Re: MCM - Digest V1 #32

[Dorothy Reimer <dreimer@wwdc.com>]

At 04:12 AM 8/2/98 -0700, you wrote:
>
>MCM - Digest          Sunday, August 2 1998          Volume 01 : Number 032
>
>
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Date: Sat, 01 Aug 1998 08:29:21 -0400
>From: Neil Frank <nfrank@mindspring.com>
>Subject: The new Associate Editor
>
>I got a call from Bruce Watts last night. As you all know, he has been with
>AGA at least since 1990, and prior to the re-org, was the Aquarium Soc.
>Liaison. This job did not find its way into the new structure. Bruce is a
>strong supporter of AGA and has been calling me off and on for the past
>several months asking what he can do to contribute. (He is one of the
>unknown percentage of AGA members without internet access) He got the
>latest TAG with the chart and wanted to know how he could best fit in. I
>first said to call Karen, but after he talked about the importance of TAG
>to the AGA and after he praised me for 5 minutes for my efforts, I told him
>about my desire to find an Associate editor. He took my offer!
>I basically described the job as getting articles in shape for publication
>which involves a range of activities including
>* scanning and/or typing hard copies -- e.g. articles in club publications
>* editing/formatting material for the TAG look -- e.g. adding subtitles,
>italicizing Latin names, etc.
>* helping to organize and select articles for future issues.
>
>I know Bruce for many years and he is very dependable. He has written
>several beginner oriented articles for TAG and is a known plant speaker on
>the west coast (recently he talked to SFAS and Sacramento). There are 2
>current limitations - he only has a 386 computer and he is not on internet.
>He said he will eventually get a new computer with modem etc., which will
>be a tremendous help. I decided that this should not be a prerequisite, so
>we will give it a try. {anyone have a spare 66MH 486 that is collecting
>dust?} So, for the time being, he and I will have to communicate via phone
>and snail mail. 
>
>Therefore I request a small budget to cover our expenses for stamps and
>phone calls. I can't give a specific $$ amount, but I am frugal and time
>limited so I will not be gabbing too long. :-)
>
>If all works out, I can re-energize my efforts as editor. I will focus on
>continuing to seek original material; nurturing potential authors; and
>establishing and maintaining contact with other editors or authors overseas
>(e.g. I am now working on getting plant articles translated from the
>Russian magazine AKVARIUM). Bob Day will continue to handle the final
>computer layout. Eventually Paul and I need to talk about what we should do
>with photos. Now I need to find the stuff to send to Bruce! 
>
>ERIC: To help prepare the TAG INDEX for 1997, is there anything on the AGA
>web page that can be cut and pasted into a rough format for Bruce to work
>with?
>
>- --Neil
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sat, 01 Aug 1998 08:47:39 -0400
>From: Neil Frank <nfrank@mindspring.com>
>Subject: The unknown % of members without email
>
>To help Jack fill out the membership directory with email addresses and to
>find out how many members do not have email access, I suggest that someone
>initiate a formal survey. Maybe a direct mailing to the membership with a
>postage paid envelope to maximize response. I think it will be worth the
>cost. Since this will cost us several hundred dollars, it might be combined
>with other questions to the membership.. e.g. solicit people to fill jobs,
>like regional reps or other unfilled positions.
>
>The results should be tablulated into 3 categories (yes, no, no response)
>Once we know that a large percentage of the members -- e.g. 20, 30 or even
>50%-- do not have email, we might know how to better serve them. It can
>also allow us to send out future messages more cheaply by using email to
>some and snail mail to others. 
>
>I propose that AGA pay for this survey. If approved, someone will need to
>implement it. Any one iterested in taking the bull by the horns?
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Sat, 1 Aug 1998 14:02:45 -0500
>From: krombhol@teclink.net (Paul Krombholz)
>Subject: Re: The unknown % of members without email
>
>>To help Jack fill out the membership directory with email addresses and to
>>find out how many members do not have email access, I suggest that someone
>>initiate a formal survey. Maybe a direct mailing to the membership with a
>>postage paid envelope to maximize response. I think it will be worth the
>>cost. Since this will cost us several hundred dollars, it might be combined
>>with other questions to the membership.. e.g. solicit people to fill jobs,
>>like regional reps or other unfilled positions.
>>
>>The results should be tablulated into 3 categories (yes, no, no response)
>>Once we know that a large percentage of the members -- e.g. 20, 30 or even
>>50%-- do not have email, we might know how to better serve them. It can
>>also allow us to send out future messages more cheaply by using email to
>>some and snail mail to others.
>>
>>I propose that AGA pay for this survey. If approved, someone will need to
>>implement it. Any one iterested in taking the bull by the horns?
>
>Olga and I have been working on a survey.  As soon as it is ready, I can
>get it set up as a database.  The problem has been to try to keep it from
>being really enormous with every known species of aquatic plant in a check
>list and a long list of questions about tank parameters.
>
>I'll check with Olga to see how things are coming along.
>
>Paul Krombholz, in steamy central Mississippi where some July showers have
>alleviated the drought.  
>
>------------------------------
>
>End of MCM - Digest V1 #32
>**************************
>
I'm thrilled to hear Bruce Watts is going to assist you Neil. He has been
with us a long time. He was doing a membership list at one time. I'll try
and get some articles from publications off to you this week.
To get the list of e-mails and ask for help, could this be included with
renewal notices. Yes, it would take a year to get to everybody but would
save on postage costs and they would come in gradually enough to be handled
easily rather than swamped and put aside. Just a thought.
P.S. My cataract surgery was a success and I can see again which is
wonderful and I'm truly thankful.

Dorothy