USMS Magazine

WhenI started in USMS, I really thought that it was great that it seemed to be a very open organization. This seemed intersting becasue I live in a relatively isolate area of Illinois. I've read many of the post from the executive commintttee and other administrative posts. Plus I generally read Swim from cover to cover, I don't recall reading about the organization looking into starting a new magazine, only that proposals were being taken. I've gone back and looked at many forum discussion threads from the past that still exist. Editorial content is not always as important as many rganizations believe it to be to get their word out. The cost to publish magazines is constantly going up. That is why so many magazines are filled with advertisements. When you look at the staff pages of most mgazines, the ad sales department is (generally) the largest group of employees. Some argue that niche magazines are easier to sell becuse they have well identified vendors ( Adolf Keifer,etc.) to get to place ads. And also, a very recognized readership. This is truly a benefit. this certainly is a bigger, more intense discussion htan what is a lega; *** stroke kick. Many professsional membership have started to publish magazines as do many fraternal social organizations. These magazines are part of the membership benefits, if you will, that come through the dues. This is very simular to Swim. These types of organizations tend to have a very large memberships with very diverse backgrounds. The magazines tend to function as a newletter. They genrally all look alike and most aren't throughly read. Also, I read, over the internet, several swimming newsletters. Some local swimming groups have extremely good newsletters that cover moe than just their area's news and events. But they are all relavtively small ( they largest I've read was 24 pages). Some of these newsletters have ads. They are done by volunteers at a relatively low cost. Here in Illinois, we have a good one. But one major problem is the cost of mailing the hard copy of the newsletter. Postage is a major cost for magazines. Mnay publishers ofmagaazines say that postage costs are more likely ot destroy a magazine than are the other concerns, Im not sure this is true. It is however a very imortant consideration. All of this is to come to my real worry. How much will the magzine cost per member? Are there safeguards ot ensure that if something happens that causes costs ot increase, the magazaine will not begin to eat into membership dues that have been appointed to cover other necessary costs? Also, I haven't found anywhere a statement about how long this contract will last.

WhenI started in USMS, I really thought that it was great that it seemed to be a very open organization. This seemed intersting becasue I live in a relatively isolate area of Illinois. I've read many of the post from the executive commintttee and other administrative posts. Plus I generally read Swim from cover to cover, I don't recall reading about the organization looking into starting a new magazine, only that proposals were being taken. I've gone back and looked at many forum discussion threads from the past that still exist. Editorial content is not always as important as many rganizations believe it to be to get their word out. The cost to publish magazines is constantly going up. That is why so many magazines are filled with advertisements. When you look at the staff pages of most mgazines, the ad sales department is (generally) the largest group of employees. Some argue that niche magazines are easier to sell becuse they have well identified vendors ( Adolf Keifer,etc.) to get to place ads. And also, a very recognized readership. This is truly a benefit. this certainly is a bigger, more intense discussion htan what is a lega; *** stroke kick. Many professsional membership have started to publish magazines as do many fraternal social organizations. These magazines are part of the membership benefits, if you will, that come through the dues. This is very simular to Swim. These types of organizations tend to have a very large memberships with very diverse backgrounds. The magazines tend to function as a newletter. They genrally all look alike and most aren't throughly read. Also, I read, over the internet, several swimming newsletters. Some local swimming groups have extremely good newsletters that cover moe than just their area's news and events. But they are all relavtively small ( they largest I've read was 24 pages). Some of these newsletters have ads. They are done by volunteers at a relatively low cost. Here in Illinois, we have a good one. But one major problem is the cost of mailing the hard copy of the newsletter. Postage is a major cost for magazines. Mnay publishers ofmagaazines say that postage costs are more likely ot destroy a magazine than are the other concerns, Im not sure this is true. It is however a very imortant consideration. All of this is to come to my real worry. How much will the magzine cost per member? Are there safeguards ot ensure that if something happens that causes costs ot increase, the magazaine will not begin to eat into membership dues that have been appointed to cover other necessary costs? Also, I haven't found anywhere a statement about how long this contract will last.