club newsletters mike raffety, ctm district 30 spring conference [email protected]
TRANSCRIPT
Agenda
WhyWhoStyle and formatRegular contentArticlesPhotosLayout
EditingPublishingSoftwareTemplatesCustomizingHints and tipsMake articles fit
Why have a newsletter?
Communicate with:your clubprospective membersdistrict leadership
Source for district newsletter articles (Spotlight) and other mediaRemember history …Improve your communications skills!
Who does it?
Organizing and editing:VP Public Relations
Writing articles:Club officersAll club members
How often?Monthly?
Your first newsletter
This is the hardestNeed a consistent lookSet up a template
Style and formatMastheadTable of contentsDistinguished Club Status
Newsletter style and format
ColorsMay print in B&W, but people will also read in e-mail or on web site
Graphic elements (TM logo, etc.)Title
May just be club name
Boldface member namesMake it easy for people to find!
Masthead
*Club name, number and district*Volume and number, month and year*Meeting time and place*Name, address and phone for:
Editor (VP PR)Publisher (President)
Officer list* Required for club newsletter contest
Table of contents
Draw the reader inMake it easy to find interesting newsUse in summaries when e-mailing newsletters
Distinguished club status
List the 10 goalsShow how close you areKeep this very visible to membersCelebrate each accomplishment
Articles
You don’t have to write them!Draft officers to writeAsk members to writeReprint articles from other sources (The Toastmaster, Spotlight, etc.)
Be sure to credit!
Article ideas
New membersNew achievements
CTM, ATM, DTM, CL, AL, etc.
Meeting summariesContests
area, division, district
District conferences and TLIElections, anniversaries, demo meetings, speechcraft, club awards, mission statement, officer meetings, more!
Photos!
Easy way to fill spacePeople love picturesDigital camera or scanningPut a border on the photo
Click right and “Borders”
Ideas:Meeting photosAchievements (CTM, etc.)Visiting dignitariesMembers at contests
Layout
Mix it up, avoid a page of all textAdd large-print quotesInclude color where possibleSteal graphics from the webUse clip art
Editing
Proofread!Spelling (red squiggles)Grammar (green squiggles)Content and interest
Send draft to club officers“Toastermasters”
Publication
Printed copies at meetingsSend in e-mail – Adobe PDF!
Include Table of Contents in mail text
Post on club web site
Following newsletters
Make a copy of first newsletter and replace text and photosCan do it in just a couple of hours
Let’s make a newsletter!
Software to create
MS WordIncluded with most home PCs (part of MS Works)Can buy MS Works Suite 2002 for under $80 on AmazonOr use a computer at work
Could use MS Publisher ($100) or others
Software to distribute
Not everyone has WordBIG filesAdobe Acrobat PDF
Everyone has itSmall compact filesFast to load from the web
Can buy Acrobat ($250)Or use free Adobe web service
http://createpdf.adobe.comFive free conversions per e-mail address
Fire up Internet Explorerhttp://officeupdate.microsoft.com/templategallery
Preview several different ones
For example: Dots
Begin editing in MS Word
Start customizing
TitleDate, volume, issueOfficer listDistinguished club status
Save before adding articles
Makes future newsletters much easier!Just open this “blank” newsletter
Inserting article text
Copy and “paste special” unformatted textAvoid having to change fonts back
MS Word hints and tips
All text is in a boxMove and resize boxesPut a border around text
Click right on edge, choose borders
The “P” symbolMore tips at:
http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/word/index.htm
How to make articles fit
Judicious editingChange column widthAdd large-font quotesAdd picturesChange spacing between:
LinesParagraphs
Change font size
Summary
WhyWhoWhat:
ArticlesPhotos
HowPublishing
Good luck!
Feel free to e-mail me with questionsPlease send copy of newsletters to me [email protected]