It really bothers me when Local Groups, in efforts to save money and trees switch to making their "official" newsletter a tiny little flyer with just a financial statement and a notice of a few events ... and doing that only once every 3 months. These groups usually produce big, fancy electronic newsletters, and force their members to opt-in if they want to get the nicer newsletter on paper.
According to current Minimum Standard Bylaws, ASIEs, and the Local Group Charter... this is allowable.
But when I think of Millie Member —unable or uncomfortable using a computer and who just doesn't get around to contacting her LG officers and actively requesting to continue to receive what she'd always gotten automatically just by paying her dues— this just feels wrong. Millie was already barely connected to her Local Group. How is cutting her off further going to improve Mensa?
6 comments:
It seems wrong to me, too, however what needs to be factored into the equation, though, is the financial health of the chapter. It seems a bit glossed over in your post.
There are several chapters, apparently, that are barely able to get by with the stipend they receive from National. (I'm glad that has not been the case in any of the three I've been a member of over the years.) In the case of a chapter that can either do the actions you listed or, by putting out a newsletter of any appreciable size and frequency it would go under, financially, I'll opt for the former. (Is there a middle ground I'm overlooking?)
Do note, though, that any chapter that is going through such hard times should make some efforts to contact their members and see what they can do to keep the members connected. This is very much what the RVC's discretionary funds are most intended for, as a postcard mailer to the chapter might put such a chapter over the edge financially, even.
Robin, I don't think it helps Mensa at all. Sometimes LGs don't realize that not everybody has easy computer access (or, just as often, they don't care). Making electronic newsletters the default fosters a sense of elitism, IMO. It also makes it appear that the LG doesn't care to put in the extra effort that a paper newsletter requires.
No different that the frequent suggestion we had from a former member that we use Usenet for discussions instead of the forums. At some point you have to deliver content based on how the majority of members wish to receive it, doing otherwise is not cost effective. I could accept alternative for the handicapped but not for those that are just not comfortable with the format.
So sorry I didn't get these comments published sooner. Google seems to have added a comment spam filter, so I didn't get my usual email notice that there were comments.
I agree that we should have electronic newsletters absolutely. I just have major concerns about the quiet, non-participatory members who.. are valuable and deserving of inclusion like everyone else.
As for Groups not being able to make ends meet on the stipend, yes, that is an issue for some and not for others. And the solutions are different for every group. SOme of the ones with costly newsletters are disinclined to jump through the hoops to get cheaper postal rates. Or unwilling to shop around for printing discounts. Or They prefer to publish really awesome, thick, fabulous newsletters. Or they don't redesign the layouts to use space better. Or they can't find volunteers to do the FSM work, so they have to pay a service for it.
That said, there will be some changes in AML policy about newsletter distribution in the next few months, in response to the never-ending unpleasant changes in USPS regulations. I'm still working out the details, so can't blog about it, but I can share that I'm not a happy camper.
I hope that whatever those policy changes are, that there is a long head's up about the proposals. Even in the case where the policy is put in place because AML is essentially being forced down a particular path by the USPS, the LGs need as much notice of those changes as possible. (Thanks for the prior notice a couple of months ago about the new address labeling format.)
Thankfully MWM's Labels Wrangler (a.k.a. Lord of the Labels -- a title richly deserved by Russ Nevins, IMO) is on top of the new postal regs coming down, and it seems like MWM will have everything well in place and properly running on the new address format by next month (if it isn't already in place). It should be clockwork by the forced USPS deadline of May 1.
According to my bulk mailing unit supervisor, as of last Friday, the mandatory implementation date has been postponed indefinitely. He suggested that the publishers' lobby convinced USPS that it was inappropriate to change the process in the middle of an economic downturn.
Lone Star Mensa is also exploring having a 8 page B&W printed local newsletter with an expanded color online edition. Our board wants to protect Millie but still stay within our budget and encourage use of electronic publication for those that would like to use it. Both editions will be available on the Website.
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