Disappointed in The Beacon's name change

Romla

@Zoffiel might be an idea to contact BCNA sponsors so they understand why the concern eg Bakers Delight. 

nikkid

@AFraser is it possible to CC your letter on our behalf to the Chair of the BCNA Board? If so, that would ensure a response.

(C'mon @BCNA where is your risk mitigation here? You're alienating members.)

June1952

@BCNA and @Christine_BCNA-CEO - we are all feeling exactly as @Zoffiel has clearly stated on the previous page of this post.
Please take your head out of the sand as this issue is certainly not going away - and ladies will be sure to keep the topic refreshed to the front page.

Lmc1310

@BCNA your move to change the name of the newsletter is anachronistic.  Women's marches and me too campaign are powerful examples of this. I agree wholeheartedly that men are marginalised by the change and we lose the opportunity to encourage them to check and find tumours early. It also marginalises men who are often our greatest support, husbands, partners, sons, fathers, brothers, etc., they need support too.  It also promotes an image of polite and congenial ladies who have little to add to the conversation. Just sitting around having coffee chatting about frivolous matters while men sit in an adjoining room smoking cigars and discussing the "important stuff". In my 60 odd years I've never liked being called a lady and as a teacher in an all girls highschool I've never called my students ladies because of the stereotype the word evokes. Language and culture are intertwined, very powerful in all its forms.

The issue of logo I agree is a battle for later. However to ensure the issue is not forgotten I have attached an image my eleven year old granddaughter sent me last year. Times are changing for the better in this space. I've also had trouble with pink and blue colouring of toys, clothes etc., although my 5 year old grandson had something interesting to say about colour. I was helping him out of the bath and he pointed to the pink towel between two brown ones as his. Regretfully I must have looked shocked as he said in that frustrating tone only a five year old has, "its only a colour grandma!" (Thank you for indulging me as we lost him shortly after to brain cancer and I take every opportunity to talk about him. Oh my, I'd love to get his perspective now as a wise old 7 yr old). So in terms of pink I have no problem. Watching this year's Australian Open and other sports an increasing amount of men don't either. As I said, times are changing for the better in this space.

We need to join the movement to cease using limiting gender stereotypes in all communication. @BCNA please do not go back to the mid 20th Century with the name change. 

Afraser

CC ing to entire board.

Romla

@Afraser Might Be wise to cc the sponsors as many have the Pink Lady image as part of their marketing

Afraser

Romla, I understand your thinking, but I feel that may be a step too far - sponsorship is a tricky and hard beast and without knowing details of relationships we might, inadvertently, do harm. Going to the Executive and Board is a reasonable thing to do as they make the decisions. Involving the sponsors is a step I would be loathe to take at this stage. Hope you understand. I hope to get the letter out tonight/tomorrow, will copy to al those who have asked to append their names. So if you wish to add your name (we already have quite a number) please send your name (first or both names)/city/state please by message asap.

Romla

Understand @Afraser I gave my name early on - Romla , Adelaide

Afraser

Indeed, got you on the list, many thanks Romla.

Romla

@Afraser Please include me on list objecting to name change of the Beacon magazine @BCNA - Romla , Adelaide

June1952

I agree with @Afraser.  Please do not rush into any contact with sponsors as that may well be the end of BCNA - the money supports all of us on this site.
Pester BCNA for some decent hearing and action re the magazine name first.  It is indeed disappointing that they have been so slack in regards to members' opinions.
After that has settled members can start a separate conversation about the logo and other issues.

traveltext

I agree that going after the sponsors would be counterproductive for now. 

BCNA’s income in 2016 according to its latest report was
$7,855,863 and it comes from the following sources:

Events: 7%

Corporate partnerships: 35%

Appeals, donations, bequests: 29%

Government grants, contracts: 13%

Community fundraising: 12%

Other: 4%

BCNA’s expenditure in 2016 was $8,670,000 and it's used for the following purposes:

 Salaries: 52%

Administration: 10%

Support for events: 12%

Non-salary costs, IT, etc: 25%

Depreciation: 1%

Looking through this latest report shows how much the "pink lady" iconography contributes to BCNA's corporate image. And looking at other pink charities, including those worldwide, it's the same. Pink equals dollars. Even when so much of the money is spent on yet more awareness raising and duplicate research, the bucks keep rolling in. The allure is obvious, pink is for women suffering from breast cancer, pink is for lost breasts, pink is for young women diagnosed, often with kids in tow. Pink is for those deceased.

Give us even more money please and we'll raise yet more awareness.

I believe people on this thread get this, management either doesn't understand, or doesn't want to know. They'd prefer we went back to making the BNCA forum a success and they'll run the charity as they feel fit.

June1952

Thanks for that simple budget explanation @traveltext - gee, they did overdo the spending, eh ?
"management either doesn't understand, or doesn't want to know". - As said previously they have head in the sand syndrome - and paid highly to do so.
"They'd prefer we went back to making the BNCA forum a success and they'll run the charity as they feel fit". - They want to sit on their past laurels and not work for their dollars - and as I see it, BCNA is not a charity, it is a damn big business like most other 'charities' these days.
The fallout from this post may well reduce their donations and bequests big time so they need to sit up, listen to the members and act.

Romla

@Summerhill38 and  @traveltext looks like@BCNA needs a reboot and refresh in many areas if they are to stay a viable not-for-profit.

traveltext

BCNA made a good start last year in promoting awareness of male breast cancer and have pretty well de-gendered the text of the website. 'Women' has been replaced by 'women and men' or 'people'. Unfortunately there is much more work to be done to raise public awareness levels that this is a man's disease too. Moving forward, the biggest obstacle I see is to break through the whole pink thing and somehow present some blue into the marketing equation.

We need some extra effort after years of discrimination, because too many men have died after presenting late for medical help due to believing they couldn't get this disease.

I know there are marketing minds out there that could solve this problem and I've suggested to BCNA that they pose this dilemma to an ABC Gruen panel and see what comes out of this.