Several issues have been raised with regard to this proposal:
The first question that usually comes to mind is, "How much will it cost?" For an 8-page issue of Cintacs, the current cost is approximately $1,000 for printing, sorting, delivery to the Post Office and postage (under current postage rates). A 12-page issue (usually the Fall issue only) is about $1,500. For nine (9) issues of Cintacs per year the total cost would be about $9,500. Currently we run three (3) issues of Cintacs at a cost of $3,500. We also run nine (9) Monthly Meeting notices at a cost of about $5,100 ($567/notice). The total we currently spend is approximately $8,600.
One issue for all of us is time. Will a monthly publication of Cintacs require a great deal of time to prepare? The truth is: "not necessarily." If the format were structured with repeating items (i.e., items that run every month), then the work could be minimal. Preliminarily, I have assigned the 8 pages as follows: (I) current cover, (2) directory of officers and committees, (3) information of monthly meeting notice, (4) open, (5) bimonthly article from the local Chairperson/ other articles such as "News for the Classroom," (6) Advertising, (7)Advertising, (8) current back page (address page). With this format only 3 pages (or so) would change dramatically every month.
The advertising formats would change to meet the new format. Advertisers would have incentives to take out an advertisement for all 9 issues. The details of the changes have not been decided.
Submitted articles and news items will be encouraged. With a more timely publication of Cintacs, hopefully more of the members will submit articles or news items. It would be difficult for an article such as "News for the Classroom" to be published every month, so the frequency of these items would be up to the individual authors.
Will the deadlines change? I must answer this question as emphatically as I know how. YES!! Our deadline will have to be very firm. For the notice to reach the membership in time to respond to reservation deadlines, a predetermined deadline will be announced and strictly adhered to.
As always, I welcome any and all comments from the membership. This is your publication. No decision has been made at this time. Please send me any comments, questions, concerns, or preferences. My address and phone number are elsewhere in this issue.
Ed Burton
Editor