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Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:29 pm
by ann
Berl mentioned we may be going to lose the Bullentin
What is the reasoning behind this suggestion, as for many people this is their main link with the DCS
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:07 pm
by forestblaze
perhaps our new, and so far approachable council will take notice of people power ....are you in favour of keeping a bullitin -newsletter on a regular basis I know I am ,then lets tell them.Sue Osborne.Castlemears Dexters,Forest of Dean .
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:48 am
by Sylvia
The newsletter (whatever it is called) is essential for a national club. This is the only source of information for many members who find it difficult to travel to events. If the Bulletin goes that will only leave registration which members who do not show will have to join for. This, I can guarantee, will do nothing to improve relations between committee and members. If the Bulletin is proving too expensive then a different means of production should be chosen. Under no circumstances should it be scrapped.
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:30 am
by Woodmagic
I am delighted with the response to my comment about the Bulletin. I had begun to wonder if I was the only person who welcomed its arrival, and felt it an important part of my membership. If we lose it we shall certainly be the only Dexter Association without one. It is proposed to replace it with a Year Book, but this will not fill the gap in my eyes.
I understand the editor has been disappointed at the number of contributions she has been able to collect recently, but I also heard that a very respected South African breeder has had an excellent article, which I have seen, turned down, so I wonder what criteria are in place for inclusion, in my view, the editor should have the final say. The disclaimer that it does not necessarily reflect the official line should suffice.
I believe Eileen Hayes has done a wonderful job over the years, and I would be grateful if she could be persuaded to continue.
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:22 pm
by Sylvia
Although I firmly believe the Bulletin should stay I do think some adjustments would be beneficial. There is a lot of content which is repeated in every Bulletin. I would like to see this moved to a once-a-year insert leaving the quarterly newsletter for articles, adverts, news, show results and any updates to the yearly insert. There should also be prominent request for copy if more is needed. Just a thought.
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:13 pm
by John C
I've only kept my three dexters for a little over a year or so and I'm not a member of the Dexter Society, but would I be right in thinking that this very good site that we're on has come about indirectly through the short comings of the said society ?
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:58 pm
by Woodmagic
I am sure we can all suggest improvements to the Bulletin. I would suggest a reduction in ‘do’s and don’ts’, but having followed it, from its first feeble attempts, I am well aware of the vast improvements effected by Eileen. Incidentally, the last three editorials have all included a plea for more contributions from the readers.
Many of us are welcoming the changes, so please give the new Council a bit more time before we embark on too much criticism, and let’s hold our breath about the demise of the Bulletin, and make sure they know that such a move would not be popular.
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:28 pm
by Kathy Millar
Your Dexter Society has an excellent publication and it would be terrible to lose it. I know that without a doubt, it is one of the most important "glues" that holds a farflung group together. I also know what a lonely and frustrating job it can be to edit a newsletter. If you want it to continue, I suggest you send letters of appreciation, thanks, support and ARTICLES to your editor (and copy your letter to your Council). If you just complain, it won't really help things.
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:57 pm
by Ted Neal
Without a doubt Eileen has done and is still doing a fantastic job on producing our bulletins. As mentioned at the agm and subsequently we have made the decision to produce an Annual Journal, in line pretty much with most other cattle societies. Eileen has agreed to be involved, so the standard will be very high. Whilst we haven't had a meeting on content we would hope to have a review of the past year, support groups, shows, articles, perhaps "from the archives 25, 50 and 100 years ago. Plus articles on genetics, butchering, cooking and welfare and items of Dexters in the news. With a properly produced book attract adverts, we are open to offers now, let the World know how wonderful Dexters are give the members a keepsake of the year gone by and hopefully attract new members. We will also need articles and anecdotes from the membership - as Beryl mentions Eileen has pleaded for items for quite a while.
The replacement "Newsletter" will almost certainly be produced in the office and will keep members up to date on matters legal and those that effect Dexter breeders. The rules and regulations and current fees will be published as a seperate booklet to make sure the CORRECT FEES are sent in.
The general consensus is that the Bulletin in its present form has run its course. Depending who you talk with some read it cover to cover, others may not open it.
Hopefully the replacement "Annual Journal" will excite and stimulate you all. We will be keeping in touch with the Newsletter.
AND have you seen the DCS website ? A sign of things to come.
We are listening to you and appreciate all of the comments. Please do bear in mind that this is a private site and the Council would be delighted to hear from you directly.
Happy New Year Gang
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:01 pm
by forestblaze
if we are to do without our bulletin what have we? a year book that is at best a year out of date by the time and often more, we get it and the ability to register our stock for which we pay extra for, would it be worth paying the annual membership just to register stock? if the bulletin is to cease is it the intention to cut the membership fee by at least 50%, I can see this move cutting the membership very considerably.
Bill Osborne, Castlemears Dexters, Forest of Dean.
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:14 am
by Martin
I think you miss the point Bill, you will have an annual Bulletin but will have newsletters in between. I have browsed the bulletin on occasion, but never really paid it that much attention. Yes it is nice to recieve something from the society but at what cost?
The South East Group, of which I am a member produces a monthly newsletter in which articles from members, reminders of important dates, messages from the Chairman etc. are included, we have all been issued with binders to enable us to keep them together. As this Newsletter is monthly, I certainly feel closer and more 'at one' with the local group than I do with the Society. I don't think that a quarterly Bulletin can keep you informed quickly enough of impending legislation or society news, and as some people are very quick to point out not every member has access to a computer and they would rely on publications from the society. Monthly newsletters in my veiw have a lot more to offer than the present system. Maybe those amongst us that can will be able to recieve it electronically and save on the postage.
Communication is the key word here, and is a quarterly bulletin enough?
Martin Wilson. Medway Valley Dexters. Kent, the patio of England (formally known as The Garden of England)
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:55 pm
by Woodmagic
I am keeping a close eye on our improved official site, but as far as I know it still does not offer to date, a forum for members views?
As I understand it, we are unlikely to be blessed with a monthly periodical of the kind at present enjoyed by the South East group. No doubt a fair proportion of their £1 monthly membership fee is represented in the postage on it. Eileen has given us some interesting excerpts from the South East letter, and it is not surprising Martin, if you don’t feel the need for a national Bulletin.
I suspect we shall be receiving a flyer once a quarter, with little except notification of events. The Bulletin is supposed to give an opportunity to represent member’s views, and interesting articles, not simply dictate from above.
The proposition that a yearly publication is going to arouse more interest than a quarterly magazine seems wildly optimistic. Why aren’t the prospective exciting articles being offered to the Bulletin?
If the ‘Newsletter’ is going to be of real interest, why not continue to call it the Bulletin, if it is not, the postage cost is going to make it very questionable.
Some of the bigger breeds may find a yearly periodical satisfies their members, but it is a different kind of membership, we shall be the only Dexter Society that I know which does not provide a quarterly Bulletin.
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 12:16 am
by moomin
I think maybe everybody is getting a little confused about what is happening. Maybe the word "Newsletter" is confusing everybody! The way I see it is that a BULLETIN of news, adverts, etc will be going out to members but in a much simpler way, as it used to be when I first joined 30 years ago. [I can remember helping Miss "Ben" Robinson collate and staple the duplicated sheets to make the Bulletins in her dining room on a beautiful antique table! It took 2 days to do 120 copies then and to envelope and post them. David Key, our secretary edited them.]
I would like to see bulletins going out to members 5 or 6 times a year. We need to be more in touch with one another, be able to put cheap lineage adverts in for stock etc. to be kept up to date with legislation on a regular basis and to put members articles in, just like the old days. If we have a simpler publication we can afford to do this. Remember the old bulletins, Beryl and Bill? I still have all of mine and they did carry a lot of information. I love them as much as I love the glossy ones don't you?
Please don't think of it as the death of the bulletin, there is no reason why it has to be called a newsletter, I think we should keep the term Bulletin and we will have a year book as well.
We do need to be in touch with one another more than 3 times a year.
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:07 am
by Woodmagic
It may well start off with good intentions and a flourish, but to quote Kathy Millar (‘ I also know what a lonely and frustrating job it can be, to edit a Newsletter’)
If the reason for its demise is a struggle to find enough material for three, it hardly provides a reason to increase the frequency.
I think a dash of nostalgia may be clouding your memory Di. I actually have the very first Bulletin issued by Mr. Pick and I have watched it grow over the years, and admired the gradual improvement when Eileen took it over. I am much more interested in its content than a glossy appearance, and I have also been aware that in the last few issues, Eileen has been struggling to find contributions
The other problem is one of cost, and postage is going to prove a big item if the frequency is to be increased, and labour to pack them into envelopes. We are now talking of nearer 1200 than 120.
Take a look at our rival Bulletins abroad; it would be a pity if the mother Society trailed again behind our contemporaries. A good editor is hard to find, and folks tend to disregard it until they lose one. Again to quote Kathy (‘I suggest you send letters of appreciation, thanks, support and ARTICLES to your editor’). A more constructive policy than demolishing it.
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:45 pm
by ann
If the society wants to cut down on postage, then one of the most cost effective ways would be to A) get rid of the franking machine and use the post office system where you frank the letters straight of your computer when you print them and B) TO drop the 30 days for registration and allow us to send them in batches, I register females only, but that accounts from around 8-10 envelopes and receipts every year and as for it generating more work this way, I doubt it, as once you have logged into a person's account it should take no more time to enter the details for several calves than one calf, only one envelope to type and stamp.
As for Eileen and the bulletin, She has done a marvellous job over the years, I have all my bulletins back to the 80,s and anyone who criticises her wants to have a go at it. I write a weekly column for a dog paper and everyone just expects you to pluck items out of the air and complain when you miss a week.
I checked out the society’s web site and frankly could not see how at present it can replace a bulletin, however I can see the logic in maybe going back to a plain paper newsletter every two months maybe along the lines of the free monthly A5 a lot of towns do to keep everyone in touch., but who has the time to do this for free and if we had to pay someone to do it, we would be back to square one, MY suggestion is, if its not broken don’t mend it.
:p :p