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Help required
http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17205		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Keith.W [ 10 Dec 2017, 21:44 ]
Post subject:  Help required
I have recently been asked to take over the role of Newsletter Editor for my club. This is something that I have no experience of but the newsletter would cease if no one takes on the role. Does anyone carry out this role for their club/organisation maybe not Bonsai necessarily and could give me any tips or advice. Also any guidance on good programmes/ templates that are fairly easy to use. This newsletter is distributed via email but is also hard copied for members not using computers so a simple template would probably be preferable. Any advice would be most welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Author:  keithmart [ 10 Dec 2017, 23:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help required
Hi

I have done this job in the past.

I have found that you will get very little help from club members for articles. That means that you will need to research information yourself. Look in the internet for interesting bits and pieces. find out what other bonsai clubs do, and follow the Japanese idiom 'copy, adapt and improve'.

Do NOT try and be too clever on the layout, use a good word processor to compose the newsletter (Open office is free and has all the features you will need. https://www.openoffice.org/download/)

Good luck with it, and pm me if I can help.
Author:  Gary Jones [ 10 Dec 2017, 23:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help required
Best of luck.
Author:  Paul B [Swindon] [ 11 Dec 2017, 09:49 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help required
We used to have a newsletter back in the dark days, but it is always difficult to find articles to print from just a single club.......... then there is the costs.

Paul Goff used to do a very good online newsletter which included displays and events, which at least kept everyone informed.

Unfortunately, after his death Fobbs [Federation of British Bonsai] then took on the task and has improved greatly........... http://www.fobbsbonsai.co.uk/pdfs/BONSAINEWS20.pdf

Does the Scottish Bonsai Association have something the same or even via their web site?

If they do then information from your club would help to keep this going and save you a lot of time and cost
Author:  Gary Jones [ 11 Dec 2017, 11:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help required
Can you start by replicating something similar to the current one your club has and then making changes as you settle into the role?
Author:  Keith.W [ 11 Dec 2017, 13:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help required
Thanks for the replies and information, I should have mentioned that this newsletter is for the entire SBA and not just my club, unfortunately apart from the website our newsletter is the only form of communication with lots of members who do not have or do not use computers. I will have a look at the openoffice programme and see how that works. Paul your example is what I expect to publish style wise I think the biggest problem is gathering other club info etc. Gary I think the route of improving as I go is probably not a bad idea. As for gathering information from the web how do I stand regarding copyright etc, is it a case of if it's on the web any one can copy it and use it? I would not want to get into trouble or upset anyone.
Author:  TomB [ 11 Dec 2017, 14:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help required
Keith.W wrote:
is it a case of if it's on the web any one can copy it and use it?

No. If you want to reproduce anything you need to ask the owner, unless it's published under a special license that allows other people to re-use it (google 'creative commons licenses') or is an excerpt you are working with under 'fair use' or 'fair dealing' copyright exemptions - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright
Author:  Paul B [Swindon] [ 11 Dec 2017, 14:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help required
Keith,

It's a shame that SBA couldn't combine with Fobbs over the newsletter. They have Northern Ireland and Wales members who can contribute to the news letter as and when with articles, information and shows. I am sure that there are a lot of people who travel South and those that go North of the Wall........ :07hysterical: :132doh:

That way all the dates and shows can be circulated in the UK, instead of two news letters with different things. After all they are the Federation of 'BRITISH'

I know that when Fobbs took it over articles were slow to arrive but then it is down to the members and clubs to submit things, you will see from the link on my first post that it is going in the right direction with some interesting reads.

I think that most is done on 'Word' but you could always speak to the Chairman or the Editor of Fobbs News letter [David Cheshire] to get some ideas...... http://www.fobbsbonsai.co.uk/contactus.htm

Most of the articles in the newsletter are either submitted by the club or individuals or if one of Fobbs attends a show and takes their own photos.
Author:  Gary Jones [ 11 Dec 2017, 15:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help required
Hmm. Working together? What strange new concept is this?
Author:  Keith.W [ 11 Dec 2017, 16:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: Help required
Paul B [Swindon] wrote:
Keith,

It's a shame that SBA couldn't combine with Fobbs over the newsletter. They have Northern Ireland and Wales members who can contribute to the news letter as and when with articles, information and shows. I am sure that there are a lot of people who travel South and those that go North of the Wall........ :07hysterical: :132doh:

That way all the dates and shows can be circulated in the UK, instead of two news letters with different things. After all they are the Federation of 'BRITISH'

I know that when Fobbs took it over articles were slow to arrive but then it is down to the members and clubs to submit things, you will see from the link on my first post that it is going in the right direction with some interesting reads.

I think that most is done on 'Word' but you could always speak to the Chairman or the Editor of Fobbs News letter [David Cheshire] to get some ideas...... http://www.fobbsbonsai.co.uk/contactus.htm


Most of the articles in the newsletter are either submitted by the club or individuals or if one of Fobbs attends a show and takes their own photos.


Thanks for your help with this Paul, I will get in touch with FOBBS and see if there is a way to share some of the information and articles. The SBA newsletter has always been set out a certain way so maybe a wee shake up with interesting articles from all over will encourage SBA members to participate more and get involved more with the newsletter. Obviously there are certain things that are put in every month that the SBA members expect such as Convener contact details, club night information and SBA business news but I am sure members would appreciate additional content. Thanks again much appreciated.
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