Having read this thread a few times over now, I want to share my two cents. First of all, I don't think, that Air-Child is in trouble or anything. But since some of us (me included) have voiced concerns about certain things, I think it is safe to say, that a portion of the integral part of this VA - the USERS - feels, that we need a better flow of information. I think that's actually all we need right now. Sure - there's room for improvement - but isn't there always anywhere? So all in all Air-Child is alive, well and kicking. I have heard several "company"-pilots via Vatsim in the past week. So, yeah, we're out there. And that's cool.
But still: communties need certain dynamics and an incentive to be a community. To most of us the biggest incentive is the linkage between flying and donating. So... of course ppl start asking, what we achieve for the time they invested. That's more than understandable.
I respect that the persons responsible are tied by their real-life duties. That goes for all of us. It's a dilemma to say the least. But seen from a PR-Guy's perspective, we have a problem, when members of this community start voicing their concerns and/or threaten to leave this community. Statistically spoken: if one or two raise their voices a LOT more will feel the same way without voicing their concerns or - even worse - don't care. Long story short: There's no need to explain the WHY. Nobody cares for the WHY in marketing. If you want to sell your brand, you have to be present, acting and in control.
So... let's not resort into explaing the status quo or even defend it. We have to acknowledge, that some of us are unhappy. This perception of our "Brand" will not change until we start changing it. Like publishing those donation numbers, like updating events, like showing: yep... we're here and we care.
Finally I have to admit, that I feel alot like those who voiced their concerns. I always was and will be loyal to air-child. And I don't mean to be disrepectful towards the proprietors of air-child: if your time is limited, start outsourcing. There ARE a lot of capable and willing people here. If you keep on holding all the strings in your hands, understandably unable to get involved in this community, you'll damage what you've built up over so many years beyond repair.
Blue Skies and always three greens, fellow aviators!
