OTCA Magazine

[Bidoofdude]

Hi,
I thought it would be a great idea each week or month to create an OTCA magazine containing key news and stuff from the forums. I drew up a quick sketch which can be seen on my Flickr page. Please support this as we can showcase collections each week and list good deals by members; basically a summary of events.
Here is my Flickr photostream: (also art pics and collection pics)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68801062@N05/
Also, check out my art! (lol free advertising)

[GoktimusPrime]

griffin used to print/distribute club newsletters back in the day. But that was before we had an online forum -- now all news, sales, reviews, art etc. gets posted here. Saves more trees. ;) griffin has uploaded the old newsletters in The Ark section of the board (http://otca.com.au/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=43), so you can check 'em out there. :)

#1 (Oct '96) (http://otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=12181) | #2 (Nov '96) (http://otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=12233) | #3 (Dec '96) (http://otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=12278) | #4 (Jan '97) (http://otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=12317) | #5 (http://otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=12357) | #12 (Sep '97) (http://otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=12495)

[Defcon]

But still... A printed magazine is really cool when you think about it! if only once a year to summarize the year. But, I think the online newsletter is the way to go, I think it helps alot of new people.

[Sharky]

PDF tools are great for this type of thing.. no need for trees....

[Paulbot]

Griffin does a regular e-newsletter summarising what's new and happening. But time pressure delays it sometimes but he puts a good effort into it.

It's not a bad idea but personally I'd rather keep trying to get a Ozformers Collections book (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=8145) done and self published via a book making service like Blurb or something similar. Again though comes down to time.

[Bidoofdude]

I could make some in pdf format, if you guys want.

[5FDP]

Just my two cents - PDF format would be the way to go. TFW produces something similar already however they have a lot more resources at their disposal. I for one would have a minimal contribution if any.

[griffin]

I only have a PDF reader, I can't afford a PDF editor... so I resort to standard HTML, which is still fine to use and read.

A regular newsletter is time-consuming though, as the weekly news emails I do/did (most of the year, but stop around BotCon... and take a few months to get back motivated again), usually take 2+ hours. And that's just a text email with links to all the interesting stuff (news, sightings, info, meets, creative, new members) during one week. The monthly printed ones I used to do took a few days to do.

I'd love to have a weekly or monthly newsletter again, if I had the time to do it, but the number of people interested in one (based on feedback and readership) just didn't make it a worthwhile venture.

Not trying to be a wet blanket over enthusiasm (like I said, I'd do it again if my circumstances change - the monthly magazine I did while at Uni, so had heaps of time), I just want to make people aware that it is a big job, and a big ongoing commitment. Which is why the concept could return in the future, just not by me at this time.

For those keen, post up an "issue" (using a recent week or month of postings here), and we'll see what you can do (and you can see how long it takes).

[Bidoofdude]

I only have a PDF reader, I can't afford a PDF editor... so I resort to standard HTML, which is still fine to use and read.

A regular newsletter is time-consuming though, as the weekly news emails I do/did (most of the year, but stop around BotCon... and take a few months to get back motivated again), usually take 2+ hours. And that's just a text email with links to all the interesting stuff (news, sightings, info, meets, creative, new members) during one week. The monthly printed ones I used to do took a few days to do.

I'd love to have a weekly or monthly newsletter again, if I had the time to do it, but the number of people interested in one (based on feedback and readership) just didn't make it a worthwhile venture.

Not trying to be a wet blanket over enthusiasm (like I said, I'd do it again if my circumstances change - the monthly magazine I did while at Uni, so had heaps of time), I just want to make people aware that it is a big job, and a big ongoing commitment. Which is why the concept could return in the future, just not by me at this time.

For those keen, post up an "issue" (using a recent week or month of postings here), and we'll see what you can do (and you can see how long it takes).

Seems like quite a time-consuming task. I might get a draft page started to see how I can go. Anyone interested can help me my replying here or pm.