My apologies for the long message...but after reading this, I hope that
you'll understand why the message needed to be so long.
The February, 2023 issue of The Modern Square is released today, Jan. 16,
2023. The PDF file for it is now available on the ASSDF website at
https://www.arkansassquaredance.com/the-modern-square -- and the print
copy has been released to the printer, Arkansas Printing, in Pine Bluff.
It should arrive in subscriber's mailboxes just before the first day of February, if all goes well.
The print edition for February, 2023 is 20 pages...with over 80 pages for
the e-Edition, with the numerous photos that were obtained via the various
club Facebook groups. Not all photos were used, but one can go to the
various Facebook groups to see all the photos, as well as the videos.
There were a few clubs that did NOT submit reports, or post anything on Facebook...so their reports will be conspicuous by their abscence. I can
NOT force clubs to submit reports...but there are four possible reasons
why a report wasn't submitted.
1) The club is DARK (not dancing)...in which case, I don't expect anything (reports or otherwise) to be submitted.
2) The club doesn't feel there's any news to report.
3) The reporter didn't send anything in.
4) The club doesn't have a reporter. This is likely because, as with most
clubs and organizations today...there are too few members remaining, and
no one wants to do the work. I've heard several club officers tell me that about their membership. Clubs like this are eventually going to fold and disband, when there is no one wanting to work behind the scenes, as it
were.
While active dancing for me anymore is EXTREMELY RARE (especially since I
no longer drive, due to vision issues), I am content to work behind the
scenes for the ASSDF, as Editor, Webmaster, and Circulation Chairman...as
well as Reporter and Chaplain for the Maverick Mixers Club in Little Rock.
Clubs who make the CHOICE to NOT post anything on Facebook, or to send in anything, will have no right to complain, if no one shows up for their
dances (regular or special), lessons, etc. -- because without them telling anyone outside their club, no one but their club members will know what's
going on.
And, if they end up doing a big dance, but they didn't tell anyone else;
and somehow word gets out...that club likely will NEVER have any visitors
ever again. Basically, if you don't have at least a square of four couples
at a dance...NOBODY GETS TO DANCE...and all who've come, have then "wasted
a trip".
The "back print edition" (2 months old, to prevent non-subscribers from
getting it in a timely manner), is for December, 2022. The link for that
is on the same page. The previous print edition (November, 2022) has been removed from the ASSDF website.
A copy of available e-Editions is also available in the specific file
area here on The Thunderbolt BBS, with the filename msqr####.pdf --
where #### is the month (01-12) and year (last 2 digits) of the issue.
A PDF utility is required to view the files.
Work on the March, 2023 issue will begin around February 10, with the
deadline for items for it on February 14. Reminder Letters for the print subscriptions expiring with the March, 2023 issue, will be mailed out on
Feb. 15. There are no print edition subscription expirations noted for
the month of February.
Note that we're down to only 31 print subscriptions now (we were down to
24 in October, 2019). With continued declining print subscriptions, and ads...along with the continued increase in costs for both postage and printing...the days of the print edition may be numbered.
There are at least 10 print edition subscribers who are getting that
ONLY (no e-Edition with it)...likely because they don't have, can't get,
or don't want a computer or internet access. These would be hurt the most
if the print edition is eliminated...although some parts of Arkansas are
so rural, that it's very difficult at present to get internet or phone
service.
While the ASSDF Board has approved a LOSS of $500 to keep the print
edition going...without subscriptions or ads, it may be just a matter
of time before the print edition is no more.
Many other publications have gone online only, or shut down entirely...
because of the high costs of postage and printing...and in some cases,
with delivery issues from the Postal Service. Even though the ASSDF no
longer is on the Periodicals Rate, it pays First Class Postage for each
print edition mailed out. Tthe average First Class Postage price is now
60 cents...and it costs more than that per print edition mailed out. And,
that mailing cost is likely to continue increasing.
We have just over 130 e-Edition subscribers, with 2 dozen of those
taking the print edition as well; the rest just take the e-Edition only.
While the print edition is $20 a year, the e-Edition (at least for now)
is free...although subscribers are requested to make a $5 donation to
help offset the yearly costs of webhosting...which include the licensing
fee for Microsoft Word (to prepare The Modern Square), the webhosting fee
for Wix, plus the domain fee, and security fees to protect the site from
both hacking and data loss, among other things. The latter fees are what
ALL websites must pay. Some subscribers have already made that $5 fee
donation, or have paid the cost of a print subscription, but have noted
that they just want the e-Edition.
If we eventually go to the e-Edition only, the following things are most
likely to be done (although all of these would have to be approved by the
ASSDF Executive Board first):
1) Current subscribers with a print edition, would receive a prorated
refund from the ASSDF. This averages out to approxmiately $1.67 per
issues remaining. If they have 10 months left on their subscripton,
they would receive around $16.70 -- if they have 5 months left, they'd
receive around $8.35 for the remaining print subscription.
2) A separate email list would be set up for e-Edition subscribers for
a $5 yearly e-Edition subscription. This averages out to around 42 cents
a month...you can't get a beverage or even a biscuit for that!!
It's hoped that legitimate e-Edition subscribers would NOT "share"
their copy electronically with non-subscribers. The cost of paper and
printing (the ink cartridges, black and color), can become extremely
expensive. The last I checked, a 2 pack (1 black and 1 color print
cartridge) for my Canon MG-2100 printer, is around $75...and it could
take 2 of those (4 total) just to print one e-Edition ($150 total);
especially if there are a large amount of color photos.
Reminder emails would be sent out to e-Edition subscribers, similar to
the printed letters that are mailed out to print edition subscribers
now, from 4 to 6 weeks before their e-Edition subscription was to expire.
This would be handled by the Editor, Webmaster, and Circulation Chairman.
3) The e-Edition would also receive the same "2 month delay" as the
print edition does now, on the website...to prevent non-subscribers
from getting it in a timely manner.
4) Back issues for the e-Edition would remain online, once released.
Back issues of the print edition would be for one particular month
only, then replaced when a new release occurs.
5) With the elimination of the print edition, with yours truly (Daryl
Stout) as Editor (I don't see a rush for folks wanting the job!!), the
deadline for items would be MOVED until 9pm US Central Time, on the last Saturday of the month. Then, after things are finalized, it would be
emailed out to paying subscribers. Notices would be posted in the
Square Dance Events group on Facebook, and via email. Note that all
submissions would need to be emailed to
assdfmodernsquare@gmail.com
or noted on the various Facebook pages, so they can be obtained.
6) If the email address bounces (similar to the mailing address for the
print edition), the subscription would be SUSPENEDED until the Editor, Webmaster, and Circulation Chairman, is contacted by the subscriber,
with the correct information. Otherwise, it's UNKNOWN where to send it.
The subscriber will NOT receive a refund or subscription extension for
missed issues.
If the email address is correct, then the ISP is likely placing the
issue in their spam folder. Subscribers should be sure that if they
are receiving the e-Edition that they have
assdfmodernsquare@gmail.com
in their email "whitelist".
As soon as you think something is wrong with your print or e-Edition subscription, DO NOT WAIT to contact the Editor, Webmaster, and
Circulation Chairman. If there's a problem, and you don't contact
these people, then it appears that nothing is wrong. It is NOT the
job of the Editor, Webmaster, and Circulation Chairman, to contact
a club for a report, etc., or for a subscriber if their item bounces.
That is the responsibility of the individual subscriber. Also, if you
have a question or problem with your subscription, I want YOU to be
the one to contact me. Otherwise, the information is "second hand",
and if that's wrong, it could take longer to fix the problem. The ONLY
time I should get information "second hand" is to report the death of
a subscriber, so the applicable subscription(s) can be canceled.
As for dances themselves, no matter the time of year, one is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to CALL BEFORE YOU TRAVEL. Last minute cancellations for many reasons can, and do occur. Checking before you travel can ensure that you
don't "make the trip in vain/for nothing". And obviously, if you don't
feel well on a dance night (illness), or if bad weather is an issue
(either severe weather, flooding, or winter weather), please stay home!!
Folks who have questions can email me at
assdfmodernsquare@gmail.com --
I will reply as soon as possible.
Daryl Stout, Editor, Webmaster, Circulation Chairman, ASSDF
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)