo embroidered on the front, with slacks/khakis, and nice shoes, would be more appropriate. Polish the image a little.
2) Word of mouth falls on deaf ears. I do realize that advertising costs alot of money, but relying on word of mouth through shows and online forums, only goes so far. Especially, considering that a large number of reptile keepers, who get their animals from pet stores, etc, are not active in forums. Word of mouth may have worked when NCARK was a grass roots organization, but when it changed to USARK, they went nation wide. And if you want to go nation wide, you have to go "Nation Wide". If you want to stay small, and grass roots, then that is what you can expect in donations.
3) Swag bags. They need to get more stuff to sell. T-shirts are ok, but how about maybe something like koozies, coffee mugs, bumper stickers, etc. When a person buys a membership, how about throwing in a T-shirt, bumber sticker, a pen and a refrigerator magnet. People like to get little things like that.
USARK is going to have to ugrade their model if they expect to be as truly effective as they want to be...