Newsprint Autumn 2012 and Membership Subs

[George Love]

Hello All,
The next issue of 'Newsprint' is just about to go to print and I hope to be able to mail it out next week.
This is a very important issue as it contains details on what members need to do to keep their membership live.
As most will know, the cost of your yearly subscription is increasing by standing order (SO) to £20. Details of how to do this are all in the Mag. It really is very easy.
One of the things you need to know is your membership no. To make sure this is clear to you, the envelope containing your magazine will have your no. written in large felt pen in the bottom left hand corner. So, before you throw the envelope away, please make a note of it. The number starts with SP15- followed by your unique four digits. If you do happen to misplace it, we can still let you have it - again, details of this are in the mag.
On behalf of all the committee and especially our hard working secretary, Keith, I do hope you will rush down or go online to your bank to make the necessary change - so you can retain all the benefits of being a member of the best Class Association in the UK - (in my unilateral and unbiased opinion).
Cheers

[Mark Aldridge]

We're looking forward to the mag' as ever George - keep up the good work!

[George Love]

The Newsprint post room has been on overtime this evening packaging up the latest issue for despatch tomorrow, hopefully.
So if your copy doesn't arrive in the next few days, you know the score - usual t & c's apply.
Just a quick reminder to watch out for and make a note of your membership number in felt pen on the front of the envelope. Any probs. just get in touch with me or Keith and we'll do our best to sort it out.
Hope you enjoy the read. I've had a fun time putting it together but now I'm off for a wee dram.
Thanks all.
Cheers

[Neil Parkhurst]

Looking forward to see all your hard work George.

[Bob Carter]

Yes and some excellent cartoons that those that attended the Nationals at Brightlingsea might enjoy.

Phil Breeze has excelled himself for this edition
Cheers
Bob

[George Love]

As Bob says the cartoons are brilliant - hope I've done them justice.
Phil has excelled - being 'got' in one of his cartoons is better than any trophy in my book. Without giving the game away, there are one or two prominent sailors who should be roundly embarrassed!
Thanks to all for some fantastic contributions.
Cheers & laughter

P.S. Apologies to Ray - the pony express phoned in today with a seized fetlock, so you'll have to wait for the snail like everyone else - sorry!

[Crazysurf]

Very much looking to receive it. In this modern digital age, have we considered an electronic format to save cost, trees etc.

I certainly wouldn't mind. Sean

[George Love]

The question of a web based magazine has been mooted and discussed some time ago. The general consensus amongst those that were party to the discussion was that the hard copy format in the post was preferred.
As far as I am concerned, I still like the hard format (even though by the time it gets to hard format, I have read it many times over electronically!). However, my home club newsletter is now web based and is read via an email link which is OK. One question is the file size. This latest issue was a whopping 280meg in PDF - so big it crashed the printers machinery twice in an effort to produce a proof copy - although that particular glitch was eventually sorted. Perhaps Webman Martin can comment on the whys and wherefores of the web based format. Assuming it's possible and user friendly for all, i.e. those that contribute to, produce and read it, perhaps a straw poll of members should be undertaken to determine any preferences. Any offers to take that on?
If it did go electronic, production would require a different approach, I think.
One thing that the hard copy does do by a certain default and which would be more difficult with electronic, is that it identifies those who haven't paid subs. Viz. - the Mag. goes out and I and Keith receive a plaintive email from some who are expecting to receive it saying that they haven't which is usually because they've forgotten to renew. (All the more reason then to pay by standing order - you know it's a great deal ). As receiving the mag. is part of membership, might distribution electronically be much more difficult to control
I'd be interested to hear others comments. As current Ed., I'm happy to produce it in whichever format suits us all best.
Cheers,

[Martin Searle]

Folks,

Personally I like printed copies of the mag as I don't like reading lots of stuff on a screen but can see that web distribution is a viable way of doing it and is also a lot cheaper.

Distributing the magazine by web is possible but at 250mb a copy then that may prove inconvient for many to download my own home internet speed of 2mb would take forever to download. It won't be possible to email it to just the members of the association given that file size! my email quota is 200mb. Also our webspace quota is currently 5GB so there wouldn't be many back issues!

The main problem for web based distribution is to ensure that only paid up members get a copy.

Technically the problem of member only logins on the site is solvable ie using membership numbers and a default unique password for each member thats emailed to them. This login would be different to their forum login.

This I think would mean that the membership system (its currently a spreadsheet) and website would need to be closely integrated. Thus there would be some background development worked needed but this wouldn't be a bad thing IMO. Thus when a member doesn't renew their membership the system would disable their account.

Also members need to be able to opt in and out of paperless newsletters.

So yes its doable but with development work required. George would need to FTP the file to the web server since the normal mechanism for uploading via the web wouldn't work due to an 8mb limit on upload file size.

We would still need to do a limited print run because not everyone has internet connectivity and/or some people prefer a paper copy.

Martin S.

[Mark Aldridge]

Nice work George and team..

Just imagine how much better Robert would go if he faced the front!!

[Bob Carter]

Nice work George and team..

Just imagine how much better Robert would go if he faced the front!!

I reckon Robert bribed George to put a picture of him in front of Steve Sawford on the front cover

Nice Job George

Cheers

Bob

PS I'm a big fan of the magazine in hard copy. It puts our exploits and news out to all - even those that are not regulars on the circuit. Besides I keep 'em all on the bookshelf.........

[Mark Aldridge]

Maybe it's like a full colour reverse print and actually Robert's at the back facing forward?

That would mean that Kevin's trapezing backwards - but then again he is a talented sailor!

[Andrew Hannah]

Once I've finished reading my magazine, I place it on the pile of magazines in the clubhouse. I try to keep it at the top of the pile.

This can't be done with online editions.

[Neil Parkhurst]

Is that you Mark on page 31 1289. If so how did you do it!

I love the cartoons.

[Steve Willis]

Another great magazine George, many thanks.

A quick flip through and i can see lots to read - as already mentioned great cartoons as well.

Re the soft copy option I like having hard copy and its useful to hand to prospective new 15 sailors to show how strong the class is. Like Martin I spend a lot of time on the computer for work and it is nice to be able to sit elsewhere with a cuppa and read the hard copy at leisure.

Steve