[FARC] Fwd: [FARReps] To Publish or Not To Publish

[Scott Galbraith]

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>From: w3qx at qsl.net
>Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 02:43:02 -0400
>To: farreps at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: [FARReps] To Publish or Not To Publish
>Reply-To: farreps at mailman.qth.net
>List-Id: farreps.mailman.qth.net
>
>On 8/10/05 at 1:47 PM -0400, w3qx at qsl.net wrote:
>>  FAR's monthly meeting Wednesday 10 August
>>
>>  [....]
>>     Future magazine publication
>[.../]
>
>
>Ladies and Gentlemen,
>
>Those who attended the FAR meeting last night learned a major part of 
>the Auto Call staff will be unable to continue working on the 
>magazine beyond the next issue.
>
>If nothing else were done, Auto Call publication would be suspended 
>after the November or "Winter" scholarship issue.
>
>FAR's intent is to put this out to its members:  If a new team can be 
>formed that has the needed skills, a business plan, and is 
>fully-staffed, FAR will work with this new team to continue 
>periodical publication.
>
>Skills refers to ability and tools to produce a publication to 
>schedule.  A plan can be as simple as a forward growth budget and the 
>steps that will be taken to realize measurable goals.  A full staff 
>would have one or more persons responsible for increasing the number 
>of subscribers, one or more people responsible for selling the 
>advertising space in the magazine, and two or more editors who would 
>assure the quality of the publication and assemble and produce it.
>
>FAR will help as it can.  It expects make the remaining Auto Call 
>subscriber list available.  It has existing relationships with a 
>printer and a mail service.  Individuals who have experience with 
>Auto Call have already said they would be available to help with 
>start up.  Of course, publishing in FAR's name means FAR will retain 
>control.  FAR is open to new ideas:  The publication that continues 
>after November may look completely different and may have a different 
>publication frequency.  Different printing and mailing solutions may 
>be used.  Several individuals may identify themselves or a club or 
>group of clubs could take responsibility.  Discussions with 
>individuals or member clubs (or both) that want to do this will 
>determine further details.
>
>Based on what's known now, Auto Call's contributing 
>departments--Rules&Regs, Gnoshes, VE Testing, Public Service, DXDXDX, 
>AreaEvents--will be available.
>
>
>What will be hard about this is the time--there's not much.
>
>If a group salespeople and editors can step forward to take over, FAR 
>has to know it by Thursday 15 September.
>
>There are two overriding reasons only 35 days remain to do this. 
>First is the fact that doing the next issue of an ongoing magazine is 
>very different from doing a final issue.  When the November issue 
>closes and production starts, FAR must know if it will be suspending 
>publication or introducing a new successor publication.  Second, if 
>there is no workable option by 15 September and FAR does suspend 
>publication, the existing subscribers need to see a letter addressed 
>to them that explains what is happening, gives them some choices, and 
>shows FAR's appreciation for their support--before they see the last 
>issue.
>
>In a few words
>
>     FAR is putting this matter out to its member clubs
>     to see it they want publication to continue and,
>     if so, whether there are people who will do
>
>       Subscriptions
>
>       Advertising
>
>       Editing, and
>
>       Editing, layout, and design
>
>
>Why is this coming to a decision now?  There are two main reasons. 
>First, people are busy.  In the last three weeks, schedule changes 
>affecting the lives of three of the current Auto Call staff resulted 
>in their decisions to not continue with Auto Call.  Factors include 
>increasing work responsibility, big job relocations, or promotions. 
>However, the more somber and more serious side is that, in terms of 
>subscribers, advertisers, and even contributing authors, Auto Call's 
>overall trend over the last 10 years has been down.  Improvements 
>since 2002, when FAR re-assumed control of Auto Call, were done at 
>considerable effort and included producing a high quality product, 
>having people in the editorial process available at every FAR 
>meeting, and focusing on a positive future for Auto Call.  These 
>editorial and customer service improvements garnered words of praise 
>and appreciation but only temporarily stemmed the decline of 
>advertising and subscriber sales.  Auto Call achieved break-even only 
>when FAR cut printing and postage 66 percent by publishing quarterly.
>
>
>Again, FAR wants its members involved in this.  If you have any 
>questions or need more information to help you take this to the 
>others in your clubs, please just ask.
>
>Send messages about interest in being part of the new staff to w3qx at qsl.net.
>
>Thank you all for keeping an eye on the clock and working within this 
>very short time period.
>
>
>Best regards,
>
>William Hatfield
>Executive Vice President

-- 

73 de Scott Galbraith
N3OK, Frederick County, MD
FM19ji
ARRL, QCWA 30013, GERATOL 2198, PVRC
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