Thank you, Ron.

It's so easy for naysayers to say that an idea will not be worthwhile, rather than to think creatively of ways to make it so. Having published a monthly newsletter for Berkeley in the past, I know it was well-received and lots of fun.

For example:

We have heard that information has been poorly disseminated to the members on such issues as grants. Where are they publicized? *

Where do we read race reports from the winners of racers who are not on our team? *

Where do we get interviews or columns from interesting personalities in the region? *

Where can newer racers read descriptions of races on the calendar? *

Where does the Secretary publish the minutes of the membership meeting? *

* NOWHERE

Are we truly so jaded that the only benefit we can see from something so potentially entertaining and informative is the sale of ad space?? Please.

What about a place where coaches can make a regular contribution?

Important information regarding things like available grant programs can be published?

A place where Meeting minutes can be published in a timely manner?

A file that people can save, print, and perhaps read later at a more convenient time. (Like when they are not at work)

I think some are so focused on what it "might" not be able to do that you are forgetting to look for the possibilities and it's potential.

I mentioned it to John Trefethen, and in seconds he tossed back some very viable possibilities of how an e-newsletter could be a very cool thing that will have value.

You can't create of you are focused on all the things you don't want. You can only create when you look for the potential in something.

Yes, the board has some important things to look after in the next few coming months, but that doesn't mean we allow ourselves to become so burdened with the mundane that we stop innovation and creativity.

Ron

If the primary function (and as you both described, it would be) of the newsletter is as a marketing piece, then it will have little real value to the "readers" and when potential advertisers ask you to provide evidence of the readership you won't have a very appealing answer.

And I agree that the BOD has some much more important matters to be focused on for the foreseeable future.

Beth, I absolutely agree with you about the timeliness of information in a newsletter. The one advantage of having a newletter (or news portal) is that it's a passive marketing piece for folks outside the NCNCA community (sponsors and potential sponsors for both NCNCA and individual events as well as folks who might be interested in racing and stumble upon the NCNCA website).

Lorri

I don't think a monthly newsletter is a particularly good use of anyone's time. It is quite time consuming writing, collecting, editing and formatting stories for a several page newsletter-- especially something coming out on a monthly basis. There is so much instantaneous real-time e-communication floating around already on mediums like blogs, forums, lists, internet news sources, that i don't see a newsletter offering much value-added information, and will most like be duplicative and out-dated. Personally, I wouldn't expect board members to focus their energies here.