Don Baccus wrote:

[chomp, chomp]

> Where I would draw the line, though, would be fully-commercial
> tours by folks like Portland's Full Circle Tours. I don't
> feel compelled to give free advertising to for-profit groups.

[munch, munch]

> My PERSONAL (emphasis on PERSONAL) feeling is that as long as a
> non-profit who's mission fits some sort of reasonable
> conservation/education profile is the sponsor I have no problem.

[no, I can't face anymore, I'm full]

Professional organisations such as SAS, PAS have their own newsletters to
advertise trips so they have plenty of opportunities for publicity. Same goes
for optics shops, tour companies, etc, etc.

As far as advertising goes, I have no problem with the following:

1. Selling personal items of birding equipment, books, etc.

2. Once only announcements of World Wide Web pages or an offer to subscribe
to a mailing list by commercial organisations, detailing trips. I suspect I
would include Audubon and Nature Conservancy in this one.

3. Local not-for-profit group announcements with education/conservation in
mind. But this begs the question what is local - Califonia, Oregon,
Washington, British Columbia ?

4. Bird groups offering something as a means to raising funds not Audubon, etc.


While concern over advertising may seem an esoteric notion at this time, I
get plenty of junk email on other groups and I would rather not deal with it
in this one as well. Birders in general are a pretty afluent group. Email
advertising is extremely cheap - direct, very select, receptive audience - an
advertisers dream come true. I'm surprised we are not deluged with wonderful
offers already..

Now there's an idea. Hmmm....

Stuart
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Stuart MacKay AT&T Wireless Services
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