Pueblog USa
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
OHNO Newsletter Proposal
Coming up to the 21st Century
Over the last couple of years our newsletter has been improving, not only in terms of quality of production but also distribution techniques and circulation.
The block-captain approach has been a huge success. We’re gaining more every time we turn around. Not only that, but the block-captains we have are becoming more energetic and enthusiastic about delivering the newsletter; expanding their area of operation to adjacent blocks. Maybe it’s just that time of year and they enjoy a stroll looking at the flowers and lawns of the houses in this grand old neighborhood.
In the last issue, we’ve expanded our production by over 33%; going from 300 copies to 420.
Furthermore, at the last Board of Directors meeting, many of the issues on the agenda and in the rambling discussions brought up the idea of adding more information to the newsletter.
Whatever it is or will be, it is improving another aspect of the newsletter; cost of production.
Considering we don’t get a bundle of money from our rich Uncle Sam to help us with this, I think we need to consider what we might do to meet the increased demands….
For several years, before we moved back to Pueblo, Susan and I were the editors of the magazine for a group up in Denver. It had 12 pages. It was done in gray-scale on 3 sheets of 11x17, printed 4 pages per sheet and stapled together. We did 700-800 copies per month. Distribution was by US Postal Service using the Periodical rate. It cost several hundred dollars per month. But that organization could afford it, as the membership dues were $45 annually.
But still, we tried to cut costs in order to save the group money.
One of the techniques we were pushing was to do distribution by e-mail of a PDF version of the magazine.
The process was for people to volunteer to receive the magazine that way. Then, if they wanted a hard-copy, they could print it out on their own computer. The big advantage to the group is obvious. The advantage to the subscriber was they got a full-color version and they got it before the USPS could deliver a hard copy. In some places around the Denver metroplex, this was a blessing, as the USPS might not deliver a bulk mail item for over a week.
Whereas we do not rely on the USPS, the delivery time is not so much an issue.
The idea that I am contemplating, and would appreciate your input on, is to start two versions of the newsletter; one hard-copy and one PDF via e-mail.
The former would be something akin to what we are doing now. Or maybe even going back to two pages of grayscale. The material in it would be rather restricted; meeting notice, agenda for said meeting, minutes of previous meetings, etc.
The latter, the PDF version, would be full color and as many pages we needed to cover all the topical material we had. After all, it’s all electronic. No paper lost. Complete flexibility.
The cost of production savings are obvious. The expansibility is obvious. The full color with numerous pictures is obvious.
The downside is getting people to shift from the old-media mode to the new-media mode. We are, after all, creatures of habit.
Please give me your thoughts on this matter by making a comment about this idea. Just click on the Comment link below and start typing in the box at the bottom of the Comment page. You don’t even have to use your real name….
We also entertain alternative ideas.
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I think an electronic version of the newsletter is a great idea. I would definitely prefer to use that option, although we would still need to provide a hardcopy newsletter for those that cannot/will not use email. This brings us back to the web page idea that we proposed a few meetings ago. Solutions team captains could post a monthly report of their group’s activities (cutting back on the time required for their reports during the business portion of our meetings and allowing more time for programs), a calendar of events could be available, BOD and bi-monthly meeting minutes would be posted, etc.
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/05 at 09:42 AM -
Demographics on the 9 blks around me (none having Blk Captains other than Ted and I, btw) suggest that we’d be leaving a lot of people out. The info is derived from 2000 Census data:
Folks greater than 65: 35%
Median age: 40.8The assumption being that the older the population the more likely they don’t have or (possibly aren’t interested in) computer assess.
Heather
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/05 at 11:49 AM -
TO: Janet Dash
RE: Great Ideas!“I would definitely prefer to use that option, although we would still need to provide a hardcopy newsletter for those that cannot/will not use email.”—Janet Dash
Yes. It will still be necessary to provide a hard-copy for those who are still not comfortable working with computers; for whatever reason.
I think we’ll have to do a house-to-house survey of who has access to the internet from their residence (or work).
And we’ll likely need to try that survey over the course of the coming Summer. Block-Captains can probably do a lot for that. However, we’d have to prep them to deal with whatever sort of contingency they might encounter; (1) Sure thing!, (2) I don’t have a computer, (3) I’ve got a computer but I don’t have internet access, and (4) the possible, “Get out of my face you satanic scum!”.
We’ll need to brain-drizzle what to do for each possibility, before turning them loose on the neighbors.
“This brings us back to the web page idea that we proposed a few meetings ago. Solutions team captains could post a monthly report of their group’s activities (cutting back on the time required for their reports during the business portion of our meetings and allowing more time for programs), a calendar of events could be available, BOD and bi-monthly meeting minutes would be posted, etc.”—Janet Dash
Yes. We definitely need THAT. And I’m happy to show people what to do in order to post on the web-site. I think it is essential that we have as many members of the BoD and solution team/committee chairs providing us with information on how things are going in their neck of the proverbial ‘woods’. Not only that, but getting information back on how they might ‘skin’ some particular ‘cat’ that they’re facing.
This is the power of the internet at its finest….communications and the exchange of information.
Regards,
Chuck
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/06 at 01:56 PM -
TO: Heather
RE: Demographics“Demographics on the 9 blks around me (none having Blk Captains other than Ted and I, btw) suggest that we’d be leaving a lot of people out. The info is derived from 2000 Census data:
Folks greater than 65: 35%
Median age: 40.8”—HeatherI don’t think we’ll be leaving them ‘out’. We’ll still do a hard-copy. But it won’t be quite as extensive as we can accomplish with the PDF distribution system.
My initial thoughts are that the hard-copy would become a two-page affair; done in gray-scale, instead of full-color. It would have the vital information about meetings, agendas and minutes but not much else. It will not be all the glitz that we’d LIKE to have. But (1) it won’t cost us nearly as much and (2) we could expand it, if our financial situation improves to that point.
We’re not going to leave people behind. But, as I see it, people need to be adaptable to the changing environment. Computers and internet access are not THAT expensive. Furthermore, there IS the public library, which offers computers with internet access.
Regards,
Chuck
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/06 at 01:56 PM -
Different topic- I meant to bring this up after the OHNO meeting but I forgot-
We go out to dinner with Steve and Angela fairly
frequently. Seeing as Steve comes from a restaurant family/background we thought it would be fun for him to do a restaurant review for the newsletter starting with the restaurants within our OHNO neighborhood. so what do you think?.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/09 at 04:21 PM -
I’m OK for restaurant review. I also like bio’ing our neighbors (it would be natural if we get to taking Oral Histories). Also, there was a new neighbor at 18th or 19th and Greenwood at the meeting who suggested bio’ing the various houses and past residences (that would be a natural as we try to involve folks in the historic districts that are being established).
Plus, I was thinking a small survey of the neighborhood folks might be useful. Other than computer assess, is there any other useful info that wasn’t asked in our neighborhood survey a few years back?
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/09 at 04:52 PM -
I think restaurant reviews in the newsletter would be great Carolyn. I like to try new places but I don’t like it when my choice turns out to be terrible! It would be great to have a scorecard to use for comparisons.
I still think an electronic version of the newsletter is the way to go but after last night’s OHNO board meeting I’m more aware of the need for a paper copy in which we can sell advertising. Unless we sell ads or make some money elsewhere we can’t afford to continue the newsletter as is. As always its a few people that continue to support the process while everyone else goes along merrily until something happens that they don’t like. We need to find the one idea/concept/threat that will light a fire under a greater portion of the neighborhood to get them involved. Maybe the newsletter distribution needs to continue as is so we can reach out to everyone in the hopes of getting a spark.
Block captains may be able to survey their neighbors for their preferences but I know there are rarely any folks home when I’m out and about. I also have several empty homes in my block so it’s not a fair comparison to others. The people I have spoken with don’t really care. They find the newsletter interesting but they have no desire to get involved. They don’t think there is anything wrong with the neighborhood (most don’t get out much), they don’t go to the park, and they don’t think our northernmost location is influenced by Parkview or the Historic District designation. In general, they like the status quo and they think the OHNO group is a bunch of radicals stirring up trouble!
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/21 at 10:22 AM