In a message dated 7/30/2009 1:54:52 P.M. Central Standard Time,
terry@flowerfantasy.net writes:
Hi All
I love these comments! Been there, done that, but we could do it again?
"Wrong size". This was brought up 15 years ago when I first became
editor.
At that time, it would have allowed us to add pages to the bulletin
(content) without adding the cost of PERFECT BIND (It is more expensive).
The idea was not well received - then. We went to perfect bind which does
make a nicer book with the edge binding issue info. And offers unlimited
pages. We were at the limit with "staple stitching". So we went to
perfect
bind and increased the page count to 128 from about 96.
Put me in the same camp with Terry and Clarence on this one. 89 years
(wow) with our format is good enough for me.
From another perspective, I also belong to the Orchid Society ($60.00 per
year). They went to the "coffee table" magazine size (8 1/2 x 11")
several
years ago. This was during the early stages of serious membership drop.
The
magazine is very impressive but it did not stop the membership drop -
which
is still more severe than ours. This just speaks to the motivation for
"change". We need a better reason.
"Month" versus "season". Since the beginning of (my) time, there have
always
been people out there who live by the stopwatch and complain bitterly
when
our magazine does not arrive on day one of the month of issue. I might
defend our position by saying that commercial magazines have a full time
paid staff - unlike some other "volunteer" organizations. I did suggest
"seasons" as a way out of this dilemma. Again, not a positive response -
back then. ""Winter", "Spring", "Summer", "Fall" works fine with me.
I do remember Ron Mullin defending the Bulletin delivery time by saying
that
it was the "month of assembly and delivery". I like that one and have
lived
by it. Occasionally, we get lucky and have an "early issue". This
particular
issue had a time line that had nothing to do with AIS. Erica was going on
vacation (some civilized people do that!!!)on the 4th of July so, for me,
it
was a do or die situation. We made it with an hour to spare. (I love
stress!!) I'm not sure that Erica did!
I prefer the "month" versus "season" with all the restrictions Terry has
to
work with. MIS went to the "season" for The Medianite back when we had
four issues per year. The "winter" issue was always confusing as most of
the "real" winter was always in the following year and several times that
issue wasn't actually published until "the following year" which many
people
did not like and was confusing at the time and later in doing research.
Which year is winter? Season ending or season beginning? As a researcher
I
prefer being able to reference a month and year to any article. The AIS
Bulletin looks good in a bookcase with perfect binding which allows for
Issue
number and month and year to be printed on the edge. If one has 89 years
worth (I don't, only 45) of AIS Bulletins on the shelf, it takes awhile
to
find even the right year (much less issue) for those issues that had the
Issue number and month/year printed only on the front cover. The new
issue
indexes help a lot but there are many articles or vignettes not listed in
the
TOC or index and without attribution in past Bulletins of any era.
Anyway, keep those cards and letters coming. I am enjoying the
conversation.
Terry
Me too. And I agree that we have been there, done that two or three
times
in the past 30 years or so. I guess I am conservative about the
publication just like Clarence. I like it the way it is with fourteen or
so color
pages. My July Bulletin came today! Most impressive Terry. Picture
flow
is very good.
Jim M.
**************Hot Deals at Dell on Popular Laptops perfect for Back to
School
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1223105306x1201716871/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Faltfarm.mediaplex.com%2Fad%2Fck%2F12309%2D81939%2D1629%2D9)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to the AIS Secretary
<aissecretary@irises.org>
The archives for AISDiscuss are at:
http://www.aisboard.org/lists/aisdiscuss/