A monthly newsletter!

[thewharfonline]

Hey all PD's

I was thinking earlier if a monthly newsletter that could be downloaded from the site or recieved by email would be a good idea. I would volunteer to write it too (to give you other modelers time to model!) or put it together with various members writing articles!

The newsletter could contain:
The amount of members at time of realease
Member of the month (like a review on the members modelling etc)
Plans for paddlers that people have created (not stolen from a site...copyright ya know)
Information on various paddlers from around the world with lots of pictures etc
Beginners corner! (thats one for me!)
Puzzles (like cross words)
Model making Reports
a "message from the big ducks" like Eddy and PJ etc

They are some basic ideas if you have any more paste below and make sure you vote in the pole for if you would like a newsletter to be created!

I'm going to create a basic idea version for you all to see and take a look at so I might get to work on that so you guys can have a look at it!

[Eddy Matthews]

A great idea Sean.... However, I can foresee a couple of problems...

#1. It can take a LOT longer than people realise to create a newsletter! I know, I've done it in the past and it's not just a question of spending an hour jotting a few things down - So before you commit yourself please think about it carefully. There's nothing worse than starting something like this (even with the best intentions in the world) and then finding you have to abandon it because of the amount of time it takes!

#2. Rather than a monthly newletter, a quarterly would probably be better... Firstly it means you only have 4 to compile per year, and secondly it also means you have more material to draw from. I think that a monthly newsletter would leave you struggling to find suitable material to include, certainly until we get more users taking an active part in the forum.

Perhaps if you did a "test" newsletter - not for distribution, but to give yourself a better idea of what is involved and how long it takes to do? It will also allow you to experiment with the layout - I would suggest we need to have a layout defined that remains constant for each issue... Imagine a TV programme magazine - there's nothing worse than buying the magazine only to find that the order of the TV listings changes with every issue!

Please don't take my comments the wrong way - I think you've hit on a superb idea. I just want to be sure that your fully aware of what your taking on. As long as your happy with that please go right ahead - I can quickly create a page to put the articles onto so the users can download the newsletters.

[thewharfonline]

I fully agree Eddy, every two months or so could also work too but yes I agree. I began work today on a test layout...I had a really dull day at home!

I got a header going and I set out some brief things but my articles are only very very limited that i cn make up by myself

SOOOOO if you wanna help me out write me an article now and we'll get a test newsletter up and running because I'm up for it!

The good thing is Eddy that I still have time at the moment to do this in a week/month/quaterly because I don't have a job as yet so theres lots of spare time of me blubbing away doing nothing after school, so the newsletter is something I want to do!

PS. i already work for a newsletter for a german club my family are part of and I also used to commit a segment each month to a Lord Of the Rings newsletter so its not the biggest thing yet!

Come on Paddle Ducky's give me something to work with! Your time starts...now!

[Eddy Matthews]

As much as I'd like to help with articles, I'm afraid I just don't have the time right now Sean, so is anyone else up for it to help Sean get this off the ground?

Unfortunately my wifes epilepsy is worse than normal, I have a severely mentally and physically handicapped daughter to look after, and I also run (or help to run) another 3 websites besides Paddleducks, so free time to commit to something else isn't something that's in plentiful supply right now! :-(

[PJ]

Hi from Canada, Sean!

I really think your enthusiasm is commendable and you are an inspiration to us older dudes with your passion for paddlers... (Hey there's an idea for a Paddleducky T-shirt "Paddleducks - Passion for Paddlers").  

Now the newsletter is a good idea and I want to encourage you to develop your writing skills. However, let me throw in a couple of ideas here, (from one who has also produced them so I agree with a lot of what Eddy wrote.)

Newsletters eventually turn out to be a chore for the editor!  You're always having to turn the earth to get people to contribute, wrack your brains for new ideas and you always end up doing all of the work on your own...and deadlines suck!!! What starts as a great idea eventually can turn into a nightmare!

Bear in mind of course, the forum here is a bit like a newsletter in which all of us are contributors.  We moderators do not determine the content in any way, so it's a bit like an informal "pot roast" party at which we are the hosts and others bring something along.  Nobody is under deadlines or having to appeal for content and inspiration..it just happens through synergy.  Actually the only one who's under pressure is Eddy who has to make sure the bar is kept stocked!

You are an extremely promising young writer and are very talented in the way you express yourself.  You also know a quite a lot about paddlers.  

Rather than a regular newsletter, would you like to consider producing some Paddleducks articles and help develop the "content" side of the Website.  Eddy is too busy to do this and he's been encouraging me to do it also.  Many of the excellent "newsletter" ideas you mentioned in your first post can be incorporated and you could certainly consider producing a Paddleducks "Newsdesk" which would take breaking news, announcements or latest information as it happens. It's almost like a newsletter because the content would be changing but without you having to make deadlines and keep searching for editorial content.  

I once made a list of ideas for articles and features for Paddleducks and I'd be happy to share these with you.  Like you said, "featured modeller" and member profiles which could be included on a regular basis.  I kinda like the idea of developing a "Paddlers of the World" type structure where we would feature articles and information on a global geographical basis.  Maybe each country (or continent) would be it's own kind of PD website? For instance, a "Paddlers of Australia" site which would feature the Murray and all it's fabulous paddlers, the Manly Ferries of Sydney Harbour, and lots historical stuff from "down under" and modeling information from our PD's there.

We have a lot of writing talent in this forum (after all, that's how we communicate) so it shouldn't be too hard to start developing more "Paddleducks" features and articles and boosting the permanent content side.    

Would you like to do something along these lines?  

All the best and thanks for being such an active member of "PD's".  I always enjoy the enthusiasm and vitality of your posts

Best regards

PJ
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

[steamboatmodel]

Hi Sean,
I have to agree with Eddy and PJ, make sure that you know what you are getting into. I have worked on a few newsletters and group magazines pre-internet days and it always ended up a BLACK HOLE into which the Time and energy of a few were poured. I think you should read PJ's reply very carefully and think about a few atricles first. This is NOT to but you down or to say your idea is bad, but to give you some advice from some of us old drakes.
Regards
Gerald

[thewharfonline]

"Rather than a regular newsletter, would you like to consider producing some Paddleducks articles and help develop the "content" side of the Website.  Eddy is too busy to do this and he's been encouraging me to do it also.  Many of the excellent "newsletter" ideas you mentioned in your first post can be incorporated and you could certainly consider producing a Paddleducks "Newsdesk" which would take breaking news, announcements or latest information as it happens. It's almost like a newsletter because the content would be changing but without you having to make deadlines and keep searching for editorial content.  

I once made a list of ideas for articles and features for Paddleducks and I'd be happy to share these with you. "

Thanks for your posts guys and I really thankyou for your ideas! I really like the idea of the 'newsdesk' because yes I agree with going braindead and deadlined and I would love to hear those ideas PJ and I definately am now thinking that the 'content' way to go is better than the newsletter!

However I don't know how to set up something like that...whether it would be its on thread or whatnot if you guys can help me out there I'd be happy to begin working on some content.

Creating seperate websites like PD Australia is kinda time consuming I think...you know you have to have the page...pay for it unless you go for geocities etc and then you only have very very very limited space! So that idea might have to be held back for awhile!