Subject: Newsletters

From: [email-masked] (Michael G. Cooper)
Date: Mon, 2 Sep 1996 11:27:59 -0700 (MST)

This one's to all the newsletter editors in the group.  I edit the
newsletter of the Arizona Artist Blacksmith's Assoc. and, although I've
changed the format a little bit from when Bill Callaway was ed., I haven't
tried to change the logistics.  I put it together and take it down to
Kinko's where they copy it 300 times.  I bring it home and run a roll of
labels, stick them on, stick on the stamps and cart the whole thing down to
the mailbox and dump it in.
I've had mixed results using a copying place for reproduction, including
some pretty interesting mistakes.  I've looked into bulk mail, but the lead
time seems too long.  I've gotten quotes from a few printers, but again,
lead time and not much of a price advantage.
Can some of the editors (or any other interested party) respond with some
info on how you do business?
'Preciate it!

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From: David Wilson <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 12:04:54 -0600

Michael G. Cooper said,
>info on how you do business?

Sounds like that is the best method to me, for short runs. Also...

I've worked on several newsletters over the years, but am not involved on
the mailing end. What I've done is have a generic "shell" printed up by a
mom and pop type printer, with the masthead only on it. Then, later, quick
copy the internal text. The advantage to this is that you can make a great
looking masthead and print it on better looking paper (you supply) than
what most quick copy places have available. A short run of 300 won't be
practical at a commercial printer, but a shell amount of about 4000 would
be. This should last you for a year at 300 newsletters per month.

I assume you're doing this on a computer with the mailing list in a label
program.

It would seem that you could print a bulk rate permit box on the shell,
would save the manual stamping. But like I said, I'm not too familiar with
that.

--
David
http://www.flash.net/~dwwilson/
[email-masked]

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From: Jim McCarty <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 15:34:23 -0500

> info on how you do business?

Hi Michael,

Sorry so long getting back to you. I edit the BAM Newsletter and maybe 
I can be of some assistance. If you are doing 300 copies you have 
enough circulation to consider going to the magazine format like BAM, 
the California Blacksmith, The Bituminous Bits etc. You'll find the 
magazine brings in more members who subscribe just to get the 
publication. We have 400 members or so, and I'd say at least 1/4 are 
out of state. I get mine done at the Missourian Publishing which 
prints the Hammer's Blow and Jerry Hoffmann's Blacksmiths Journal. 
It's pretty simple to deal with them -- they do all the mailing etc. 
We mail first class except on those rare occasions when I have enough 
lead time that we don't worry about missing the next meeting date.

If your budget allows it I would find a local printer who can handle 
the thing for you. Likely they can do all the paste up etc for you and 
your job will get easier, the quality will improve and your membership 
will grow making up for the added expense. If you don't mind the long 
distance relationship, I will give you a contact at the Missourian. 
They really are doing a super job, not sure what we are paying as I 
never see the bills.

Anything I can help with, let me know.
Jim
-- 
Jim McCarty
Father Helias Forge
Taos, MO
Editor Rural Missouri Magazine
Newsletter editor, Blacksmiths Association of Missouri

³Foolish consistencies are the hobgoblins of little minds³