SR - newsletters and regional funds

[Pug Bainter]

Dennis and Dory Grace said something that sounded like:
> Well, since you don't offer any alternative methods of determining a rule
> of thumb for how much to ask each group for, it just sounds like you're
> just setting the suggestion down as one of those impossible things.

The reason that I offered no alternative methods was that I knew of none
that would be a good guideline to suggest to groups for donations.

> Maybe
> I'm just being ridiculous, but I had this silly notion that coming up with
> a couple hundred dollars or so between the seven groups and 200 to 300
> people in the region for launching a newletter wouldn't be such a big hairy
> deal.

If you are talking about asking individuals for donations to start the
newsletter, I think that is a great way to do it. I don't see asking the
groups to put out money will fly. You saw our own budget and how people
reacted to it. Those were all items that most of us thought were
required for the group, which this newsletter is not. A Regional
newsletter is nice for individuals. (This is probably part of the
reasoning behind only publishing a Principality only once a year.)

> I'm going to vent for *just* a second here, at no one in particular.

Just FYI, *I* didn't shoot down the tea and even volunteered to help with
the FAQ. I even mentioned that I was interested in doing layout for a
newsletter. These were all things *individuals* were doing. These did not
require the groups to support them monitarily.

> It's easy to say, "I see problems with that." I want to see that followed
> up with "Maybe this approach might be better."

If I had one to this besides the donation method, I would have made it.
I was talking about counting members/having groups support it and
not about raising money.

> >As for costs, the Bryn Gwlad newsletter costs the subscribers $8 a year
> >for monthly issues. This cost only covers *shipping*.
> I was only tossing out some *very* rough preliminary figures with an eye to
> getting a copy of the first newsletter out to all paid members.

I was just giving a baseline to work from.

> Also, we'd
> need to decide whether we'd want it put out monthly or bi-montly or quarterly.

Very true.

> >As well, I doubt there are groups who would be willing to front money
> >before knowing if there is going to be a Principality or not.
> I think we've got more than enough going on right now as a region to
> support putting out a small newsletter. I've certainly heard enough
> interest in the idea (of a newsletter).  We've got regional events in the
> planning and projects in the planning that we need to advertise and info to
> get out to people.

I know there are individuals interested, but as soon as you start
bringing in money from a group that is then making decisions for the
group that may not be appropriate at this time.

> >I think this is a
> >little questionable regarding Kingdom Law though. There have been stinks
> >raised in the past with regards to requiring donations for the
> >Kingdom/Society.
> As Daniel pointed out, you can't require donations. You can make
> suggestions and each group/individual donates whatever they decide to donate.

Is *planning* for a profit requiring a donation?

"Oh our break-even for 200 people is $5 each, so we'll set the cost at
 $7 so we can cover the regional newsletter."

Real grey area in my opinion.

> >Not to mention those people who think we should aim for
> >break even and not to make a profit.
> Don't even go there. Those people who think we should aim for break even
> and not to make a profit don't understand the mechanics of running a group.

For a group, I think they should make enough to cover all the items that
you mentioned. As you saw last night, our first Regional event is not
*planning* on making money. Our own Yule Revel is not *planning* on making
money. If those events do, great! I see Regional events as those that
benefit the Region as a population, not the Region as a non-official
corporate entity.

Remember that Regions are not recognized groups. They are completely
arbitrary boundries setup by approximate population counts. They can not
have their own bank account and can't own property. I don't think a
region should plan on owning property or making any significant money
until they are an officially recognized group. I don't think a group
within the Region should hold it for them because of possible political
and/or economic issues. (ie. It got destroyed while in Bryn Gwlad's shed.
Who is responsible for repair or replacement?)

Ciao,

-- 
Phelim "Pug" Gervase  | "I want to be called. COTTONTIPS. There is something 
Barony of Bryn Gwlad  |  graceful about that lady. A young woman bursting with 
House Flaming Dog     |  vigor. She blinked at the sudden light. She writes
pug at pug.net           |  beautiful poems. When ever shall we meet again?"
============================================================================
Go to http://www.ansteorra.org/lists.html to perform mailing list tasks.