Post by Bjarki Bjornson on Mar 7, 2011 14:46:24 GMT -5
Here's the latest info from the BoD regarding the move toward electronic kingdom newsletters. These updates are also on my Chronicler page--Siobhan
*********************
Q: I am presently a Sustaining Member and I want to continue receiving a paper
newsletter. Can I?
A: Yes. If you are presently receiving a paper newsletter you will have the option to
continue receiving it in that format.
Q: I like paper newsletters. Once the e-newsletters go into effect, will I be able to get a
paper copy mailed to me?
A: Yes. You will have a choice between the electronic version or a paper newsletter.
Q: The Board has suggested an implementation period of almost a full year. Why can’t we
go to electronic newsletters right now?
A: There is much to do before the transition can happen including updating kingdom and
corporate documents, revising the Chronicler’s Policies, modifying our current software,
and adding new software and hardware. As quickly as everyone is working, all of these
aspects take a considerable amount of time and we want to do this properly the first time.
Q: I thought I paid membership fees in order to receive the newsletter.
A: As a Sustaining Member, you will still receive your Kingdom newsletter. We are not
doing away with the newsletter; we are offering a new option for delivery. Your
membership fees go to support the operations of the non-profit organization that oversees
the national and international activities and rules of the game. This includes everything
from the insurance coverage we use for events to office supplies and the phone line that
lets you call our member office. Sustaining Members receive newsletters in addition to
the other benefits of membership.
Your membership gives you access to:
Quick Event Check-in – By signing the waiver on the membership application, you
can speed up your check-in at events by presenting your membership card instead of
signing waivers.
SCA Publications – Sustaining Members may also purchase subscriptions to other
kingdoms’ newsletters, Tournaments Illuminated (the quarterly magazine of the
Society), The Compleat Anachronist (the SCA’s quarterly monograph series), and the
Board of Directors’ Proceedings.
Discounts – Members receive discounts on some event admissions.
Additionally, for many SCA-related activities, membership is a necessity, including:
Holding Office – Membership is a requirement to hold an office.
Voting Privileges – When polling occurs in your local area, the membership rolls are
used to determine who receives the poll.
Combat and Combat-Related Activities – In some kingdoms, membership is a
requirement to participate in combat and combat-related activities.
Awards – In certain kingdoms, membership is a requirement for eligibility to receive
awards.
Q: Why is this necessary all of a sudden? Why hasn’t it happened before?
A: The option of e-newsletters has been a topic of interest for several years, but as with any
decision, there were number of factors that made it high priority now. These include
increased paper newsletter production costs including postage, the recent economic
downturn and its effects on the SCA and its members, technological advances in quality
and availability, and the majority of members (as shown by the recent census) would
prefer to subscribe to this format. We believe that both the members and the SCA will
benefit economically by the e-newsletter option, especially using the Kingdom of Lochac
as a case model. The Kingdom of Lochac (SCAA – Australia and New Zealand) added
the option of e-newsletters in 2009, and their information on adding e-newsletters for one
kingdom demonstrated how it might be effective for the SCA and the other 18 kingdoms.
Q: I appreciate/don’t like these decisions. How can I have more input into this process?
A: As always, we encourage your comments and questions at comments@sca.org and will
try to answer any question you may have. Your kingdom or officer ombudsman is always
available to you to answer these questions directly and those assignments are listed in
your newsletter and on the www.sca.org website. Additionally, if you want to have more
effect at the corporate level, you should volunteer for or recommend people to the Board
and to Society Officer positions as they become available.
*********************
Q: I am presently a Sustaining Member and I want to continue receiving a paper
newsletter. Can I?
A: Yes. If you are presently receiving a paper newsletter you will have the option to
continue receiving it in that format.
Q: I like paper newsletters. Once the e-newsletters go into effect, will I be able to get a
paper copy mailed to me?
A: Yes. You will have a choice between the electronic version or a paper newsletter.
Q: The Board has suggested an implementation period of almost a full year. Why can’t we
go to electronic newsletters right now?
A: There is much to do before the transition can happen including updating kingdom and
corporate documents, revising the Chronicler’s Policies, modifying our current software,
and adding new software and hardware. As quickly as everyone is working, all of these
aspects take a considerable amount of time and we want to do this properly the first time.
Q: I thought I paid membership fees in order to receive the newsletter.
A: As a Sustaining Member, you will still receive your Kingdom newsletter. We are not
doing away with the newsletter; we are offering a new option for delivery. Your
membership fees go to support the operations of the non-profit organization that oversees
the national and international activities and rules of the game. This includes everything
from the insurance coverage we use for events to office supplies and the phone line that
lets you call our member office. Sustaining Members receive newsletters in addition to
the other benefits of membership.
Your membership gives you access to:
Quick Event Check-in – By signing the waiver on the membership application, you
can speed up your check-in at events by presenting your membership card instead of
signing waivers.
SCA Publications – Sustaining Members may also purchase subscriptions to other
kingdoms’ newsletters, Tournaments Illuminated (the quarterly magazine of the
Society), The Compleat Anachronist (the SCA’s quarterly monograph series), and the
Board of Directors’ Proceedings.
Discounts – Members receive discounts on some event admissions.
Additionally, for many SCA-related activities, membership is a necessity, including:
Holding Office – Membership is a requirement to hold an office.
Voting Privileges – When polling occurs in your local area, the membership rolls are
used to determine who receives the poll.
Combat and Combat-Related Activities – In some kingdoms, membership is a
requirement to participate in combat and combat-related activities.
Awards – In certain kingdoms, membership is a requirement for eligibility to receive
awards.
Q: Why is this necessary all of a sudden? Why hasn’t it happened before?
A: The option of e-newsletters has been a topic of interest for several years, but as with any
decision, there were number of factors that made it high priority now. These include
increased paper newsletter production costs including postage, the recent economic
downturn and its effects on the SCA and its members, technological advances in quality
and availability, and the majority of members (as shown by the recent census) would
prefer to subscribe to this format. We believe that both the members and the SCA will
benefit economically by the e-newsletter option, especially using the Kingdom of Lochac
as a case model. The Kingdom of Lochac (SCAA – Australia and New Zealand) added
the option of e-newsletters in 2009, and their information on adding e-newsletters for one
kingdom demonstrated how it might be effective for the SCA and the other 18 kingdoms.
Q: I appreciate/don’t like these decisions. How can I have more input into this process?
A: As always, we encourage your comments and questions at comments@sca.org and will
try to answer any question you may have. Your kingdom or officer ombudsman is always
available to you to answer these questions directly and those assignments are listed in
your newsletter and on the www.sca.org website. Additionally, if you want to have more
effect at the corporate level, you should volunteer for or recommend people to the Board
and to Society Officer positions as they become available.