|
|
| Author |
Message |
rcurl
|
|
Grex Newsletter?
| 
Dec 26 04:30 UTC 1994 |
The main communication between Grex members has been the conferences - but
not quite. There are social events now and then, and Saturday morning
walks, where some members communicate with one another, and down the list
are board meetings where a few members talk about Grex and all members are
welcome but most don't come.
Since communication is not all electronic, I think it should be considered
to use the written word too, by means of a Newsletter. We already mail
stuff to users, though on request (our brochure). A Newsletter could
substitute for that hit-and-miss distribution, to members at least, *and*
ensure that *every* member gets some regular information about what Grex
is doing, what problems it faces, when elections are coming up, what
volunteers can help do, etc. It doesn't have to be elaborate - it just
needs to be regular (every two months?) and help provide some of the
cohesion among members that electronic glue does not seem to do well
enough. Who's for - or against - a printed and mailed newsletter, and why?
|
| 108 responses total. |
steve
|
|
response 1 of 108:
|
Dec 26 04:57 UTC 1994 |
I can't see any reason to ever put the Grex newsletter on paper,
unless there was a member who had an unusual need for it in that
medium.
I think the newsletter is a great idea. It could be disparsed via
a) An item in Agora, b) a mailing list for those who want it that
way, c) an option in the menu shell, d) an option in Lynx, e) available
via finger newsletter@cyberspace.org, f) a UNIX command that displays
it.
I suppose that g) would be via US Snail mail, but I really have to
see an electronic communications system (I mean, we *are* Cyberspace
Communications, right?) resort to trees unless we really need to.
We can get around the problem of members not logging in on a regular
basis by using an alternate email address. Enough people have them
that I will bet that thats one of the reasons why they won't be logging
in--they already have email/net access, etc.
I do like the idea. As you said, it doesn't have to be too much.
|
carson
|
|
response 2 of 108:
|
Dec 26 08:01 UTC 1994 |
if I can ignore my bias against the USPS for a moment...
sounds like a good idea. it may take a little extra volunteerism from
users, but some people get a kick out of licking stamps and such.
|
tsty
|
|
response 3 of 108:
|
Dec 26 08:44 UTC 1994 |
I can see value to a twice-a-year newsletter - timber products and all.
|
robh
|
|
response 4 of 108:
|
Dec 26 11:55 UTC 1994 |
It does seem a little silly for us to start relying on paper to
communicate with our users, but if a paper newsletter is one
of the seven ways of distribution, that sounds great!
|
danr
|
|
response 5 of 108:
|
Dec 26 14:42 UTC 1994 |
While I am all for improving communications amongst the users of Grex,
a printed newsletter seems kind of a strange way to do it. Besides,
it would be kind of expensive, too. At 1995 postal rates, it would
cost us more than $30/issue to mail it (95 x $0.32 = $30.40). And
printed material that arives by mail can be ignored just as eeasily as
information in the motd.
An on-line newsletter might be nice, but what information would it
have that is not currently contained in items in the conferences?
|
srw
|
|
response 6 of 108:
|
Dec 26 15:39 UTC 1994 |
It would probably contain nothing of that nature, but it would still be an
excellent communicator, as many of our members don't read the conferences,
but do read their email.
|
andyv
|
|
response 7 of 108:
|
Dec 26 15:40 UTC 1994 |
I'm in favor of a newsletter too. The paper mail could be very useful in
contacontacting those members who log on ocassionally. Is e-mail to the Grex
address not good for some reason? Having the letter accessable from the menu
sounds good too. If it is e-mailed though, we will know the person was
contacted. I'm not big on paper mail since junk mail and mass mailings go to
a special heap at the corner of the kitchen table at my house.
|
mju
|
|
response 8 of 108:
|
Dec 26 20:53 UTC 1994 |
I think it's a great idea, but have to agree with those who are
against paper distribution. E-mail to an alternate e-mail address
(non-Grex), sure, but no paper mail. Presumably anyone who cares enough
to become a member is still reading e-mail *somewhere*, even if not
on Grex. We might want to even automatically e-mail it to all the
members, not just on demand (while excepting those who specifically
ask to be taken off the mailing list).
|
gregc
|
|
response 9 of 108:
|
Dec 27 17:13 UTC 1994 |
Newsletter: Good Idea
On Paper: Bad Idea.
|
remmers
|
|
response 10 of 108:
|
Dec 28 12:51 UTC 1994 |
I think we should consider making up an "Introduction to Grex"
newsletter and automatically sending it to everyone who creates an
account via newuser. Mail it to their alternate email address if they
give one. It could be modeled on the hardcopy "Take Me to Your Modem"
brochure that Misti did. Have it explain the various facilities
offered by Grex and how to access them, focusing especially on
things that are not so widely known, notably Picospan.
If this could wait until February, I'd be willing to work on
integrating such a newsletter-mailing facility into the newuser
program.
|
kt8k
|
|
response 11 of 108:
|
Dec 28 15:01 UTC 1994 |
The visual medium is one that is notably missing from grex. People are
less connected when they have no image of grex or its "inner circle" of
volunteers. If a timber-based newsletter is put out (and maybe twice a
year max isn't too bad, but no more) it should have pictures of the grex
hardware, and of the people who really make it go. I would like to see
those pictures made available as .GIF or .PCX files, or some other
suitable format, for people to download (no other pictures tho, too
hoggy of disk and link resources). I think users would feel more
responsible to contribute to this great institution if they had pictures
in their heads to personalize it.
|
andyv
|
|
response 12 of 108:
|
Dec 28 15:18 UTC 1994 |
I agree with Tim on the lack of visual. Even if it were a postcard divided
into quadrants for a picture in each quad of the "real" Grex. The pictures
which could be downloaded is important since we will be tooling up for the
time when things are faster. The few people who use the pictures would be
the vanguard.
|
remmers
|
|
response 13 of 108:
|
Dec 28 15:56 UTC 1994 |
Some people who are attracted to online communication find the lack
of visual to be a positive, not a negative. When I first got into
computer conferencing, it was months before I actually met in person
any of the people I was communicating, and I found it to be quite a
kicker that we have a medium here in which we can communicate as equals
without the visual cues that people use to pigeonhole folks into
categories. I still think that's one of the strengths of this medium.
|
andyv
|
|
response 14 of 108:
|
Dec 28 16:41 UTC 1994 |
I agree that the lack of visuals at times is a strength, but I still like
to put pictures of people I am connected with on the frig. I've heard
of the dungeon but I have no visual connection. I've seen the list of
hardware but how much room does it take up? visual images are an important
part of connections (I think).
|
kentn
|
|
response 15 of 108:
|
Dec 28 20:02 UTC 1994 |
Hmmm...is anyone tracing the Dungeon's renovation via photographs? Now
would probably be a good time to start...
Interesting idea on the .gif or .pcx files to download. The thing about
pictures of people and hardware and rooms and such is that they are more
concrete to most people than words on a computer screen. Might give
people more confidence about donating.
|
cel
|
|
response 16 of 108:
|
Dec 28 21:05 UTC 1994 |
why not have a newsletter available in HTML on the web? that way
pictures and text would be available to those who have graphic web
clients.
has anyone seen http://wired.com ? they have a fairly complete
on-line version of each issue of Wired available via the web.
|
steve
|
|
response 17 of 108:
|
Dec 29 01:24 UTC 1994 |
Thanks Chuck, you entered that before I could. That thought occured
to me last night. And, those without Mosaic reading abilities can stil
read the ASCII copy.
|
remmers
|
|
response 18 of 108:
|
Dec 29 14:00 UTC 1994 |
What do people see as the benefits to Grex of having a newsletter?
|
andyv
|
|
response 19 of 108:
|
Dec 29 14:53 UTC 1994 |
There may be no benefit at all in a news letter. There may be no benefit
to altering the motd. Therefore, let's do nothing different or plan because
there may not be any benefit ;-) We might even fail at something we try.
That might cause embassment for some people. Therefore, all change and
risk taking should be by done as a corrective measure in response to
emergencies ;)
|
steve
|
|
response 20 of 108:
|
Dec 29 15:30 UTC 1994 |
I think there is a benefit from having a newsletter, and if John is
willing to try it out, great.
|
andyv
|
|
response 21 of 108:
|
Dec 29 16:27 UTC 1994 |
I didn't realize so few people are members from outside the Ann Arbor area,
16 only (noted by danr elswhere). I assume the large load on the system is
mostly from nonmembers. Retrenchment is indeed possible and maybe desirable
at this time. There seems to be sentiments leaning in that direction which
are understandable.
|
steve
|
|
response 22 of 108:
|
Dec 29 18:22 UTC 1994 |
The number of people from outside Ann Arbor is probably 90% now
(but I haven't tried really figuring that out). It's the number of
members that is 16, or roughly 20%.
|
andyv
|
|
response 23 of 108:
|
Dec 30 01:07 UTC 1994 |
Goodness, that makes a change even more urgent. Only 2% of the folks using
Grex are paying members from outside the Ann Arbor area. I think it is
time to regroup and define just how much growth is acceptable for the
stability and usefullness of the system.
|
srw
|
|
response 24 of 108:
|
Dec 30 01:46 UTC 1994 |
Some of the people who come into Grex from outside make real contributions
without sending in any money.
|
