Can any members tell me when the last index to 009 News was produced please?
Has anyone done an index that has not been published?
Are the CD versions fully
As far as I know the last full index was the one David Camis put together. The CD that I have runs from Vol 1 to Vol 30. I also have a feeling that someone did an odd year that apperaed in 009 News one or 2 years ago.
The Camis CD was done on Microsoft Office 2000 as an Excel document, and does not include the Letters, Branchlines and Diary sections. It is searchable to a point in that I have just used the 'Find' function to highlight a specific author. I assume that one could use a filter to isolate a list of articles by a specific author (rather than have them highlighted in the fill list of entries) but I'm not good enough with Excel to do that. Plus I'm using a iMac with Open.Office (rather than a PC with MS Windoze on it).
Thanks Julien
The CD
At the risk of straying into territory of "should be raised with the committee and not discussed here", it could be worth asking them to consider the practicality of generating an electronic index at source? I am sure there are complications, including extra work for those involved but here is not the place to discuss them.
I will write a short letter to the Editor raising the subject to save extending this branch of the discussion. If anyone has views on this matter but does not want to write themselves, please send me a "Private Message".
Sorry to disagree Graeme, but as Brian said in his initial post...
Quote from: B.Meldon on March 30, 2011, 08:29
I have been asked to find this out because one of the Essex Group members has been creating a new index starting from the latest news and working backwards including adding each new issue as it comes out.
Brian Meldon
Rather than burdoning Mark with an additional job (indexing each issue after he has finished it), would it not be better to let Brian's collegue get on with the job he has undertaken on his own initiative and we, as fellow members of The 009 Society, give him as much assistance as we can?
Having sat at the high table in the past (still have the scars!) I can't think of anything better than someone coming up with some idea and having taken the time to actually put some work in to seeing it through themselves, in sharp contrast to the usual approach of "I think it would be a good idea if
someone else who is not me did this" - because (of course) all the Committee members do not have any need to go out to work, do any modelling, have a home life or a social life outside of 009... ::)
It seems to me that Brian's Essex Group collegue is already doing the work, and Brian is just checking how far back he needs to go before duplicating Dave Camis' efforts and (presumably) how well Dave's work would tie up with his own (probably comupting compatability issues). I'll admit that an approach to the Committee may be useful, but only to check that no one else is doing the same job so that duplication of effort can be avoided, and if someone is then efforts can be coordinated.
I could not agree more Julien. People often forget that all the society officials and the editor of the News are volunteers, basically working for our benefit without receiving any material gain for them selves other than the satisfaction of contributing to our hobby.
You are also absolutely correct about my motives. It was indeed to see how far back he needs to go with the index.
However he has said that depending on the format and content of the previous indexes he may well go all the way back to newsletter No1 anyway! The further back he goes the less content there is anyway. 1973 to 1977 for example easily fit in one section of hanging file in my filling cabinet.
I have already given him many duplicate 009 News that I have and as I also have all the previous 009 News (except for Newsletter No1 that I have misplaced.) I will lend the others to him as (and if) required.
Rest assured I have given much encouragement to this project and knowing the individual involved I am sure he will see it through.
Brian Meldon
GraemeD is absolutely correct, this is a matter to be raised to the Committee but the correct avenue for this is not via Mark, the Editor, but to Charlie the Secretary.
Before anybody launches into protracted duplication of work, I know that this subject has been raised regularly to committee by several people, myself included, in the past and without any intention of getting involved in further discussions about it, I also know that a Wessex NGM member submitted an example index he had produced and a proposal that this be accepted, along with his offer to continue the work should the Committee decide to proceed. This was a year or so ago and the last time I queried, it was "still under consideration". To be fair, I think those on the Committee who would make executive decisions on this sort of thing have been rather tied up on the big proposal to do with corporate company status that is on the agenda for the AGM this year as every member will know.
I can only suggest that if the Essex Group wish to take the job on, then a proposal submitted via the correct channels is the way to proceed.
EDIT Addendum: To complete the provenance loop - although David Camis reproduced and distributed the previous index, it was actually compiled by William Loyd, of the SWOONS Group. David scanned all the back issues and offered a CD service and also took on the distribution of the index, but it was William that produced it. It would probably be a sensible idea to contact William directly regarding format he used, details etc etc if compatibility is desired. If you don't have his addresss or email, he would be able to be contacted via Memsec, or an email to Geoff Bowyer Society Treasurer (contact details in 009 News page 3), who is also SWOONS Chairman, and I'm sure he would forward any contact requests on to William.
Like Julien, I am not a committee member and am only advising from my own perspective
Mick
Thanks Mick. You have clarified the matter in my mind completely.
I apologise for the somewhat oblique term "at source" and did not intend to imply that it should be yet another task for our hard-working editor.
I am all for individuals contributing their efforts for the common good (009 Society does suggest it). Individuals taking on a private initiative with a view to producing a pilot run of some activity and then presenting it to the Society for consideration as you state, sounds like an excellent way forward.
However I am aware of the dangers of the alternative of proceeding in isolation on the assumption that the results would be acceptable to the Society, so by "at source" I meant working with and not in isolation. Working in liaison with the producers of the magazine will no doubt give those carrying out the task far greater insight into the task as well as access to information and materials that are not available to someone working in isolation.
Thank you all.
I will pass on all the comments made.
Brian Meldon