Questions about THE NEWS

[Frank]

CP

To reply in the same vein you adopt:

I'm repeating myself here.
1. the Society IS its members and area groups.
2. the area groups have been with us almost since day one and are an important part (lifeline?) of the promotion and progression of the society.
3, the area group reports are an important flag wave for the group, a link for someone who may either be new to the society or has moved into the geographical area.

4. the group reports are a fundemental part of the News and unless I get told by the Directors to take the section out, it will remain.
Seperate newssheets are not in anyway a cost saving in fact it would be more work and an extra layer. If I need the space in the News I can generate it.

The 009 News is the newsletter of the society (the clue is in the title) if there is a part of it that doesn't interest you (does anyone read the blue info strip under Branchlines?) then turn the page to the bits that do.

Branchlines will stay.

*

Once again - no, no, no.

YES YES YES


There is irrational argument here and it needs to be refuted. I will take each of the points made by Chris in order.

[1]   Yes the Society is its members

[Ozymandius]

I don't belong to an area group but do read "Branchlines" when the fancy takes me.  I see it as an interesting insight into the nitty gritty of the society.

I agree with the Hon Editor (and others) that it should remain and those who indulge in the bold font approach to pushing their personal views should consider that they still only have one vote.

Best regards
Tony

[B.Meldon]

On a slightly different track what are forum members views on historical modelling articles in 009 News.

Obviously, I am interested in these having written the whole series about the Egger-bahn range starting in 2013 and previously covered the Roco locos some years ago now. But I stopped the Egger articles when I thought that interest was dwindling.
Did 009 News readers really want to know why Egger-Bahn produced a van advertising a mineral water company, or another with an Austrian dairy

[Chris Ford]

I think one a month would get a few moans, but the occasional look back is nice for the balance and gets the Editor's vote. On the same tack; considering the amount of non British RTR out there from Bemo etc, I get virtually no German/French/Austrian articles coming in.

[Malcolm]

On a slightly different track what are forum members views on historical modelling articles in 009 News.

Obviously, I am interested in these having written the whole series about the Egger-bahn range starting in 2013 and previously covered the Roco locos some years ago now. But I stopped the Egger articles when I thought that interest was dwindling.
Did 009 News readers really want to know why Egger-Bahn produced a van advertising a mineral water company, or another with an Austrian dairy

[Chris Ford]

FYI The Jouef article mentioned above is in two parts from the December issue and very good it is too. More please.
I'm ignoring the second point. Next!

[cp.409067]

*

It would appear some gentlemen are getting over concerned about the use of bold type. The real issue is the genuine difference of opinion about the desirability or not of the Branchlines reports taking up space in

[Chris Ford]

Noted

[MickT]

Christopher,

I'm afraid that this is all getting a bit passionate and personal. I don't think it is necessary to lay down a massive tome that looks like the minutes of a tribunal with detailed evidence against the accused for suggesting something that you don't like.

I think this thread was started with the intention of seeking feedback to how people feel about 009 News in general and there has been some useful feedback noted as well as some healthy debate and indeed some strong opinions. It has also become quite clear that there are differing opinions about both the content of Branchlines and the fact that it exists at all. That is fine but it is Society policy to have this feature in the Society Newsletter, because that is what 009 News is primarily.

Chris is not an elected executive director with the power to make executive decisions on behalf of the membership, he is an appointed officer who does not have a vote on the Board (read the constitution and rules of the Society). His role is simply to print what is submitted to him by the members, with the obvious editorial licence to use the editorial blue pencil where required but he cannot decide on his own to remove a fixed feature of the publication. You may not be aware but even the front page masthead style is decided by an executive policy directive as is the typeface and housestyle  of the publication overall.

If your feelings about having a membership survey are as strong as your posting suggests, then I can only suggest that instead of posting it here, you should approach the Chairman through the recognised way of submitting your proposal/request in writing either electronically by email or by letter through the Society Secretary and it will then be brought to the attention of the Board of Directors who will obviously be required to let you know their decision in due course.

This thread has been both informative, sometimes entertaining, generally friendly and very useful in my opinion. Before it gets too far out of hand and civil war, mass resignations and etc break out, can we please all remain as friends whose opinions may sometimes differ, but get back to the healthy discussion if there is more to be had.

One positive thing that has come out so far is that it appears that at long last you have discovered how to turn the very aggressive bold text off on your keyboard.

Peace, Goodwill and Harmony to All

Mick

[invercloy]

Well that escalated...

I stand by my suggestion to consider other ways of publishing Branchlines. However, I know just how much a 'marmite' thing it is.

I always tried to publish or promote content that I thought was interesting to the membership. In no way are my comments a comment on Chris' work as I think he's doing a great job. Merely a way of promoting some discussion about the balance between printed and online content and the ability to flex some of the more frequently updated items to perhaps a more appropriate format - online versions of Branchlines would enable people to look back through them chronologically really easily for example.

Each to their own :)

[Alan Feldon]

!)The society newsletter existed for years without branchline reports despite the existence of local groups during that period.
2) Why not just publish a list of local groups with contact details,meets etc so that any member can see if there is a group in his/her area and can join if they want to .
Surely what is needed is a vote open to all members as to whether or not branchlines continues in its present format .
All this needs is a form to be sent out to all members (whether by post or in the case of overseas members on line ) The result then to be accepted by all members irrespective of the result or how few actually vote .

[Hobby]

We've had the "approach the directors" before and despite some of us doing that we get no response, Mick (and Rod). Hence many of us post on here just to get out view heard.

Moving on...


I'm with Chris on the Branchlines discussion:

1. Unlike most of the rest of the News, Branchlines is of very little use (except for the contact details) as soon as it's published, who brought what to the meeting is very nice to those who were there but damn all use to the rest of us. Unlike articles and photos of exhibitions.
2. Publishing the reports online would allow (Angela!) more room for those who are interested in the trivia.
3. Not all the Groups are there so the argument that it allows new members to see where their local group is is false, the M5/M50 Group for instance hasn't published for a while yet i can assure you they are still going. A simple list of ALL groups with contact details/next meetings will cover that together with details of their next meeting.
4. If the person writing the Branchline for their group finds there is something of real interest to those outside their group then I'd suggest writing it as a separate article so it can be included in the News (with suitable plugging of where it came from). That way Chris gets even more useful stuff to publish and the Group can show local non-members that it's worth going to the meets!

[Hobby]

Moving on (again)...

Why is there such a negative response from those in charge to the idea of a survey? I'd have thought that if the Directors really want to know hwo the Membership feel and thus the way the Membership wishes the Society to proceed in the future that's probably the only way to get the views of most of the membership.

Yes I know it'll involve some work and careful wording but I'm sure the Society could afford to consult someone about that side of things if they genuinely want to take things forward.

At the moment it seems that "the only way" to get ideas to those in charge is via a "letter" to the Directors - to those who think that way I'd say:

1. This is a Society, not a limited company and it's the Membership who rule, not the Management.
2. Things have moved on since the 70s when we were set up, there are now many ways we can converse, the Society needs to move with the times!

[Hobby]

Third and last(!) subject to be discussed from me (I've done three posts so those who insist on quoting a post and not pruning only have  to quote a small amount!)...


Can we Please, Please, Please, have the option of an electronic version of the News. You'd have thought that in these days of trying to save everything from trees to whales and the modern ways of communications we'd have had at least the option to choose to receive it that way!

[Chris Ford]

Blair, The electronic News question raises it's head monthly. Not my department. Technically it IS a digital document as that is how it is generated before it goes to paper. There are negative costings to consider as I'm sure you will recognise, as the more copies are printed, the cost stays down: and the reverse. Might be worth raising this at the AGM, though I suspect that will be the answer.


BTW the 009 Society is a limited company. See p23 of the News. This was done to prevent the membership losing if there was a litigation case against us. One or two other societies have also done this, I assume for similar reasons; the Gauge O Guild comes to mind. Hence the committee are now Directors and have to jump through the legal hoops to qualify for this in legal terms.