Direct mailing of The Server

I would be interested to learn others views on the distribution of The Server magazine. My experience is that the Chapter's bulk supply always seems to come through the door the morning after the Chapter meeting the night before! Then the rigmarole ensues of having to pack and post a copy to those in the Chapter who subscribe at increased local expense. Alternatively, if costs are to be kept down, members have to wait another month and receive it at the next meeting when some of the material is less than fresh due to the necessary long period of time between copy deadline and publication.

It is always refreshing to receive periodicals from the other Catholic Societies direct through my door and just be able to get on and read them. Forward in Faith, Society of Mary and Catholic League all distribute in this manner and have done so for some time.

What do you think?

Craig Aburn Group Councillor LG5&6 

REPLIES

12/2/04 - Geoff Scott

The Server by direct mail is the way forward. 
Geoff.Scott Cleveland

12/2/04 - Colin Limming

The Cambridge Chapter doesn't operate a bulk order system mainly for the reasons given by Bro. Craig.

We tell our members 'if you want a copy then order it and pay for it!'.

But most other Societies I belong to, and I imagine this goes for many other GSS members, give their members a copy of the 'House Magazine' whether it is the AA, National Trust and so on. For the extra £3 why cannot the GSS mail a copy to every member. Extra work? Yes! Imposing on Brother Nigel? Yes! Something would have to be worked out but it's not impossible. The country could be split up into areas with one person responsible for the distribution in their 'manor'. 

Then every member gets a copy, the printer gets a decent print order and the 60% who don't take THE SERVER at the moment would do so. If anyone objected then they don't get a copy!

I now wait for the barrage of criticism

Colin Limming Chapter Secretary Chapter of St. Etheldreda, Cambridge.  

12/2/04 - John Linge

Craig, I feel this would be an excellent idea, as long as - 
a. We can find someone willing to put them in the envelopes, and 
b. it doesn't put the cost up for the older brethren who might have to count the pennies rather carefully. 
Best wishes, in haste as usual, 
John

15/2/04 - Robert Snelling

Craig's email and comments therein strike a chord, as I find the same thing happens to me, that is, the magazines come a matter of days after our last Chapter meeting and I then have to post most of the copies. Direct mailing sounds a very good idea.

Robert Snelling - Chapter of the Holy Grail PG10/68   

15/2/04 - David Froud

David Froud Cllr PG10. If, or rather when, the Guild changes to this system then the numbers would be handled by an automated mass delivery system. We are now in the 21st century and should now be taking the benefits. Nigel I am sure would readily relinquish the envelopes in favour of a plastic (biodegradeable) wrap.    

15/2/04 - Ben Heffer

In our chapter that now meets only four times a year, we have got into the habit of communicating regularly with the membership by mail with newsletters and the like and we include the magazine in that mailing. However, I very much support the idea that every member of the GSS should receive the magazine and ideally they should be sent out from a central distribution point.

I don't understand why some people would want to be a member of the society, but not attend meetings and not receive the society's journal, and indeed in some case not pay their subs either. May be this is the ideal opportunity to resolve all these issue and give The Server a facelift in to the bargain. To my mind it would be better to charge a little extra for membership and automatically include all members on the magazine mailing list.

Ben Heffer, Chapter of St Birinus, Oxford     

16/2/04 - Craig Aburn

Thank you for all the positive comments received on this topic. 

Ben Heffer's response could lead onto a whole new topic of "Medal wearers". I am continually perturbed by those who wear the GSS medal and say "look at me, I'm a member of the Guild" but never support their chapter! I was always taught that if you joined an organisation you went to the meetings...

Craig Aburn Group Councillor for LG5&6     

19/2/04 - Stephen Savage

Good idea. Much more efficient. 
Stephen.      

24/2/04 - Dave

What about the server on the net?      

11/4/04 - John Tvrdy

As we are now in the 21st Century is it possible to give members of the guild the opportunity to have 'The Server' sent to their e-mail sites for a little extra if they so wish?

13/4/04 - Michael Pearson

This subject came up a few years ago and was rejected then. 
I hope it will be rejected again. I believe it will be detrimental to the future of the Guild. Some of us belong to a number of Catholic Societies to which we have to subscribe, this will be one more bill stretching the finances of many who are young or retired. 
Our Parishes are seeking more income, if the Societies increase their subscriptions then there is less to go around. 
I am a Life member, Chaplain of the North Devon Chapter for 20 years, and also have subscribed to the Server. I do not see direct mailing as a way forward, a good magazine secretary can do invaluable work keeping in touch with members we do not see very often, especially in such a wide flung Chapter as we are in North Devon, with direct mailing that contact would be lost.
I have to say that I would have to consider carefully whether or not I subscribed to the Server in the future, and at present if this proposal went through the answer would be no, and I suspect that my 18 year old daughter would not renew her membership as she is still in full time education and would not see the point of spending out this money.
At present to be a member is not expensive, it is good that this is so as it not a barrier to anyone of whatever financial standing, and if those with more income wish to give more and have the magazine posted direct to them they can.
Why not keep the choice and if wanted promote direct mailing for those who wish to receive it.
In any case would direct mailing mean The Server being read any more than it is? I doubt it for those who want it already get it.
I await the decision with interest.

Michael Pearson.
Vicar of Barnstaple Parish Church in the Barnstaple Area Team Ministry.
Chaplain of the North Devon Chapter.
Parish Priest of St. Helen`s Abbotsham.