Guest Mark McAlpine Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 When will the Fall 2014 Rummage Box be published? I like to run something from the Rummage Box in each of our region's (Tidewater Region) monthly newsletters, but the Spring Rummage Box was only four pages so I've exhausted it. Please tell me the next one is coming out soon--I'd like to use something from it in our October newsletter. It's always informative and our members that don't like reading it on-line appreciate it reading it in our newsletter. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GE Dictator 1928 Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 I have the same issue. Please advise what we can use in its place if we don't have the fall Rummage Box in soon. Do you need more articles? Let us know what you are looking for and we will be happy to see what we can put together, However, we like to put in timely and informative items from our executive board for the benefit and information of our region members. The Rummage Box is a highly useful tool in that regard. Many thanks,Keith Gramlich, EditorThe NewsletterGNYRAACA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Is the Rummage Box not being printed as often as it was previously?Is it perhaps not the priority it once was?Looking back, I see there have been Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 If the editors are looking for some news from thenational AACA to print for their newsletters--and that gives them some extra points in contest scoring--they should consider some news clips from the "Speedster" electronic newsletter.In the past, our region has had brief news items based on thatsource: on the library's videos on Youtube; on the CenturyClub for 100-year-old cars; on the Mileage Award Program fordriving one's antique; etc.Giving extra coverage to new programs such as thesewill help the programs. Many members likely are unaware of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GE Dictator 1928 Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 John,I have done that as well. I just wrote to Fred Young and asked for him to push for Rummage Box articles based on the fact that it is the only way really for National AACA to communicate with the members. There have been great articles on HPOF, youth education, etc. It is a way for the local chapter members who can't get to the annual Meeting to know what is happening on a national basis, from the people that head those departments and committees, and we need our VP's of the various committees to write the articles so we can inform the readers of our region newsletters. Hopefully Fred will respond positively and we will have a new batch of stuff to pull from.Best regards,Keith GramlichGNYR, AACA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mark McAlpine Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Thanks for the suggestions of other good sources for newsletter content. I agree that "The Speedster" is a great source of info, but members who've registered their e-mail address already receive it. I like including articles/info from the Rummage Box not just because they're informative and interesting, but also because members don't receive it direct and have to seek it out on the AACA website, which many members, for a variety of reasons, don't do. (Just like pushing new programs as John S suggests, we also need to push members to check and explore the AACA website more for info.) For editors striving for a newsletter award, the only specific National AACA publication the Newsletter Editors Manual references while discussing the Newsletter Awards Achievement Progam (NAAP) scoring is "The Rummage Box" (10 points for using articles from "The Rummage Box"). However, the manual does say you can receive 12 points for including "Reports on National AACA rules, judging, changes, museum, youth, etc." As John S pointed out, "The Speedster" is an excellent source for this info. Another good AACA source of material is "The Judge" newsletter for judges.Thanks, Keith, for contacting Fred Young about this. Regardless if people are reading "The Rummage Box" for the info or to use it in their regional club's newsletter, it's a great product, very informative, and--as you point out--a great way for the National leadership to communicate direct with the membership. I know all the national directors are extremely busy, but it would be very helpful and much appreciated (by newsletter editors and members) if they could produce a robust Rummage Box at least once a quarter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GE Dictator 1928 Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Another reason for us to get as much info in the Rummage Box as possible for editors to draw on, is that so much of our membership is older, and they do not have computers, email, internet capability, etc., and fact of the matter is, they never will. A printed, hard copy Newsletter is the way to get this info to that larger-than-you-think population. I've have heard many statements to the effect of "this is the electronic age and everyone has to get with it and get a computer", but fact is, they won't and shouldn't have to if they do not want to. These people are, in a lot of instances, the forefathers of our generation of AACA member, and we should be able to provide them a communication that is comfortable for them, rather than to alienate them. We do an e-newsletter, but with printed copies to certain of our senior members that do not have electronic capabilities. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 (edited) Mark, the newsletter scoring gets adjusted slightlyevery year. The newsletter manual is a few years old.In the current scoring spreadsheet (I'm on the Publications Committee),having "News from National [AACA]" in your newsletter earns 15 points."Master Editorship" is reached at 170 points, so that's almost 10% of your goal!There's no stated requirement that it be from a particular source.And it certainly wouldn't need to be the full page that a typical"Rummage Box" article occupies.Our region mails a professionally printed newsletter to every member,as we want to give everyone something tangible for his dues.Personally, I think a good printed newsletter, if it suits thebudget of your region, encourages people to relax and turnthe pages. Speaking for myself, I know I spend much less timelooking at a typical on-screen publication, including "Speedster."The national office says that a substantial percentage of e-mailaddresses that receive "Speedster" never even open it! Edited September 19, 2014 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mark McAlpine Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 Thanks for the information, John--it's good to know. It would be helpful if national would update the Newsletter Editor's Manual for new editors like me. It's also interesting to know that most members who receive the Speedster don't open the e-mail they receive. It would be interesting to know why--do they already read it on the AACA website or are they just not interested. The answer might help national tweak the product--if necessary.And I concur with "GE Dictator 1928"--many of our older members do not have a computer (or at least don't want to read the region's newsletter or the AACA's Antique Automobile magazine on-line) and many other members regardless of age prefer to read hardcopy versions. Our region (Tidewater) moved to an electronic version newsletter several years ago, but we still print and mail hardcopies to those members they want it--no questions asked why.Thanks to all for the discussion. I enjoy reading the various sections of the AACA Forum and learning from the collegial--and informed--discussions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 I'm not sure what percentage delete "Speedster" without reading it,but it's not small. I doubt that it's because they are reading it onthe AACA website. Maybe the national office can give more information.E-mails often don't stand out, and the wheat can get lost among the chaff.I know one busy executive who told me he was getting 1500 e-mails a day!Speedster is a long chain of information without the beauty and permanenceof professional printing. I read mine and even print out parts of it; butfrom all sorts of other places I get frequent e-mails which I seldom readand always delete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 I'm a generation or more younger than our typical member--not that age matters one whit when we're enjoying our cars--but since I'm on a computer during the workday, I want tosee well printed books and magazines (and newsletters) formy hobby. In fact, I save some of the best.Please don't think that only "old" people want printed copies, folks!However you do it, something worth doing is worth doing well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GE Dictator 1928 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 John,My apologies if I offended. I only speak from experience with our local region, where the decision was made by the board to do an e-copy only. We found that the ones like my own parents (50 year members of both local and National AACA) who will not go electronic were ones who requested a hard copy. Best,KeithI'm a generation or more younger than our typical member--not that age matters one whit when we're enjoying our cars--but since I'm on a computer during the workday, I want tosee well printed books and magazines (and newsletters) formy hobby. In fact, I save some of the best.Please don't think that only "old" people want printed copies, folks!However you do it, something worth doing is worth doing well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 You didn't offend in the least, Keith!I was just trying to make a point that there'sa certain desirability to have a copy to hold and to keepno matter what one's age.I try to make our newsletters worth keeping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 ...... I'm on a computer during the workday, I want tosee well printed books and magazines (and newsletters) formy hobby. In fact, I save some of the best.However you do it, something worth doing is worth doing well.Ahh, magazines! What's better than pulling that Antique Automobile out of the plastic wrapper and smelling that wonderful print ink? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Buckley Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Here is the link to the Fall 2014 Rummage Box:http://www.aaca.org/images/rummage_box/2014_Fall_Rummage_Box.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 The new Rummage Box will be helpful. Thanks to the editorsand contributors!I notice some differing thoughts on using "clip art" in newsletters.Vice President Fred Young, in his communications to editors, advisesagainst much of it--or any of it at all. The Rummage Box has a differentthought on the matter and advises filling space with clip art to gainattention to an article.The clip art that I have typically seen is hastily drawn and even cartoonish.A true graphic artist might use well executed illustrations in an appropriate place,but usually clip art from a computer is just a space-filler. Wouldn't it be better to enlarge a car photo or rearrange text?Our region's newsletter never uses clip art, thinking that it makes a publicationlook amateurish. When did you last see clip art in The Wall Street Journalor in Antique Automobile? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mark McAlpine Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 A belated thanks for the Fall Rummage Box! Just in time to include in our region's (Tidewater) October newsletter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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