when is the next newsletter deadline?
Unfortunately since the Dec 09 post asking for articles for the next issue of the newsletter, (to have been out before the AGM) we have had only 3 sent.
Due to lack of interest in the newsletter it is put in jeopardy. This is something I will be bringing up at the AGM.
Steve
I am one who intended to submit an article but just haven’t found the time - I know that’s no excuse!
One idea though - Could the newsletter not be emailed out as a pdf to people. That way you remove the printing and postage costs and could do say a newsletter a month with less content. The idea being that more regular newsletters would generate more interest in it and hopefully more contributions.
As a PDF people would have the option of printing it out if they wish to read it offline. Also producing the PDF is cheap and easy with something like CutePDF and of course Adobe Reader is free.
Just an idea?
Gav
[quote]I am one who intended to submit an article but just haven’t found the time - I know that’s no excuse!
One idea though - Could the newsletter not be emailed out as a pdf to people. That way you remove the printing and postage costs and could do say a newsletter a month with less content. The idea being that more regular newsletters would generate more interest in it and hopefully more contributions.
As a PDF people would have the option of printing it out if they wish to read it offline. Also producing the PDF is cheap and easy with something like CutePDF and of course Adobe Reader is free.
Just an idea?
Gav[/quote]
i got my car to put in there lol.
but pdf is a good idea.
[quote]Unfortunately since the Dec 09 post asking for articles for the next issue of the newsletter, (to have been out before the AGM) we have had only 3 sent.
Due to lack of interest in the newsletter it is put in jeopardy. This is something I will be bringing up at the AGM.
Steve[/quote]
i am one of those guilty, seen the request but never put anything in.
Even if it were e-mailed out as a .PDF, it still needs articles written by people and sent in, which unfortunately we aren’t getting, so at this point it makes little difference how it gets out to you guys - there is almost nothing to go in it.
It was only an idea… 
I completely agree that it needs contributions.
But already I am thinking there are lots of discussions had here on the forum alone that could be tweaked and turned into stories and articles. They are then sent out in the form of an email. These means that it will go to people who do not actively use the forum on a regular basis as well.
Okay for some of us “forum regulars” that does mean some repeats but I for one wouldn’t mind. After all it’s news and you tend to hear that from many sources anyway.
Gav
Continuing on the thought process.
I can already think of a few for example.
Alan’s unending quest for a TCU.
Ant’s recent mishap and need for a wedding car.
Questions about insurance.
Eltons new venture.
Weird ideas like rear mounted turbos.
And so on and on and on.
To start the article it would be easy to copy type directly from the forum.
I know someone has to do this but it would be easier to get additional information and photos from people via pm’s rather than getting them to write an article from scratch.
Gav
Good ideas gav.
Has anyone thought of having an article in the newsletter for lets say
“member of the month” or quarter ? voted for by a poll for the member who has gone beyond the norm to help a fellow member or in some way help the club. ?
“car of the month / quarter” again voted by a poll for most improved car or most unusual idea etc etc.
"trader of the month / quarter " again by poll for the best service offered to club members in a given time etc.
“meet of the month” best organised /attended meet ?
Your getting the general idea all may be of interest to people in a newsletter plus will give people something to aim for if they wish one day to get their car voted best of that newsletter… would add a few quid when they come to sell it i think.
Also … has the club ever thought of restoring its own car to be owned by the club for promotional purposes etc . good for the newsletter and i am sure the traders and members would help to restore and donate items if they could have their logo on the side of it ?
I would be happy to donate a good rolling shell to this cause.
Bruce
[quote]
Also … has the club ever thought of restoring its own car to be owned by the club for promotional purposes etc . good for the newsletter and i am sure the traders and members would help to restore and donate items if they could have their logo on the side of it ?
I would be happy to donate a good rolling shell to this cause.
Bruce[/quote]
Bruce, I think this is a great idea.
Right I have knocked this up in 20 minutes so it looks absolute rubbish I know and needs fleshing out. Others will be able to do far better but I just wanted to explain clearly what sort of thing I’m was on about.
Gav
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_MQe8xm6NMxg/S6NsSlmjN-I/AAAAAAAAA3o/UFPrJyvD1ZE/s800/Example%20Newsletter.JPG
mate that is awesome. :shock:
You taking the Michael?
:lol: :lol: :lol:
I think Bruce has put forward some good ideas for regular content too.
Gav
[quote]You taking the Michael?
:lol: :lol: :lol:
I think Bruce has put forward some good ideas for regular content too.
Gav[/quote]
no honest, it is good.
I know you weren’t really mate. 
Gav
[quote]I know you weren’t really mate.
Gav[/quote]
make another page lol.
but seriously newsletter are always interesting to read. get to know about other members.
very good effort.
[quote]make another page lol.
but seriously newsletter are always interesting to read. get to know about other members.
very good effort.[/quote]
If I had more time I would knock up something better in Publisher maybe…
But to be honest though Steve and Tracy will do a far better job than me - especially as they already put together a good newsletter - it’s just the contributions letting things down.
Gav
[quote]
[quote]make another page lol.
but seriously newsletter are always interesting to read. get to know about other members.
very good effort.[/quote]
If I had more time I would knock up something better in Publisher maybe…
But to be honest though Steve and Tracy will do a far better job than me - especially as they already put together a good newsletter - it’s just the contributions letting things down.
Gav[/quote]
your right they do a brilliant job, but the members like me and contributing,.
some good ideas there guys i will write up my crash when it comes to a conclusion of which i have a feeling it maybe a bad one, undeclared mods ect! :roll: . I do find the newsletter very interesting and i always read them so thanks all those involved. The idea of a club owned car is brilliant!
cheers
Ant
I fully agree that it takes members to contribute to the news letter if it is to stay successful or
even survive but when contributions that can take many hours to write up are sent in with a
response of “ we will be using one in the next news letter “ and it doesn’t ever appear… it
becomes a little disheartening…
Some time back when contributions were requested I had spent many hours creating two large
contributions which I had said when sending them in to feel free to edit them in any way they
wish including shrinking them down should they be to long ( This was not during the time since
both Steve and Tracie took over the news letter ) but I received a reply saying that one would
appear in the forthcoming news letter and the other would be saved and used in the following
news letter later that year…
I do not remember ever seeing the first and have definitely not ever seen the second… I would
assume they are still laying around somewhere so surely it may be an idea to look up previous
members contributions that have been brushed aside and not used during the past… I know
along with these two and another contribution that I was requested to write up especially for the
forthcoming AGM that took a considerable amount of more time to write compared to the news
letter contributions but was also totally ignored and clearly had been displayed that it had, by it
not appearing in the AGM minutes months after the AGM meeting had taken place…
As said before this was not during the time that Steve and Tracie has been doing the news letter
but this kind of response does have an adverse effect toward future inputs… :?
Personally I would like ask for a response from the committee about the ideas and points raised here as it would be interesting to see what they think.
Alan,
I know how disheartening it must have been after all that effort - do you not have them saved anywhere? You have just done a write up on how to clean the Idle Stepper Motor with really good photos and big arrows :-). In my mind that’s perfect for a newsletter - Brief clear instructions, can be quickly adapted, and very useful.
Gav