L&RP/RyPN Discussion on Facebook

nathansixchime · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:03 pm **Posts:** 948

Aaron,

I sent an email through the ATRRM site a few days ago asking to chat about some of these things.

At the FWRHS we've batted around the printed newsletter vs. digital conversation a time or two.

I think many groups are in the middle of the road, and a digital PDF versus the hard copy of something isn't always half as compelling or useful as either a printed edition or all-digital edition.

I would venture a model that focuses on the exclusivity of a one or two printed publications during the year (annual report, special report, etc) and produces staggered, generally accessible digital content throughout the year is probably a way we'll go eventually. I think the intent and content of a newsletter can help influence how that information is delivered. For our folks, the printed newsletter is something of a "prize" as much as it may be a good way to provide in-depth content and coverage that may be treated only superficially online through the website or social media: http://fortwaynerailroad.org/wp-content ... r-2013.pdf

If there's a way to blend the ATRRM conversation with RYPN 2.0. I wouldn't mind being a part of any of those discussions. I believe FWRHS' membership is current.

Dave · **Posted:** Wed Dec 03, 2014 7:32 pm

Have we thought about the idea of an online log of articles and links that is frequently updates supplementing a printed annual (or whatever) newsletters that would cover all the official and necessary business requirements? News is fluid, bureaucracy is not.......this would allow each medium to serve as it serves best.

dave

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3010

ARM TRAIN editor wrote:

So far the options seem to be:
1. Continue only with the quarterly print magazine.
2. Go online only.
3. Do print and online in parallel.

I'll be bringing a cost comparison to the ATRRM Board, which will decide how to move forward.

If any of you are TRRM readers, I'd like your feedback on those options. Bear in mind that ATRRM has limited funds, and Option 3 is the most expensive.
Aaron Isaacs, editor
Tourist Railroads & Railway Museums

TRAIN was already doing option 3 prior to the merger. The additional cost from option 1 was very minimal, as they simply gave me (the webmaster) a pdf file which I downsized as much as possible to keep it manageable, and then posted it on the website. I included this as part of the services offered as webmaster.

I also set up an entire Vbulletin Forum for the use of TRAIN. Despite being heavily promoted at a couple of conventions and wonderful contributions from several members, it simply never reached "critical mass" where there were enough conversations to encourage folks to participate. Hopefully now that more folks are comfortable online, it will work better.

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2127

(JAN. 1, 2015) Just moving this RYPN related discussion back up for the New Year.

PC

robertmacdowell · **Posted:** Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:53 am

The real reason to maintain an online archive of newsletters and other docs is that they are SEARCHABLE. Your PC has built-in features to search within PDFs. It makes it really easy to find the right newsletter!

Bobharbison wrote:

ARM TRAIN editor wrote:

1. Continue only with the quarterly print magazine.
2. Go online only.
3. Do print and online in parallel. …. Option 3 is the most expensive.

TRAIN was already doing option 3 prior to the merger. The additional cost from option 1 was very minimal, as they simply gave me (the webmaster) a pdf file

Right. Unless you're farming the job out to someone who is fleecing you, it should be free. Your editor has to make a PDF anyway to send it to the printer! It literally takes them 2 more minutes to make a "reduced file size" version. I'm assuming you will maintain an email list manually and send it out via a free email service like Yahoo or Hotmail or Gmail.

If you don't want to bother with list management, join verticalresponse.com as they offer 10,000 emails a month free to nonprofits. Then readers can join/quit the list themselves. They won't let you attach a heavy PDF... but you just put it on your website, Google Docs, Scribd, whatever… and then email out the *link* to the newsletter.

If you want free email service on your site, join Google Apps for Nonprofits. When they say "apps" they mean email on the domain. Well, they also mean file sharing and apps in the cloud: word processing, spreadsheets, database etc.