The Future of Notts News

Wednesday August 12 2009

Item 5 on AGM Agenda

Since Notts News was formed back in the ‘90s, it has relied very heavily on Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire (RCAN) - formerly Nottinghamshire Rural Community Council (NRCC) - for support. Most of the training courses run over the years have been funded by grants found by RCAN on our behalf. In the late ‘90s and early part of the 21st century there was a considerable demand for training as many newsletters moved from electric typewriter-produced stencils to computer-produced documents, resulting in the need for word processor training. Over the past few years, the common topics that newsletter editors require further knowledge of has reduced, making it harder to put suitable courses together. Furthermore, funding has also become a bigger issue.

A few years ago we commissioned a survey to investigate what could be done to make Notts News commercially viable without having to rely on external funding. The main result of this was the need to increase membership and see what extra activities / benefits could be offered. To this end we carried out a survey throughout Nottinghamshire to obtain details of as many Newsletters/ Magazines that were around. This nearly doubled the number of publications in our database, but unfortunately it did not result in any significant increase in membership.

It was thought that by making better use of the internet, we could provide a website that would act as a forum for communication amongst newsletter editors. The Notts News website was therefore completely redesigned in 2008 with a special members area where tips of the trade, editorial material, etc could be exchanged. This unfortunately has only been used by 20% of the membership.

The present committee feel that this is synonymous with the small membership (30) and the lack of other activities provided by Notts News. The changeover to computers, digital printing, and better technical knowledge and support over the last 10 years have had a major impact on the needs of newsletter editors.

Recently some 45 newsletter editors were approached in the north of the county as to whether they would like to have an informal discussion evening, only 5 replied and attended. Those there had a useful and interesting evening and wanted a repeat later in the year.

The committee feel that there is much less need by newsletter editors for the support provided by Notts News. We have regretfully decided that unless a new committee, with new ideas of how to take Notts News forward, can be recruited at the AGM, Notts News will disband, in which case it is proposed that the residue of funding will be donated to RCAN to facilitate focus group meetings around the county or sponsor the continuation of the newsletter competition.

If you have strong views of how Notts News can improve its services to members or even think the association has outlived its usefulness, please come along to the AGM and have your say.

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