From: Anthony Mako (ajmako@NLS.NET)
Date: Mon Jan 17 2000 - 22:45:22 CST
<Heather Price wrote>
How do you do them? What difficulties have you had and how did you solve
them (if, in fact, you did)? What information do you include? How do you
distribute them? Who does them, and why? How do you get the information to
that person? Any other suggestions/words of wisdom?
</Heather>
Heather, the newsletter I handle is for a Boy Scout Troop, not a Pack, but
much of the advice I have is applicable to both.
*How do you do them?
I use Microsoft Publisher to create my newsletter. It's not the best, nor
the easiest, but it is less expensive than Adobe Pagemaker or other REAL
desktop publishing applications. I use Publisher because I want my
newsletter to look professional and be easily assembled. Any good word
processing application (like Word, WordPerfect, Works, Lotus Notes, and
others) can be used to produce a good looking, basic newsletter. Adding
graphics and other publishing goodies gets difficult in a word processor.
*What difficulties have you had and how did you solve them (if, in fact, you
did)? How do you distribute them?
The biggest difficulty I've encountered is getting them in the hands of
their audience. Our newsletter is primarily intended for parents but there
is information for Scouts in it as well. Passing them out at troop meetings
gets them in the hands of the Scouts, most of whom will read them almost
immediately, but getting the newsletters home is another thing entirely. In
many cases, the newsletter do make it home, but are usually forgotten or
never make it into parents' hands.
The easiest way to fix this is also the most expensive. Delivering the
newsletters (either through the mail or by hand) costs time and money. The
hardest way to fix this problem is also the best. It takes time for Scouts
to get used to taking the newsletters home. You can start by encouraging
this. You also need to let parents know that they should expect to see the
newsletter after a den or pack meeting and to ask for it. Once the routine
sets in, it should become second nature.
*What information do you include?
We include information on upcoming events, fundraisers, committee decisions,
advancement notes, and a short "Scoutmaster's Minute." We also have a place
to publish birthdays, personnel changes, new members, and special
recognitions.
*Who does them, and why?
Ordinarily, the newsletter should be assembled by the committee. Not only
does this help the committee communicate with the parents of the unit, it
also helps them communicate with the other troop leaders and Scouts.
However, in our present situation, I have been responsible for the
newsletter. That's mainly due to the level of organization in our unit.
*How do you get the information to that person?
As Scoutmaster, I pretty much have most of the information at my disposal. I
am also in contact with our committee members often. In a situation where
the committee does the newsletter, it can be compiled by the secretary based
on reports for the various chairs.
*Any other suggestions/words of wisdom?
One of the most important lessons I've learned is to be consistent and
prompt. Set deadlines for publishing each newsletters and try to stick to
them. Get the newsletters out on a regular schedule. That should help with
distribution, and getting members and parents used to being well-informed.
YIS
AJ Mako, Scoutmaster, Troop 381 http://www.scouts381.org/
ajmako@nls.net
Great Trail Council, Old Portage District
