[Nfb-editors] Notting get all the news
Bridgit Pollpeter
bpollpeter at hotmail.com
Fri Mar 11 19:14:40 UTC 2011
Dear List,
I enjoy editing The Nebraska Independent, but we are not publishing all
the newsworthy news out there. So much happens with the Federation and
the blind community at large, but most our articles orbit a tiny
hemesphere.
I am very busy and do not have much time to dedicate to researching what
is going on around the country, or even the state for that matter, nor
do I have the time to whip articles up even when I am aware of news.
Beyond Robert, myself and one other member, I have no one-- even among a
small group who claims to enjoy writing-- to rely on for help in this
department.
I have sent emails to our entire state membership via the website; I
have contacted individual members via email, phone and in person; I have
encouraged members to write articles revolving around their interest; I
have solicited articles and been specific in what I want; I have tried
to set a theme, or focus, with each newsletter in hopes to provide some
direction. I have exhausted myself trying to keep this newsletter
together.
I have been blunt and expressed my concern with our affiliate board, and
I always, always remind everyone that all I am asking for is one
article. One lousy article.
I actually resigned my appointment back in January, and all of a sudden
people popped the cork off their silence.
"We need a newsletter."
"You do such a good job."
"We had the newsletter up and going again, now what will we do?"
Against my better judgment, I decided to remain as editor for the time
being, but once again, I have been met with mostly brick walls when the
subject of article submissions arises.
I know I'm preaching to the choir, and my situation is certainly not
unique, but I alone can not keep this publication afloat.
I did not agree to this appointment so I could publish the same chapter
updates twice a year, or to fill an entire newsletter with my own
writing.
There is so much we could do and focus on, but I can't get a single soul
to agree to submit-- twice a year-- articles informing and discussing on
events state-wide and nation-wide.
Everyone wants a newsletter, but no one wants to do their part.
Like I said, my schedule is not amenable to producing all the material
necessary. I would love to stay on top of human interest stories, and
legislative issues and programs so I could fill our newsletter, but I
just can't. So what do I do? I mean-- I will be blunt here-- when our
leadership doesn't support the newsletter, where do we go?
I am not willing to turn The Nebraska Independent into a newsletter full
of recipes and birthdays and mere reports on annual chapter events.
Sorry, but this is not my vision, and quite frankly, anyone could
produce a newsletter like this.
I don't feel our newsletter is accomplishing what it could. I am tired,
and many opportunities are beginning to blossom for me personally. If I
even had 4 or 5 people to count on for consistent submissions, and help
when I ask, I could continue with a brighter outlook, but I am at my
wit's end.
Perhaps I am just ranting here, but I see what some of you are
accomplishing with your newsletters-- and yes, it takes hard work and
diligence-- but I don't seem to get the support necessary to continue
and grow. When so many people have their hands dipped in so many pots,
how do you get dedication, professionalism and outstanding work done?
Drowning in Nebraska (A.K.A Bridgit)
-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
nfb-editors-request at nfbnet.org
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2011 12:00 PM
To: nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
Subject: Nfb-editors Digest, Vol 76, Issue 11
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Today's Topics:
1. Upcoming newsletters (Bridgit Pollpeter)
2. Re: Upcoming Newsletters? (Chris Kuell)
3. Printing the Hard Copy newsletter- Examples (Robert Leslie Newman)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:05:39 -0600
From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Nfb-editors] Upcoming newsletters
Message-ID: <BLU0-SMTP10705F8197997A2D6062BB6C4C80 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Robert,
I am currently working on The Nebraska Independent, but since my
schedule is so busy right now, it is taking me longer to get everything
done.
I only have a staff of 2, myself and an assistant who helps edit and is
my production editor too.
I plan to send it off to my distribution assistant, and this is where
the release of the newsletter becomes dicey.
My distribution guy can take his jolly time distributing the newsletter.
Last time, it took them a month to distribute it to our membership.
We now distribute it via the affiliate website, which takes time for
them to format the newsletter for this medium, and I wish we had another
assistant who could help with this aspect of the newsletter so it
arrives in a timely manner.
I developed a concept for our newsletter-- and I lean more towards a
creative side-- but not everyone is on board. I try to solicit
articles, but far to often, I am met with silence.
Anyway, I will be able to post
The Nebraska Independent here soon, but our affiliate membership may not
receive it until later.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
nfb-editors-request at nfbnet.org
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 12:00 PM
To: nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
Subject: Nfb-editors Digest, Vol 76, Issue 10
Send Nfb-editors mailing list submissions to
nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
nfb-editors-request at nfbnet.org
You can reach the person managing the list at
nfb-editors-owner at nfbnet.org
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than
"Re: Contents of Nfb-editors digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. Upcoming Newsletters? (Robert Leslie Newman)
2. Re: Upcoming Newsletters? (Tom Scanlan)
3. Re: Upcoming Newsletters? (Jewel S.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 06:44:15 -0600
From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "editors nfb list" <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Nfb-editors] Upcoming Newsletters?
Message-ID: <023401cbdf20$ddb252f0$9916f8d0$@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Dear Editors
Who on this list is presently working on a newsletter? What is it? When
are you planning to publish it? Please give us a super brief
description. (Need any assistance- like article ideas or formatting, or
--- you tell us?)
Robert Leslie Newman
President, Omaha Chapter NFB
President, NFB Writers' Division
Division Website
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
Chair, Newsletter Publication committee
Personal Website-
<http://www.thoughtprovoker.info/> http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 08:10:14 -0600
From: "Tom Scanlan" <tom.scanlan at earthlink.net>
To: <newmanrl at cox.net>, "Correspondence Committee Mailing List"
<nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Nfb-editors] Upcoming Newsletters?
Message-ID: <1DC33471B66B48E9906B15C6FA7F2C4D at tomdddfc55fb39>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
The Minnesota Bulletin will be published in April. It will contain an
extensive report on the state convention last fall.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "editors nfb list" <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 6:44 AM
Subject: [Nfb-editors] Upcoming Newsletters?
> Dear Editors
>
>
>
> Who on this list is presently working on a newsletter? What is it?
> When
> are
> you planning to publish it? Please give us a super brief description.
> (Need
> any assistance- like article ideas or formatting, or --- you tell
us?)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Robert Leslie Newman
>
> President, Omaha Chapter NFB
>
> President, NFB Writers' Division
>
> Division Website
>
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
>
> Chair, Newsletter Publication committee
>
> Personal Website-
>
> <http://www.thoughtprovoker.info/> http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-editors mailing list
> Nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfb-editors:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org/tom.scanlan
%40earthlink.net
>
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:29:33 -0500
From: "Jewel S." <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
To: newmanrl at cox.net, Correspondence Committee Mailing List
<nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Nfb-editors] Upcoming Newsletters?
Message-ID:
<AANLkTimUYG=Z+_pUer6BasGEmiTOdE+-aeftvg0CQ5T- at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Wake Federation of the Blind Newsletter
I briefly turned the newsletter over to the group's president, due to
time constraints. I've got it back and am working on April's newsletter.
I'm going to write about the annual Student Semeinar held by the North
Carolina Association of Students (NCABS), the Independent Living
Center's monthly group meeting for the visually impaired who are looking
to be more active in their community, and the upcoming fundraisers,
Belks' Charity Day and Applebee's Breakfast. If I have the time and the
room, I'll add a little something of a story that will inspire the
members to be more active.
Until later,
Jewel
Wake Federation of the Blind (Raleih, Wake County, North Carolina)
On 3/10/11, Robert Leslie Newman <newmanrl at cox.net> wrote:
> Dear Editors
>
>
>
> Who on this list is presently working on a newsletter? What is it?
> When are you planning to publish it? Please give us a super brief
> description. (Need any assistance- like article ideas or formatting,
> or --- you tell us?)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Robert Leslie Newman
>
> President, Omaha Chapter NFB
>
> President, NFB Writers' Division
>
> Division Website
>
> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
>
> Chair, Newsletter Publication committee
>
> Personal Website-
>
> <http://www.thoughtprovoker.info/> http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-editors mailing list
> Nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfb-editors:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org/herekitty
> kat2%40gmail.com
>
--
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
------------------------------
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------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 08:59:10 -0500
From: "Chris Kuell" <ckuell at comcast.net>
To: <newmanrl at cox.net>, "Correspondence Committee Mailing List"
<nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Nfb-editors] Upcoming Newsletters?
Message-ID: <60642A807007444DA430B96D49B345EA at ChrisPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
The Spring/Summer 2011 issue of the Federationist in Connecticut has
been
sent to our office for production in electronic format, on the web page,
in
braille, large print and on cassette. It should be available in early to
mid
April. It features an outstanding essay titled, Blind Faith, by Georgina
Kleege, a professor in the creative writing program at UC Berkley. Other
articles are, President Signs Pedestrian Safety Act, My Dream Fulfilled
(the
winner of our state's essay contest on what the white cane means to me),
Digital Books Forevermore (a spoof on The Raven ), The 2011 Washington
Seminar, Taking Life By The Reigns )a reprint of a newspaper article
about a
blind girl in CT who rides horses), Here We Go Again (an article by
yours
truly about our governor's attempts to eliminate our state agency for
the
blind), New, Accessible Job Listings, Blind Man Drives Car, and
Miscellany
and Notes.
chris
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:04:25 -0600
From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "editors nfb list" <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Nfb-editors] Printing the Hard Copy newsletter- Examples
Message-ID: <049301cbdffd$9cba8320$d62f8960$@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Let's swop hard-copy print ideas!
(I'll keep track of the various options)
I recently talked to Pennsylvania, and here is how they produce their
hard-copy version of "the Blind Activist."
They compose it in Word. They layout all their choices for font, spacing
and
layout of pictures, then run it through a PDF converter.
The PDF converter serves a couple of important functions. One, in their
market, the printers prefers this medium. The printing can be made from
that, call it --- template. Apparently what it will avoid, is the
problem
that can sometimes arise when a document is brought in for printing and
the
print-shop does not have the font set to match the job. The PDF then is
the
template, and the needed printing, duplicating can spring directly from
it.
(If someone else can more fully explain this, then --- help.)
Additionally, the PDF converter is a software program that is installed
upon
your hard-drive. So when you are ready to "convert," while in your word
processor, you choose the option for "print," and select the PDF
converter
(which comes up as a printing option). And so the PDF file is created.
The text and picture content of "The blind Activist" is printed on both
sides of 11 by 17 inch paper stock. When folded in half and stabled, the
product has the look and feel of an 8 and one half by 11 inch magazine.
For mailing, a mailing label goes on the front cover and a small sticky
strip is used to hold the pages together, so that it can safely go
through
the machinery used by the post office. It is 14 font and so fits the
criteria for "Free Matter for the Blind" and goes through the mail as
described, with no need for an envelope.
Also, the back cover is printed so that when separated from the
newsletter,
it is an application form to join the NFB of Pennsylvania. When folded
over
with the personal data safely hidden, it is a self-addressed, stamped
piece
of mail.
How about the rest of you? How is it done in your affiliate or Division
or
chapter?
Mail.
Robert Leslie Newman
President, Omaha Chapter NFB
President, NFB Writers' Division
Division Website
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
Chair, Newsletter Publication committee
Personal Website-
<http://www.thoughtprovoker.info/> http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
------------------------------
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