Re: Re: Re: Latest TAG

[nfrank@mindspring.com (by way of Neil Frank <nfrank@mindspring.com>)]

below is a message I sent today(from work) to Mary. Her message is below. I
did not have AGA-SC emails, so I am forwarding now.--Neil
=============================================================================
Mary,
In the last few days since I last talked to you, the SC has discussed the
idea of upgrading the postage. They have approved the upgrade, provided
that the cost is in the ~$1.50 ballpark that I suggested. In other words,
the SC has conditionally approved it without a need to increase the dues.
I came up with that estimate based on an assumed 20cents for bulkmail issue
vs. 55cents for 1st. THis translates to $1.40 per US member per year. I
assume that our current printing/mailing costs are less than $12 per
member... but I cant be sure because I have not seen an annual accounting
in years. But I do know we are sitting on a big cushion, so we dont have to
wait till jan 2002 to make the decision.
When you get a chance, can you please check with your mail service to find
out what the incremental cost would be for 1st class. Hopefully, they have
a cheap way of placing the stamp (indicia).

On the subject of color printing of the contest results, I am not
necessarily going to support the expense of printing them the way they were
done last year. If we were going to print them, I would prefer fewer pics
and larger ones(less white space).... even if it means a staple in the
middle. When you get to my age, small pics dont cut it anymore! 
--Neil
[I will forward this message to the SC when I get home].
Mary McCaw <marymccaw@mediaone.net> wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
From: 
To: "Mary McCaw" 
Cc: 
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2001 3:12 PM
Subject: Re: Re: Latest TAG


> I realize that the delivery times do vary by State, and zips within each
State. But, 5 weeks going on 6 sounds awfully long. It would be reassuring
that SOMEONE has already received it, just to be sure that the Boston PO
really sent them out and didn't just move them from one pile to another.

One person must have received it because he e-mailed me for more information
about something in the issue.  I have e-mailed him back, asking him when he
received it and am awaiting his reply.  I have just spent most of the
morning on the phone with the Post Office and am waiting for a supervisor to
get back to me.

> Maybe a message from you to the APD letting people know when you mailed
them would be useful. You could ask people to post back if anyone has
already received it. This would head off the inevitable nasty letters, and
will also provide you with useful feedback on the current bulk mail process.

I have just dashed something off to the APD and the MC as well.

 It is quite conceivable that this mail service is getting a lower priority
and will continue to be a problem for you and the AGA. I would support us
upgrading to first class. I think the incremental cost will be ~$1.50 per
member. WDYT?

That would involve raising the dues.  I don't know how people would respond
to this.  I think your estimate on the cost per member is on the low side.

   I think that may be necessary in the long run any way.  > IF an AGA
decision is made to upgrade, this annoucement can be made next which should
further calm the waters.

If that's what the AGA wants to do, fine.  I think the issue is money.  The
color issue was expensive.  Now Eric wants to do the contest literature the
same way we did it last year.  I don't want to because of the expense and
feel it wouldn't a bad thing to staple it in the middle.  Anyway, I'm going
to get estimates both ways and then the SC can decide if they want to spend
the money.

I think we need to at least wait until the end of the year when we can seee
where we are financially before we commit to upgrading the postage.




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