Club newsletters

[cliveanne]

How many of our clubs have their own newsleters? I have recently taken over the job of running ours. The intention is to publish on a 4-monthly basis, but if anything of note turns up in the meanwhile & fills the pages...Pulbish & be Damned If you want to see what I have done, you can find it at http://www.leeg.btinternet.co.uk/BBA...Summer2006.pdf

[Murray]

They're a great idea - I started one at our club a few years ago, but I quickly ran out of time to get them done, and the members didn't donate news or information, so they went downhill rapidly. These days it's an irregular newsletter to inform about session bookings and times,and not really much else.

Good luck with it and I hope you can maintain the momentum.

[Furface]

We have one at Adel that has about four editions a year, plus additional "Flyers" as news needs putting out. Don't rely on others giving you material - they won't. Ask if you want anything particular, and be specific. (Ask for "a bit on that tournament" and you'll get "I came 5th"; ask for "a bit on going to a tournament, with a view to encouraging inexperienced members to give them a try" and you get Pulitzer prize aspirant stuff)
And don't fiorget that there is an annual GNAS awrad for newsletters, though I haven't seen any winning entries so I don't know what the standard is.

[Capt. Al]

Cliveanne well done for taking it on in the first place but as with all things to do with my Club a few members do most of the work and at the minute our overworked Club Secretary does a sort of Newletter when she can.

Eight pages is one big newletter how you get enough feedback from your members? You must be a big Club.

Looked through your newletter and it looked brillant and I'm sending a copy to my overworked Secretary to give her some ideas.

Any other examples out their?

[cliveanne]

Originally Posted by Capt. Al

Cliveanne well done for taking it on in the first place but as with all things to do with my Club a few members do most of the work and at the minute our overworked Club Secretary does a sort of Newletter when she can.

Eight pages is one big newletter how you get enough feedback from your members? You must be a big Club.

Looked through your newletter and it looked brillant and I'm sending a copy to my overworked Secretary to give her some ideas.

Any other examples out their?

Thanks for the comments. It is a case of browbeat, cajole, blackmail, dire threats in order to get ANY information. Pleny of promises & even more "Forgetfulness" from the members. It's hard work but I don't mind it (So far) The 8 pager was I think a one off. The word search filled a gap that should have been archer info'. There has been a spate of medalists & PB's in our club recently, & can I get the lowdown on it? I think clickerati: will have to give me some tips on extracting the info'

[Max]

As an old hand at club newsletters stretching back 30 years or so, you always get into the 'Catch 22' situation of having to produce very frequent editions to keep the news fresh, or more to the point, cajole members into attending work parties, or warn of changes to existing arrangements. Otherwise the newsletter just becomes Blah, Blah, Blah stuff about the usual suspects winning this or that (which can turn the less competative members off). The downside being that they need to at least monthly during the active season (which is all year round in Archery, as oposed to (eg.) a sailing club).

Thankfully the internet and email make this job a lot easier, especially if you have a club website that can host the latest edition. The important bit is to identify those members who can be relied upon to read their emails, and who you need to use snail mail for (hopefully only a handfull). A good membership database is essential. It is no real problem to issue a monthly broadsheet - just a single sheet is usually OK, but if you let it mount up for a few months, the news in not only stale, but the job of publishing a multi-page issue becomes hard work.

Go for frequent and short every time to get results.

[cliveanne]

Thanks Max, sounds like a good idea I get the "Yes, I'll post it when I get home." the trouble is, they don't say what day, week, month or year. I get the impression that the majority of our membes have the internet access but are not interested. I have one member who has not had been able to answer e-mails for over the past 9 or so months or so the excuse goes.

Why do I run the newsletter? I enjoy teaching myself "Desktop Publishing" trying to educate myself, otherwise the grey matter will atrophy, & I'm dim enough already thank you

[Capt. Al]

After Cliveanne starting this thread about club newsletters I thought it would be a good idea to put a poll about it on the Archery Poll section.

As per usual with me it went sightly wrong as you can't multi vote so if you go to it just vote among the top 3 please.

[Munsterman]

in our club we publish a monthly newsletter. it is typically 5-7 pages but the last page is a contact page. It is very hard to get people to contribute.