SteveG

Adam?

atb

Hey Steve,

Unfortunately I've been left in a tough situation here . My volunteers have gotten busy and just don't have the time to prioritize the magazine. It's unfortunate, but everyone has a life, most have young children they are raising, etc. I suppose it was bound to happen.

Critical to the magazine is the layout. I don't have the skills or the background to do the layout and I can't seem to connect with our layout editor in order to get the job done.

Our web host passed the torch, and I was hoping that someone local would take up the position, but it's not going to happen. Again, I don't have the personal skills to do web design. I might add here that Stan Shaw has been excellent in moving our site to Excell.net and giving us free server space. He's gone above in beyond in helping out the magazine in this regard.

So I'm left with a couple of choices.

1) I can close things up and refund the unused subscriptions. I don't have a problem with this, but I would consider this a last option. I would like to see the magazine carry on.

2) I can pay to have the magazine professionally laid out and the website professionally maintained. This would take money out of pocket from me, as the price point of the magazine assumed volunteer labor. It is literally priced for a zero balance at the end of the subscription run. That assumes that everyone pays for their subscription. Not everyone has paid.

3) My final option, and the one I've been investigating for the last several months, is to fold up the non-profit and upon up a profit company. The printer who publishes 928 Forum Magazine likes the product. I've approached him to see if he would be willing to get behind it. He's up for the idea, I just need to put the business plan together. Essentially, he'd runoff additional copies to be sent out as promo material to solicit more subscribers. Right now, 500 paying subscribers is a break even point for the magazine. We have less then that at this time. 1000 paying subscribers would be easy street, and is what I would be shooting for in this scenario. At that level the layout could be professionally handled, web site hosting could be paid for, and contributors could be paid for their submissions. ( I would of course still be volunteering my services). The printer puts it this way, he says he's only making money when the presses are rolling, and whether he prints 500 units or 1500 units doesn't make much difference if he will eventually be able to charge me for an increased unit run in the future. Basically, he'd be gambling that the magazine can increase his subscription order over the long term. I still need to work it out on paper, and make sure that the magazine can get where it needs to go, but this is my current strategy.

I do appreciate the fact that the subscribers have not tarred and feathered me (although I realize it can happen at anytime ). I am especially uncomfortable not delivering product to those that have paid for it and are patiently waiting for it. And believe me, this is a stress I live every day. Every time I see my own 928 I am reminded that there are magazines to be published that I don't have the ability to produce. The most recent issue has been ready for a very long time. Carl Faussett has written an incredible article featuring supercharging the K-jet 928. Truly a gem of writing, and I can't get it through layout. I went and interviewed the builder of the electric 928 in Vancouver, B.C., even got to go for a ride. Not everyone's cup of tea, but a wild ride all the same, and again an interesting article.

There is no shortage of material, I just need a means to get it out there.

I've been fortunate in my life that either through luck, determination, or both I've been able to get a lot of things accomplished. I must say that to have 928 Forum Magazine languishing in its current state has truly been one of the most frustrating situations I've had to deal with. I haven't wanted to accept the failure of the notion that the magazine could survive the long term on enthusiasm alone, or more properly that I could keep everyone enthused at the same level as at the outset. But that is my failure and I accept it.

Just so that there's no misunderstanding, I'm not leveling the gun at anyone except myself. I've had the privilege of working on 928 Forum among friends and fellow 928 fanatics, whose hearts are all in the right place and all of whom are a pleasure to work with.

But, if this periodical is to survive, it's time to find a way to get the layout and the webhosting in the hands of people that do it for their livelyhood. That being able to pay the printer to handle the layout, being able to pay Stan to do the website management, and all of that means aggresively going after subscribers. In that sense it's been kind of a viscious circle. I've been leery of really pushing for subscribers because I didn't know if we could handle the load, at the same time, a heavy load would provide enough income to have those critical components of publishing professionally handled. Almost sounds like a zen riddle.

At any rate, there it is folks. I will post (with rennlist's permission) when the specifics have been determined. I would ask for everyone's patience one last time. Sixty Days. I'll have an answer one way or another.

Cheers all

Rich9928p

Hello Adam,

Thanks for sharing this information. This is the difficulty with a volunteer effort. It starts with great intentions, and all were very appreciative. I enjoyed assisting and working with the interational groups to bring in the world community. You may still have some submissions that I've made sitting in the hopper.

We're waiting, hopeful to see more good things in the future.

Nicole

Hi Adam:
Thanks for the update! From one small businss owner to another: I can relate to what you are saying...

There was somebody in Arizone, I believe, who some time ago offered to help with a publication. Do a search here, maybe you'll find his post. You might also consider saving some money by going with a less expensive (thinner) paper inside. Keep the layout simple and efficient to produce, but do run a spell checker before going to print. I think there are ways of simplifying the productioni to ease the load of everyone involved.

I hope you'll find a solution and we'll get a 928-magazine again soon.

the flyin' scotsman

Adam.......if you were to proceed with 'choice#3' do you have a cost in mind for the 'paying' subscription?

We all access Rennlist through the 'net; could the magazine be done likewise and save the printing cost. Perhaps there's a business model to be constructed in concert with Rennlist and we who are members and wish to view the articles pay an additional fee for the online mag.

Just some thoughts...........good luck..........Malcolm

fst951

Hi Adam.

More advertising might help......Do you know anyone that wants to advertise??? I would think that maybe you should go to all digital as well. I would pay for a subscription online that was email to us. Piracy would be a problem as always, but several people often get one magazine subscription and pass it around.

Thanks,

Garrity

atb

Rich wrote:

Thanks Rich. As part of the team your efforts have been much appreciated. I wouldn't count yourself out of the loop yet regardless of where the magazine winds up.

Nicole wrote:
Ah, the parting arrow through my heart. I guess that would be an immediate benefit of proffessional help. I'll personally see to it that this is made part of the publishing package.

Okay, there's some humour in irony here. If I knew you any better Nicole, I would almost guess that you're trying to cheer me up. Regarding the AZ help, I think I'm resigned to passing on the volunteer help. It would be difficult I think to do this long distance. I think it worked as well as it did because we were all local.

I won't give up until every conceivable option has been explored and discounted.

Malcolm wrote:
I don't. Getting those numbers crunched is part of the plan I need to put together for the printer. No way it will be more than what the current price is now, it's already too expensive.

fst 951 wrote:
Hmmm. Some nut-job in UT keeps after me about a mondo killer centerspread piece, might have to get back to him one of these days.
Advertising isn't the answer yet, not without the distribution. Take a mag like 9., which launched about the same time as 928 Forum. I forgot the publisher's name, but he is a nice guy. We exchanged some email before both mags launched. I believe he said that he was producing 30-40K units, of which 10K would probably be wasted, and distribution was going to hit in all the major magazine retailers. As can be seen, this is a much different scale than an "insider trade mag" like 928 Forum. Having that much product out there is going to lure advertisers much more readily than than a mail list subscription. The first question and advertiser is going to ask is "what's your circulation?"

Going digital is a concept that personally I'm against. The purpose behind the magazine was to get out the message in print media. I think it's a whole nother world to have the magazine in your hands as opposed to on the screen. Maybe it's an outmoded way of thought these days. I'll investigate all options, but it's going to take a lot to convince me to continue on as an E-zine.

sharkmeister85

Adam,
Speaking as a subscriber who has not received an issue yet, I appreciate your forthrightness at this time. I knew going in that as an all volunteer organization, you might run into this kind of problem. Therefore, I am fully prepared to continue waiting patiently for you to work this out, in whatever manner you can. I only ask that you stop stressing about it. The negative energy won't help to get this problem resolved in a positive way.
Glenn

kraabel

Just wanted to throw my hat in the ring:

I'm an Interactive Creative Director that has a long history of creating online magazines and content portals. I'd gladly volunteer my design and hosting abilities.

perrys4

Going digital is a concept that personally I'm against. The purpose behind the magazine was to get out the message in print media. I think it's a whole nother world to have the magazine in your hands as opposed to on the screen. Maybe it's an outmoded way of thought these days. I'll investigate all options, but it's going to take a lot to convince me to continue on as an E-zine


We could always print it on the printer......

SteveG

Adam: What Perry said.
You could go b/w. I have sent you PM.

Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net

Adam,

I am also willing to help with the website, so please keep that in mind.

Please also email me, whether the 928 OC can get involved to help this along. I will direct the board to read your post, for their thoughts.