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Please post your opinions on the APBA new Social Forum--whether you agree with the following letter or not. In the meantime, I am sending this message as not everyone is aware of a proposal from Crown Partners to change the APBA logo.
Crown is advocating that APBA should be unique. APBA already has unique letters---the proposed APBA is basically a standard font with bevels. Why would we want something basic when letters are already unique?
But, more importantly---do we NEED a change in the APBA logo? Do we even WANT a change? The recent presentation to change the APBA logo is something that is obviously being considered, but before it is accepted, I question why we are even considering it.
Does APBA really need a new look? Crown developed a chrome look stating it projects strength, power--I question if chrome necessarily projects racing? OK----so if chrome-look is desired, chrome could just as easily be applied to the existing APBA logo letters.
Also, if you like chrome, keep in mind that a chrome look might look nice on a computer screen, but it is not necessarily what looks eye-catching on a raceboat decal, car emblem, embroidery, screenprinting. Is this chrome look dynamic and colorful to attract the eye?
The proposed APBA is not projecting anything that the existing logo doesn't project, other than chrome. Neither the existing APBA or proposed APBA projects "racing". If there is going to be change, let's project what we are trying to convey----that APBA is about "racing". We do not even have the word Racing in our organization name---perhaps THAT would be a better place to start. A big complaint that our own membership has is that we do not project "racing". Outside of APBA, we get everything from American Pit Bull Association to American Pro Bowlers Association to many more you can come up with.
Furthermore and important, keep in mind, one of the consequences to making such a change is cost. Cost alone, should give everyone in APBA concern---here we are a struggling organization to attract new members, race teams and race sites, and now we are considering adding thousands of dollars to change many things over; I question is even necessary. Everybody should remember that the cost of replacing thousands of decals, envelopes, stationery, awards, banners etc. is expense this organization does not need.
Even more important----Consider just a few of the consequences of making a change.
Our own APBA office has investment in stationery, envelopes, banners, etc. Various categories have invested in items that would be obsolete if a change is made---example, PRO Category recently invested thousands of dollars in high-point award jackets and custom 1st, 2nd, 3rd place emblems.
Hall of Champions has investment in all of their logo items---jackets, decals, emblems.
Honor Squadron has investment in setup and inventory of medallions.
The APBA championship ring program has expensive dies made for the exisiting logo.
The APBA merchandise program has investment in many items---inventory and all the setups/dies for decals, emblems, , toys.
There are many more things that could be listed. I have been advise that the change will be gradual and will take years, BUT, why bother?
Was there any membership input prior to developing this idea of new letters?
APBA wants recognition that it is about powerboat racing. APBA wants credibility in the world of motorsports. Is changing the APBA logo letters going to achieve that---I do not think so.
If our APBA Board of Directors adopts this logo change, I question if anyone is really giving serious thought to not only the consequences, but also what the membership would want IF a change occurs. I adamantly believe that our membership would prefer that our logo projects "racing". Changing APBA letters is not achieving that.
Let's put our APBA dollars into something that will project "racing" to the public; Let's put APBA dollars into advertising and promotion of our sport. APBA be better to spend its dollars on generating news releases to the media, buying banners on other websites, just as examples.
Hiring Dan Wiener to do marketing and promotion is a step in the right direction, but I seriously doubt that promoting and marketing APBA will be hampered by our existing APBA logo letters.
I have been a member of APBA since 1970 and it is frustrating that our APBA is in the state that it is in with declining membership (except for Vintage), a decline in race sites. I firmly believe it is due to the lack of marketing and promotion---that is where we need to spend APBA's dollars and fortuntely, that is where APBA is going with hiring Dan Wiener. I do not believe, however, that the existing APBA logo will hamper Dan Wiener's attempts to market and promote APBA.
So, bottom line---do we really need this considering all of the above??
Ann Fitzgerald
Crown is advocating that APBA should be unique. APBA already has unique letters---the proposed APBA is basically a standard font with bevels. Why would we want something basic when letters are already unique?
But, more importantly---do we NEED a change in the APBA logo? Do we even WANT a change? The recent presentation to change the APBA logo is something that is obviously being considered, but before it is accepted, I question why we are even considering it.
Does APBA really need a new look? Crown developed a chrome look stating it projects strength, power--I question if chrome necessarily projects racing? OK----so if chrome-look is desired, chrome could just as easily be applied to the existing APBA logo letters.
Also, if you like chrome, keep in mind that a chrome look might look nice on a computer screen, but it is not necessarily what looks eye-catching on a raceboat decal, car emblem, embroidery, screenprinting. Is this chrome look dynamic and colorful to attract the eye?
The proposed APBA is not projecting anything that the existing logo doesn't project, other than chrome. Neither the existing APBA or proposed APBA projects "racing". If there is going to be change, let's project what we are trying to convey----that APBA is about "racing". We do not even have the word Racing in our organization name---perhaps THAT would be a better place to start. A big complaint that our own membership has is that we do not project "racing". Outside of APBA, we get everything from American Pit Bull Association to American Pro Bowlers Association to many more you can come up with.
Furthermore and important, keep in mind, one of the consequences to making such a change is cost. Cost alone, should give everyone in APBA concern---here we are a struggling organization to attract new members, race teams and race sites, and now we are considering adding thousands of dollars to change many things over; I question is even necessary. Everybody should remember that the cost of replacing thousands of decals, envelopes, stationery, awards, banners etc. is expense this organization does not need.
Even more important----Consider just a few of the consequences of making a change.
Our own APBA office has investment in stationery, envelopes, banners, etc. Various categories have invested in items that would be obsolete if a change is made---example, PRO Category recently invested thousands of dollars in high-point award jackets and custom 1st, 2nd, 3rd place emblems.
Hall of Champions has investment in all of their logo items---jackets, decals, emblems.
Honor Squadron has investment in setup and inventory of medallions.
The APBA championship ring program has expensive dies made for the exisiting logo.
The APBA merchandise program has investment in many items---inventory and all the setups/dies for decals, emblems, , toys.
There are many more things that could be listed. I have been advise that the change will be gradual and will take years, BUT, why bother?
Was there any membership input prior to developing this idea of new letters?
APBA wants recognition that it is about powerboat racing. APBA wants credibility in the world of motorsports. Is changing the APBA logo letters going to achieve that---I do not think so.
If our APBA Board of Directors adopts this logo change, I question if anyone is really giving serious thought to not only the consequences, but also what the membership would want IF a change occurs. I adamantly believe that our membership would prefer that our logo projects "racing". Changing APBA letters is not achieving that.
Let's put our APBA dollars into something that will project "racing" to the public; Let's put APBA dollars into advertising and promotion of our sport. APBA be better to spend its dollars on generating news releases to the media, buying banners on other websites, just as examples.
Hiring Dan Wiener to do marketing and promotion is a step in the right direction, but I seriously doubt that promoting and marketing APBA will be hampered by our existing APBA logo letters.
I have been a member of APBA since 1970 and it is frustrating that our APBA is in the state that it is in with declining membership (except for Vintage), a decline in race sites. I firmly believe it is due to the lack of marketing and promotion---that is where we need to spend APBA's dollars and fortuntely, that is where APBA is going with hiring Dan Wiener. I do not believe, however, that the existing APBA logo will hamper Dan Wiener's attempts to market and promote APBA.
So, bottom line---do we really need this considering all of the above??
Ann Fitzgerald
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