[Nfb-editors] NFB affiliate newsletters stressed

Tue Nov 15 23:54:00 UTC 2011

Thank you Bridgit. Other thoughts by other members? Where are we with the
communication of our message --- do we have what we need and/or are we being
smart on how we are using it?

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 5:15 PM
To: nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfb-editors] NFB affiliate newsletters stressed

Hey,

Well, it's a huge sign noting that out of all the affiliates, only 18 have
newsletters. And of those 18, not all contain original and/or creative
material. The NFB is so concerned with developing newsletters, and stressing
how vital they are to the organization, but it's difficult to continue a
successful publication especially on a volunteer basis and with little to no
help.

I finally had to step down as editor for The Nebraska Independent because
even after taking it from a quarterly newsletter to just semi-annually, I
had very little material to work with. I've brought this up before, and a
heated debate insued, but what's the point spending time and energy to only
regurgitate information in an affiliate newsletter found on the national
website, NFBNET listserves, Braille Monitor, social network sites and all
the other places distributing NFB news; it's redundant.  If newsletters
don't work to feature more than information we're already inandated with,
frankly, who cares, and who wants to edit such a publication? Not me.

It's also stressing to have no support with a newsletter. No professional
publication in the world would accept material that had to be essentially
rewritten from scratch, or if a submission had potential but wasn't
publishable as of yet, it would be sent back to the author with notes and
comments for resubmission, and they also wouldn't ghost write for anyone
unless that was established from the get-go. And they definitely wouldn't
work with loose deadlines, letting people, leaders included,  submit when
they feel like it. I know you editors understand where I'm coming from. And
I will move higher on the hit list here, but I had zero support from my
affiliate board with our newsletter. They had no in-put and no submissions
coming from our leaders. Where do situations like this leave us? It was
suppose to be the Nebraska newsletter, not the Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
newsletter.

And despite what many think, few people want to read a full-length
publication like a newsletter nowadays. They prefer short blurbs like the
listserves or online communications.Though I may disagree with this
movement, the reality is that the world no longer functions the way it once
did, and publications like newsletters, of any kind, have been on their way
out for a while. I think it's time we considered alternative communications
avenues in order to keep up and make sure members stay informed.

I also think a part of the problem is the lack of creativity along with lack
of a professional knowledge of newsletters. Combine this with relying on
volunteer services and you see why so few create, or continue, publications
of any kind.

To me, based on these numbers, and how many fail to be consistent, it seems
like the NFB is continuing to push a round peg into a square hole.
I think that round peg needs to be shaped into something different;
retaining it as a peg but shaping it to fit into the square hole.

Just my thoughts.
Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 2
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:18:41 -0600
From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "0editors list" <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Nfb-editors] NFB Affiliate Newsletters, stressed!
Message-ID: <000001cca323$c085aa70$4190ff50$@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Status of the Publication of NFB Affiliate Newsletters 

Most of you know that when I accepted the position of chair of the NFB
Newsletter Publications committee, that I instituted the sharing of
affiliate newsletters on our editors mailing list. To do so, I sought out
and contacted all affiliates (and Divisions) who had existing newsletters.
In addition, I encouraged all newsletter editors to join the editors mailing
list. It is great to be able to say that some of our editors are finding
value in sharing their publications, though to bring them all into the
editors mailing list, I still have to search out some of them and bring them
to the list on my own. 

This is a report of what I'm seeing relating to the publication frequency of
the 18 affiliate newsletters which say they are in business. I'm finding
that the majority, ten out of the eighteen are experiencing difficulties in
meeting their publication goals. And I stress, this report is not meant to
be a criticism in any way, shape or form! I, and we all know the important
job our affiliate newsletters do for our mission to change what it means to
be blind. We on this list and within the NFB Publications committee are all
about the promotion, support and enhancement of our newsletters. Maybe what
positive can come from this collection of data --- to know where affiliate
newsletters are "stressed," (my choice of word), is to be in a position
where we can collectively reach out and provide some assistance.

The 18 newsletters are divided below into two groups --- "Publication on
track, not stressed" & "Publication not on track, stressed"

I give the name of the state, the newsletter name, the frequency of
publication (when I could discern it), and when it was last published.  

***8 Publications on track, not stressed:

Connecticut, "The Federationest in Connecticut" (Published by annually):
last issued --- Spring-Summer 2011 

Illinois, "The Braille Examiner" (Published by annually): last issued
--- Winter 2011 

Kansas, "Tap Tracks" (Published by annually): last issued --- Autum-Winter
2011

Kentucky, "The Kentucky Cardinal" (Published quarterly): last issued ---
Summer 2011  

Minnesota, "Minnesota Bulletin" (Published quarterly): last issued --- Fall
2011

Nevada, "The Silver Standard" (Published by monthly): last issued ---
September-October 2011

(Just started 2011)

Ohio, (The Buckeye Bulletin" (Published by annually): last issued --- Summer
Fall 2011 

New Mexico, "Que Pasa" (Published quarterly): last issued --- September
2011

**10 Publications not on track, stressed:

Alaska, "Alaska, Newsletter" (Published monthly): last issued --- August
2011

Colorado, "The Blind Coloradan" (Published monthly): July 2011

(Just restarted 2011)

Idaho, "The Gem State Milestones" (Published quarterly): last issued ---
Winter 2010  

Maryland, "The Braille Spectator" (Published quarterly): last issued ---
Spring 2011 

Missouri, (The Blind Missourian" (Published unknown?): last issued ---
February 2011 

New Jersey, "The Sounding Board" (Published quarterly): last issued --- Fall
2010  

Pennsylvania, "The Blind Activist" (Published by annually): last issued
--- Spring-Summer 2009

Utah, "Blindness Matters" (Published quarterly): last issued --- March
2011

(Just started 2011)

Virginia, "NFB Vigilant" (Published quarterly): last issued --- Spring
2011 

Wisconsin, "The Spotlight" (Published quarterly): last issued --- Spring
2011

(Just started 2011)

Robert Leslie Newman

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