[Ravensfort] Online vs paper newsletters
Eadric Anstapa
eadric at scabrewer.com
Sat Jun 30 15:46:18 PDT 2007
Online should be cheaper for the chroniclers office than a printed copy.
Since I am going to guess that nobody is still using typewriters and
doing paste-ups to produce their newsletter and are instead using word
processors or other page layout software to produce the newsletter you
start out with an electronic copy. It seems foolish to me to not take
advantage of the fact that you already have the newsletters electronically.
One advantage on an electronic and online newsletter for free is that
the newsletter can now be shared online with all of those who would not
have otherwise purchased a subscription. I believe that is a bonus.
Another advantage is that online you can have color photos and artwork
without having to pay for the color printing.
For all those members who are willing to get their copy electronically
only then it costs the branch essentially nothing.
If you want a hard copy and have a printer at home you can print it
yourself if you have a printer. Good HP branded paper costs lest than a
penny a sheet and good HP branded toner will cost lest that 4 cents a
sheet per side. If you are a subscriber to the newsletter then you
should be able to print a doublesided sheet at home for less than 10
cents a sheet and that should be cheaper than you can get it copied and
mailed to you by the chronicler. It should be cheaper for you to print
at home than for you to pay for a subscription to have it printed and
mailed to you and take the risk that it is lost or mangled in the mail.
Since most officer uplines and crowns will accept an electronic copy for
their required copy then that costs the branch essentially nothing.
Exchange copies to other branches are not a requirement. The decision
can be made that those will only happen electronically.
Printed copies to hand out to newcomers should cost the chroniclers
office nothing. That should be a function of the hospitalers office and
should be in that budget. And for the few that office should need they
should be able to be printed as needed for less than 10 cents a double
sided page.
The cost to the branch will be for the few people do not have a computer
or online access and must have a hardcopy to get a newsletter. That
cost is there only if the branch is committed to going ahead and
providing newsletters for those people. I think those people should be
few, but I also think they should also have access to a newsletter if
they want it. In these cases they can give the chronicler postage
and it should cost the branch less than 10 cents a doublesided page to
produce the newsletter and send it to them. As long as the newsletter
is reasonably sized those costs to the branch should be small. However
my experience has been that the people who do not have online access,
frequently also do not subscribe to the newsletter.
Certainly the budget for a newsletter can break even, you simply make
sure you subscription costs cover all your production costs. In fact if
ya wanted to you could most can cover your production costs and come out
ahead.
However when you have subscriptions there a lot more paperwork to be
done. You have to keep track of all your subscribers and how many
issues are owed to them. That amounts to extra paperwork for the
treasurers and a place were they frequently screw up.
As I see it the only remaining advantage to the group for a printed
hardcopy newsletter is to stay in touch with those people who do not
have online access. That's an obstacle that is easily overcome and
should cost the branch little or nothing.
Regards,
-Eadric
m meaux wrote:
> Lady Racheal,
>
> You bring up a good question. We have been discussing the pros and
> cons of having our newsletter online. While it does make it easier
> for a the masses who may not be near to read, you are correct in that
> not everyone has internet access. And more importantly, not everyone
> wants to have internet access or they would still like to have the
> hard copy. Hard copies can go into the Historian's Book, used as
> handouts to newcomers, carried around in the car. Quite frankly, I
> like the idea of having a newsletter online, but would rather include
> pertinent information on our web page, because I will ALWAYS want a
> hard copy.
>
> As you say, hard copies are still printed. So, does the cost lessen
> that much? You said you budget for it and can break even. This is
> good and good to know.
>
> I don't foresee this to made a decision on in the next month, so all
> information is good information. I would like to thank you for taking
> the time to break down costs, give info, list the pros and cons and
> share your opinions on this matter. It always helps to see things
> from a new angle. Then maybe we can see something we missed before.
>
> In service,
> Lady Mary of Axefoot
>
> */Racheal <racheal.no.ansteorra at gmail.com>/* wrote:
>
> Hello
>
> It actually does not save money. If you have the newsletters being
> paid for by the populace...you can sometimes break even. I would
> look at how many subscribers I had and base my budget on that.
> And I would work my 5 extra to be handed out to newcomers into
> that budget. Now, I am having to print 10-20 copies per month and
> the shire has to pay for it. And all of those copies are given
> away for free.
>
> The one thing you need to remember when you are doing an online
> newsletter - not everyone has access to the internet AND/OR some
> people do not like using computers so they want a hard copy. I
> have one lady that she does access the online but still wants a
> hard copy to keep in the car with her so she can reference it to
> make sure where/when the meetings are.
>
> It was decided to go online by populace vote. Actually, I was/am
> against it. But this is my personal opinion.
>
> What is the opinion of the other members of Raven's Fort?
> Inquiring minds want to know... : )
>
> Racheal
>
>
> On 6/30/07, *Shane Wallace* <sdwsdw at suddenlink.net
> <mailto:sdwsdw at suddenlink.net>> wrote:
>
> Greetings,
>
> Thank You, Lady Racheal,
> I think making the newsletter online is a wonderful idea... I
> know for a fact it saves your group a ton of money in printing
> cost... A lot of groups are placing their newsletter online in
> the future... Keep up the good work ! ! !
>
> In Service,
> Lord Malcolm
>
> Every man dies, not every man truly lives - Sir William Wallace
> Slainte Gu Soirraidh - Scottish Gaelic Meaning - Health Forever
> ===============================================
>
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