Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes 150/152 Club Calendar? Brainstorming

Folks,

Outstanding ideas from all over the world - I like them all and Matt's idea puts a new spin on it as well! Keep them coming!

Also keep in mind you can have a collage of sorts on the photo for each month, meaning you could probably get 5-6 or more aircraft/theme on each photo page...

John, I don't think anyone would object to you taking the lead once we get some more great ideas and find general agreement on the concept.

$15-$20 sounds about right, though I have no idea what they would cost through an internet service. I use both Snapfish and Kodak on-line services who both will produce these.

Well, let's see what other ideas people have today....

MM

You're on to something here Mike...

I like this idea. I REALLY like this concept.

Personally, I'm in heaven merely walking around Clinton looking at our wonderful collection of planes and this calendar would be an extension of doing just that.

BTW: I do miss the airplane of the month articles. It was always so enjoyable to read about someones pride and joy and efforts.


Jim

Maybe (all of a sudden it sounds like a ton of work BUT).....

Maybe we could do an early say 50's to 60's calender then an old advertisement cal then a 152 calender calender then a 70's 150 one etc etc that way no one is left out?

I love aviation calenders, i usually tear out my favorite pictures and put them on my wall afterwards (no waste) what say you all?

Tim

I feel we should not set a goal of making a calendar that is "fair". We should be looking for photos that are artistic and "good to look at". After all, we will be looking at these pictures for a whole month at a time.

I would be more in favor of photos showing the planes flying or "action" shots where we really showcase the different ways people use their planes. I really wouldn't want to see a bunch of "hero" shots of planes alone on the ramp.

The only rule I can see putting in place is that each plane is only in one picture, so that we get as many different airplanes in as we can.

I foresee a basic process of people nominating photos, an editor (or group of editors) review the nominated pictures and make sure they will all work in a calendar format (i.e. cropping the picture to fit in the aspect ratio of the calendar may ruin it), all approved pictures are put up for a vote, and whichever ones get the most votes end up in the calendar. Some months may have multiple pictures on them, and others may have only one picture.

Dates on the calendar can show the dates of the big fly-ins (Sun-N-Fun, Oshkosh, Clinton), as well as local events and club-only events.

I agree John. Anyone unhappy with the calendar need not buy one, but we would certainly try to vary the planes featured each year.

-Sounds like the basic idea has some merit, but we would still like to hear from others wrt ideas and inputs. We are still getting great ones -- much better than I originally thought!

-These calendars, along with the Clinton videos, would be fair to good sales items, I would think. However, this is a "persishable" item in that it will lose value after that year...which is why we need to keep a few things in mind.

-Perhaps some "advanced orders" may be necessary to provide "seed money" to ensure no money is lost on this venture.

-I'd be in favor of it being a "Cessna 150/152" theme (old and new and all the ideas mentioned above). Let me explain...

-Will it be "club centric" or "Cessna 150/152 centric," or both?

-My thought is Cessna owners OUTSIDE the club MAY consider purchasing one as well, but not if it was "overly populated" with club-related photos of specific people (hero shots) or club inside jokes, etc.

-In other words, we could be subtle enough to be able to market it outside the club to act as (another) recuriting tool for the club without being "in your face" about the club - make sense?

-Others may differ - just a thought to be able to appeal to a wider audience. There are MANY more 150/152 owners than there are club members...

-So, start with a proposed objective...create a Cessna 150/152 calendar displaying the past, present and future of the aircraft; showcase the club's activities in the context of the airframe; and sell the product for a modest profit to benefit the club and its interests.

Perhaps a good start and some focus....up to us. The objective will ultimately determine HOW the product is created...in other words, are we doing the calendar JUST for us, or does it have other purposes that may help the club more in the long run in sales and publicity? Open for debate before we get into specifics!

MM

All good ideas! John - you're awesome to take this on - thanks!

How to market it?

Who is (are) the target buyers? I'd say right now, those already Club members. A pretty diverse bunch I might say.

So find a need and fill it. Action shots of Club activities with 150's? Why not include the Keystoners birds (among others) on one of their many gatherings? Doesn't have to have any inside jokes or what not.

I like it. Get it done up on quality paper... spiral bound... action shots in formation... solo... ahots of birds on the ground taken from the air.... the possibilities are endless.

Part of the plan for the club in the future is to shift from being primarily a social organization to being a retailer of Cessna 150-152 products and services. The club has never operated in the black in the ten years that I have been at the helm, and I have finally accepted the fact that we need to run it as a business, which means marketing, advertising, branding, merchandising, etc. We plan to develop some new products unique to the airplanes, purchase some of the most desirable existing STC's things like that.

We also plan to market a number of promotional items like embroidered patches, stickers, and yes calendars. I have been working with an Aircraft illustrator named Graeme Molineux. Graeme will be illustrating future airplanes of the month, which will not only be featured on the website, but in the magazine, which will be in COLOR starting in January. See the attached drawing for an example of Graeme's work. We plan to introduce a 2010 calendar this December.

Now, importantly, nothing the club is doing with a calendar in any way prevents any other party from producing a C150-152 calendar of their own. In fact, we will happily support a third party calendar project, especially if it is in concert with Fly-in fundraising.

WelL... yeah!

I mean ...come on, here. You've got a million and one photos of that blue & white TD owned by that guy in Texas...

...and you've got only ONE of MY blue & white TD...

...and even then you attribute the ownership to someone else!

I mean .... really guys!!!!





(bitch & moan, bitch & moan, bitch & moan)