FUTURE CHANGES TO THE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE WALKER

 

It will be recalled that I succeeded to the editorship of The Nottinghamshire Walker (TNW) following the Area AGM in February this year.  I did so because no other person could be found or volunteered to take up the post following the decision by the former editor, Geoff Rix to stand down after six years in post.  In those six years Geoff did a tremendous job to bring the newsletter – in truth a magazine now – to a very high standard that was well received not only in our county but across other RA Areas.  A debt of gratitude is owed to Geoff for all the work he put in during his period as editor.

 

As the headline states there are to be changes in future editions, not so much as to content which remain generally as before, although I would like to see some variation and a wider spread of content and a wider participation of the membership – see below.  No, the focus of change will be on the amount of issues per annum.  Let me explain.  As I stated earlier I took on the editorship because of the reasons outlined but, more importantly, it would seem to me to be a loss to the Area if TNW ceased publication as many consider it their only means of knowing what is currently going on our Area.  But there were conditions attached to my taking up of the editorship.  I could not give a commitment to producing three issues per year: the preparation for each issue is very time consuming; not only does it include putting the publication together when all the necessary copy becomes available but considerable time is spent seeking advertising, which is paramount to off-setting the overall cost of producing the newsletter and ancillary items e.g. postage costs for distribution.

 

I made known the above facts at the last Area Council meeting in April which were accepted by council members.  I also elaborated on why I thought we should reduce the number of issues per year aside from my own personal standpoint.  Cost has already been touched upon but the devil is in the detail: the prices our printer is paying for inks and paper etc, has rising rapidly in recent times and hence this is passed on leading to increased costs for printing the newsletter; the price of postage has gone up from April this year being a further factor, but the overriding factor is the need to cut back on RA spending.  The recent turbulent financial crisis severely depleted RA finances as you may be aware: this necessitated in large cut backs particularly in RA Central Office staff and funding allocations to Areas and Groups.  Funding was reduced by approximately 25% and everyone was urged to act prudently in all income and expenditure matters.  Costs in producing the Area Newsletter are quite considerable in the overall scheme of Area expenditure and if savings needed to be made this was the one major item that required looking into.  Thus taking into account all these factors, for the foreseeable future the newsletter will be restricted to two issues per annum.  This actually brings us in line with our neighbouring RA Areas, notably Derbyshire and Lincolnshire who has had this practice for years.  Incidentally, Lincolnshire Area have sent me the latest issue of their newsletter which they have produced as an ‘economy’ edition to save money in line with these leaner times.  It is devoid of any colour pages, which it had previously, and is shorter by a dozen pages.  Now I would not like to see our own newsletter cut so drastically but we need to keep a close rein on our expenditure and cut our cloth accordingly if necessary.  I would point out that the Lincolnshire Rambler – to give it its proper title – carries very little in the way of advertising compared to us which helps to offset part of our costs.  However, this still leaves a considerable sum to be found for each issue.

 

So that is where we stand at present; I hope you all can see the reasoning that I have set out.  I believe an Area Newsletter is not only an asset but an essential part of an RA Area; not only does it provide information for members but is in many cases the only communication that some members have to what is happening in the RA locally.  And now I would just like to give some details on the newsletter as it will be during my editorship.  I have already stated there will now be two editions per year: we will have a Spring/Summer* edition and an Autumn/Winter* edition, which will be published in May and November respectively.  The Autumn/Winter edition will incorporate the Area Annual Report and Accounts.  The format will generally be the same as we are used to but, as indicated earlier, I would like to see some variations and additions.  These are briefly set out below and I stress are my thoughts only.  Remember, this is your magazine and it’s your input what makes it; I am your servant not the master.  Here below are some of my thoughts:

 

  • Area Officers’ and Groups’ Reports: I do not intend to change the format of these but would request that they are kept succinct; in other words, brief, precise and clearly expressed.  If we wish to have additional features, articles etc, we need to make the best use of the space available.  

 

  • I intimated in ‘From the Editor’s Desk’ – May 2010 edition – that I would like to revive ‘Letters to the Editor’ or similar.  I believe this could provide a valuable contribution to the newsletter in addition to gauging what our members have thoughts, ideas, even complaints on concerning our activities.

 

  • Whilst the newsletter has its share of photographs accompanying articles I would like to explore the talents of any of our members who have an artistic streak.  I was thinking on the lines of pen and ink illustrations, à la Wainwright or similar.  This could be a local scene or object relevant to an article or a stand alone item.  Any takers?

 

  • I notice our Lincolnshire colleagues have a regular walks section in their newsletter.  This takes the form of a comprehensive narrative and detailed sketch map.  Would we be interested in doing something similar?  I know that we have members who have written up many walks over the years, the editor included, so there is no shortage of options.

 

  • I was tinkering with the idea of either having a crossword or a quiz (or both) with a small prize as an incentive.  Again this asks the question: is there a potential compiler(s) in our membership willing to take up the challenge?

 

These are some of my thoughts.  As I have stated earlier: it’s your newsletter, you are the ones who ultimately decides its future.  Now I would like to hear from you.  You can contact me at the address and telephone number given in the list of contacts in the May 2010 edition of TNW or by email to: a.staniforth1@ntlworld.com 

 

Alex Staniforth

Editor, The Nottinghamshire Walker

May 2010

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The deadlines for future editions are as follows:

 

*Spring/Summer 30th April

*Autumn/Winter 31st October

 

Please make a note of these dates