Vol. 12 No. 1

[Nick]

Bob

Many thanks for the latest issue, just received. The colour images are a great improvement (just as in the new Scotts and Gibbons). It was disappointing not to get details of auction 29 in the same mailing - I'll just have to get used to waiting and the space thus released for articles makes it worthwhile.

Cheers

Nick #181

[Jesper]

Isn't it typical - people starting to complain before they know how good it's going to be when they see what's in store for them?  

[Nick]

I thought I was being positive.
N

[Jesper]

Oh, sorry, but I believe that in America "disappointing" is leaning toward negative ;-)

Anyway, just wait and see what you get in return for your "loss"  

As an insider I can tell you that the auction listing will be mailed early next week (probably Wednesday Jan. 14, 2004). You should have it in hand around the beginning of the following week.

[Nick]

Oh, sorry, but I believe that in America "disappointing" is leaning toward negative ;-)

I wouldn't dispute that, Jesper. Nevertheless, I'm sure that the auction is a main attraction to the club for many and therefore receiving the journal sans auction details will raise an eyebrow.

The fact that auction details will be along shortly, together with the extra article space thus enabled is suitable recompense.

Cheers, Nick

[Nick]

Auction details now safely received - thank again, chaps.

To save expense, if you can prefer, you can send them together in future.

Cheers

Nick

[Jesper]

HA! No we can't!  

The newsletter and the auction listing has been separated not only in print, but also in time! The reason being that we felt it was nice to receive "something" more frequently.

Also, the auctions may (or may not) occur more frequently than the four times per year the newsletter is scheduled for!

If you don't like that - tell the editor

[Nick]

I'm not complaining - I just thought that, especially for overseas members, a single mailing would save club funds. I'm quite happy to receive them separately and as soon as possible.

Nick

[Tim_Balm]

I'm not complaining - I just thought that, especially for overseas members, a single mailing would save club funds. I'm quite happy to receive them separately and as soon as possible.

Nick

Nick,  Let me provide my perspective on this.  The topic of separating the auction from the newsletter came up over half a year ago.  As the auctions increased in size, they began to dominate the newsletter.  Not only that, but we had to decrease the font size (to what many thought was too small) in order to maintain the newsletter to 12 pages - what is mailed at a 1-ounce rate.  One important thing we needed to do was make the auction more reader-friendly.  We could have done that within the current framework of the newsletter by expanding to 16 or 20 pages.  More pages meant more postage.  Mailig them separately or as a larger mailing was little difference in cost.  There are several good arguements on both sides of this decision.  

Jesper has already mentioned that separate mailings increase the presence of the club through greater frequency of appearance in your mailbox.  To me, personally, separating the mailings meant a bit of peace of mind.  I had a scant 2 weeks to end the ongoing auction (notify winners, pack and post the lots, summarize the auction for the newsletter - including pices realized, etc.) as well as get the upcoming auction prepared (many lots are received just before the deadline - same time as the previous auction ended.  A very hectic time for me - especially before I retired from my full-time job.  Separating the newsletter and the auction eased my personal burden.

Your commetns are very good - especially the point about the postage.  We don't always think of everything in our discussions, so we need your comments to make sure we haven't missed something of importance to the members.  Keep those comments coming.

Tim

[Nick]

Thanks Tim

The latest newsletter and the current auction are both excellent and the hard work of all concerned is much appreciated.

I look forward to contributing towards both in the future.

cheers

Nick