Having read all of the posts regarding the content and delivery time of our publication "Chip and Token News" I feel an obligation to add my thoughts on what I perceive is a problem with the magazine--a problem that can be fixed! There have been a few comments on the quality of the magazine content. I think enough has been said about the outstanding and thankless job our Editor, Kregg Herz, has done. I admire her for the hard work and long hours she puts into the magazine "for the good of the hobby"!
Has anybody noticed the drastic reduction in magazine ads in the last couple of years? I have been asking myself "WHY?" with (in my opinion) the magazine serving the lion share of our membership. (Please, I don't want to get a long string of notes going on the numbers of members online versus the numbers not online.) I just don't believe the majority of members participate online and therefore I cannot understand why there aren't more print ads in our magazine to reach those "cave people" who don't own a computer. I know that online advertising and offerings are great and serve the needs of many members but doesn't meet the needs of those members who do not participate online.
As Club Treasurer when I received the quarterly ad reports from our Ad Manager Charlie Rodgers I would compare the receipts against the total cost of production of the magazine. My memory is that, depending on the time of year, Charlie would generate in the area of 25 to 35% of the magazine production costs, and our magazine would be loaded with ads. I don't believe we are anywhere near those percentages today. Charlie works very hard to make advertising in our magazine attractive. Check out the discounted specials he is offering in the current issue. The Club's magazine ad rates are a steal at their published rates, Charlie's special rates are almost a give-away! I know that magazine delivery time is a sore spot for many evidence the many posts here about bulk rate versus first class and, therefore, may be a concern for someone interested in submitting an ad. To those people I say Charlie Rodgers will accept an ad for ANY PUBLICATION QUARTER. He will take an ad to cover a whole year if you so desire. My central point is "it's inexpensive to reach our membership through the Club magazine".
Regarding delivering the magazine first class to all members, I will state that in NO WAY can the Club take on delivering the magazine to ALL members via first class without a drastic increase in dues. The $20 bulk rate is a BARGAIN that keeps a lot of members on our rolls. We can't afford to lose a sizeable percentage of those members.
I an hereby pledging to submit a full-page ad (maybe 2 pages) to Charlie Rodgers by the March 1st deadline for insertion in the next issue of our Club magazine.