Patricia
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newsletter and club show schedule...Are either of those coming through the postal service???
And if so... when?
( only asking as I have been asked and I have not got a clue  )
Patricia
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doganjo
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As far as I know Paul is still waiting for them. But the schedule and entry form are on the Fosse Data website. All club members will get a schedule but non members will have to download.
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Pippa's Pack
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| doganjo wrote: | | .... All club members will get a schedule but non members will have to download. |
I am not sure if this is correct. As I understand it, schedules will only be posted to people who have exhibited during the past 12 months not to all members. However, this should not be a problem now it is available for on-line entry.
Regarding the newsletter, the final draft was returned to the printers on 5th December. When printed they are sent to Paul for distribution. When I saw him at LKA he had not received them but he may well have done so by now.
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Patricia
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Sadly, I disagree with this way of doing things. 
I know many people ( who are memebrs) who are not all conversant with computers, some don't even possess one.
You mentioned Fiona before and her not using one? How about long standing members like Dolly Leach???  Lester Anderson???
What extra do we get from our increase membership fee??( Not getting on at you Anne by the way)
I am lucky to have the help of my son as I find many tasks difficult to do on this machine!!!
But I do manage to do the basics, I am really thinking of other members here....
As for exhibitors not getting a schedule...if they haven's exhibited for 12 months? Maybe the judges haven't suited them???? humm....
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doganjo
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| Quote: | I will be sending every member a schedule along with their Newsletter.
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This was from Paul
You are correct that there are still people without computers, that is why they are being sent out in the post. However, I feel that we should take advantage of modern technology, and that is why we have put them on the Fosse Data website as well. I would hope that we would take note of how many entries are done online and then accordingly possibly reduce printing costs. However, that is all a matter for the Committee to decide after we see the results of this trial run.
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Pippa's Pack
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I stand corrected 
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Patricia
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Anne, our posts have crossed... I am glad to hear the schedule will be mailed to everyone... 
Some still like to use good old Royal Mail!!! Me too! 
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doganjo
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Sorry, girls, didn't know you were both online - have edited my first post.
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Patricia
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Yes Anne, Technology is a great thing....But you still have to cater for everyone...We are lucky to have this Forum( very well run and fun too!) but many have not got a clue about why the newletter is late, when the club show entries are etc...because they don't use either computer or any other form of chat room or forum!
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Mugi
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All I will say (being someone who prefers to use online entry where available) is that the three other breed clubs I belong(ed) to send out show schedules to all members regardless of whether or not they show. I get all the WA and WCGB show schedules and have never shown a weim in my life  .
Personally I would be happy to opt out of receiving paper schedules as long as the online facility was available but I feel it is important that club members have the opportunity to choose how they receive info.
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Patricia
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I agree Sue...but. I like to receive paper still. I download stuff too.
However, and though the Norfolk and Suffolk HPR have a really good web site and schedules for trials and training days on there, we still recieve the forms by post. I have them there to remind me when they are nearer the time...in black and white.
I still prefer many old fashioned ways, we are all different... 
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eddieh
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Spot on Sue. I too would would be happy to opt out of receiving paper as I can never be sure that I have receive all of the post which has been sent to me (I once had a job offer which took 2 months to reach me and when it did it had four our five postmarks from the Lake District. This is not a "one off").
Having said that, I have always been of the opinion that on line v postal should be optional. It is not fair to force people with either preference down a road which they feel to be inappropriate to their circumstances. If e-mail and the internet didn't exist we'd have to cope, but it does, so we might as well make use of it AS WELL AS THE POSTAL SERVICE
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doganjo
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I agree that it should be optional. My own personal view is that I like to save paper(and the Planet if I can ) where possible so since I have a computer, I choose which schedules to download, and I choose whether to enter online or not. if I enter online I have an immediate proof of posting by email from Fosse Data or Highams (dog biz) I do not print anything out if I don't have to.
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johnhod
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I too agree that both methods should be available, though the opportunity to opt out of paper copies is a good idea.
I am of the opinion that ALL members should be sent information about shows and training events, the club does not exist solely for those of us who choose to show.
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eddieh
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| johnhod wrote: |
I am of the opinion that ALL members should be sent information about shows and training events, the club does not exist solely for those of us who choose to show. |
Can't think of a valid argument to the contrary
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doganjo
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But there is another argument - if show schedules are only sent to those who have recorded their wish to have them - in paper format as opposed to the environmentally friendly method of download which is there for anyone with access to the Internet, then there is more money in the pot to spend on training and working events
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Mugi
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I can see your point Annie but personally I was never really that set on showing till I was offered the chance to buy Chase. I am now enjoying it but receiving schedules would certainly keep the idea uppermost.
This is why I feel that the option should be to opt out of paper not opt in, then we can encourage new members or perhaps even longer term members to partake of club events, be they shows, training or field events.
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johnhod
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| Quote: | | if show schedules are only sent to those who have recorded their wish to have them |
Agreed, but they have to be given the option. New members, particularly those new to showing, if they are not sent the schedules (which they wouldn't be as they haven't shown in the past 12 months) may not know how to enter. Additionally, as training info is sent out with show info those who don't show regularly don't get to know about training events either.
This brings me onto another point. Should the club provide some sort of starter pack for new members? Nothing spectacular but some additional info on the breed, the activities that Brittanys are involved in, some info on local Brittany owners (who have given their permission for new owners to contact them) to discuss the breed and any questions/problems they may have in the early months of ownership, the most recent newsletter,details about the website and how to find your way round it (info on the forum would be nice but as the club won't even put a link to it on their website that's not likely to happen), etc.
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doganjo
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| johnhod wrote: | | Quote: | | if show schedules are only sent to those who have recorded their wish to have them |
Agreed, but they have to be given the option. New members, particularly those new to showing, if they are not sent the schedules (which they wouldn't be as they haven't shown in the past 12 months) may not know how to enter. Additionally, as training info is sent out with show info those who don't show regularly don't get to know about training events either.
This brings me onto another point. Should the club provide some sort of starter pack for new members? Nothing spectacular but some additional info on the breed, the activities that Brittanys are involved in, some info on local Brittany owners (who have given their permission for new owners to contact them) to discuss the breed and any questions/problems they may have in the early months of ownership, the most recent newsletter,details about the website and how to find your way round it (info on the forum would be nice but as the club won't even put a link to it on their website that's not likely to happen), etc. |
We used to do that before but don't know if it's done now - best ask Barbara. We had a leaflet about the breed that I set up, and I updated it and changed the format slightly when Richard was doing Discover Dogs as a handout for him. Still on my machine somewhere I think.
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johnhod
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Just remembering back to the time when I joined (seems like a lifetime ago, difficult to believe it was so recently) Everything I was told about the breed and the first training week-end we attended was via the forum.
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Patricia
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Many of you are really clever with computers  And many of you too love playing with them, working with them etc...For me it is the basics
Without my son ( who is completely changing my machine) I doubt I would use one.
And I hate gadgets It is not because we have Microwaves now that we don't use conventional ovens any more!
I remember Margaret's face when she asked how our 52 year old solid fuel AGA worked!
And I know I am not alone in still liking to get things in the post in the shape of paper.
So, for me, keep the choice.
As for spending more on training etc...what have you in mind???
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Mugi
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I don't recall getting any breed info/back issue newsletter etc when I joined the club. For me I have had the back-up of two very committed breeders so I haven't felt the lack but now you mention it John I did get more from WA and WCGB - can't remember about the Deerhound Club to be honest but I think they sent out a factsheet on the breed.
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Pippa's Pack
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We always have about 50 additional newsletters printed so that Barbara can send the latest issue to new members when they are accepted. This serves several purposes as, in additiion to the articles, it contains names and addresses of both Committee and members, forthcoming activities and the Club rules and Code of Conduct.
When we joined we were also given an information leaflet and a copy of the breed standard. I remember looking through the list of members in the newsletter to see if any other owners lived in our vicinity.
I think it would be helpful if they could also be given details of the Forum, even if this were on a separate piece of paper.
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eddieh
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I think it would be helpful if the club website had a link to the forum  
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guy
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I would like to flag up that the'club' is the 'members'. It just happens to be managed by a few dedicated members.
I like the idea of a 'new member pack' and would be happy to put something together. Perhaps people could post ideas of things they would like to see included.
Paper verses electronic. My personal take is paper -must- be the default means of communication. electronic can be available to those who have access to it but must not advantage those who do have access or disadvantage those who do not have access to it.
Web based information does allow those who are not members to learn about the breed and the club. Detailed and impartial welfare information should be freely available to all Brittany owners regardless of club membership.
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Patricia
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Thank you all for your information...Alan would be glad to help Guy with addtional info for breed points and ports of call if needed.
I know that you do get some new people who have decided to buy a Brittany who sometimes DO need help. If the breeder is unwilling or does not care etc...they may feel alone and need to chat to someone.
So any of that type of info may be handy?
Very often, that can be enough to make them part of " a club" and help at hand.
I think that this Forum does that largely as well as some " fun" chats
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barbara
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I send out a back copy of the Newsletter, An Introduction to the Breed leaflet and a A4 copy of the Rules and Code of Conduct with a letter of approval when the new members have been ratified.
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Victoria
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| eddieh wrote: | | I think it would be helpful if the club website had a link to the forum |
Eddie, I think we have been through this before somewhere on the forum...  
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