Re: [GBW] [GBW_EXEC] New England Update, second try

[Sam Ellenport <sam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello all-
I think Peter makes some very good points.  I am one of the older members
whose first instinct is to preserve traditional print formats.  I.e., I
don't think of the computer unless I passively receive something through
email or am forced to do so against ingrained habit.  However, this is a
defeatist attitude that people such as myself must work to overcome.  The
new technologies will not go away and, as Peter mentions, are more familiar
with younger generations.  The upside of making this available through the
web has great potential; the current model is more and more difficult to
justify.

Having said that, I believe there is no argument here.  The real argument is
whether or not we want our publications andnews, etc. to be available for
all to read.  Should our dues make this exclusive to the membership or not?
I plump down again with Peter.  I can see nothing which cannot or should not
be classified as belonging to a paid membership rather than everyone.  I am
all for being coerced into going electronic.....even though I still prefer
printed copy.

Sam Ellenport

On Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 7:57 AM, Peter Verheyen <verheyen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> The Guild has had these discussions since it went online. First it was
> don't
> go online lest non-members see it, then it was only with basic
> organizational information, then "ok, the Newsletter but only if delayed by
> several issues..." At the one who first put the Guild online it's been a
> struggle at best and in many respects the Guild missed the boat. That
> doesn't mean it can't catch up but it's going to mean a lot of work.
>
> 1. Decide what the true benefits of membership are.
> 2. Decide which need to be truly for "members only."
>     -Standards and exhibitions come to mind.
>     -Workshops could be discounted for members.
>     -The Journal, especially if revitalized...
>     -This listserv, quiet as it is.
> 3. The other things should be seen as and USED as marketing tools.
>
> That latter category includes the various newsletters. Let's face it, there
> is very little that is truly unique in any of them. The calendars are
> limited and gleaned from other sources where they are freely available, and
> the few other articles and announcements should serve to ATTRACT new
> members. The little Guild admin news and other occasional columns? What's
> the harm if those are seen? For the Chapters, where it seems increasing the
> life of the Guild resides, the same should hold true. Don't you want new
> members? I think the NE Chapter deserves praise for jumping into the fray
> like this (never mind the fact that they have been online and are the most
> up to date) and California and Southeast are right there too. The rest...
>
> At the end of the day ALL functions of the Guilds should have a vibrant
> presence online, including and especially Chapters.
>
> For Standards that should be recaps of past events with links to the order
> form for videos (and behind a firewall the handouts), the Newsletter put it
> online and if you insist one issue behind but with the index freely
> available (member contact info can be removed - leave the ads the sponsors
> will thank you for increasing their visibility), the Journal at a minimum
> an
> index/table of contents, Exhibits online with link to order print version
> of
> catalog (this WORKS and raises $$$).
>
> Today's bookies are increasingly networked and network savvy. If something
> doesn't exist, they'll create it. The Guild must ACTIVELY reach out to that
> audience to remain visible if not viable. I don't see that happening. I see
> barriers being put in place in an effort to remain "exclusive." Much has
> changed in the past 15 ~ 20 years, and opportunities that didn't exist then
> (or were isolated/remote) are not a mouse click away. Lots of opportunities
> everywhere and vibrant and dynamic media abound and I'm not just referring
> to Book_Arts-L or The Bonefolder both of which just keep growing. There are
> numerous other ones to.
>
> I'd love to see some wider discussion of this, so let's have go, shall we.
>
> Peter
>
> _____________________________________
> Peter D. Verheyen
> Bookbinder & Conservator, PA - AIC
> <verheyen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> The Book Arts Web & Book_Arts-L Listserv
> <http://www.philobiblon.com>
> The Bonefolder: an e-journal for the bookbinder and book artist
> <http://www.philobiblon.com/bonefolder>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gbw-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:gbw-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Eric Alstrom GBW
> Communications Chair
> Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 3:21 PM
> To: gbw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [GBW] [GBW_EXEC] New England Update, second try
>
> I think the concern is not electronic/digital publications per se,
> but how they are distributed.  A blog, unless it can be password
> protected, is open to all.  That is not a bad thing, but we have to
> know it will be accessed by non-members, too, if we decide to have
> GBW/chapter blogs.
>
> Distributing newsletters, etc, via email is different.  Only members
> will get the email with the newsletter.  Another alternative would be
> to have a member-only section of the web pages with the publications/
> info posted there.
>
> Eric
>
> On Feb 3, 2009, at 4:31 PM, Catherine Burkhard wrote:
>
>
> > This, too, is a concern of mine.  But....I think in the LSC, we'll
> > continue
> > with the newsletters, even tho done electronically.
> >
> > That's why I don't want to see the GBW Newsletter go electronic.
> >
> > Catherine
>
>
>
>
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> The GBW website is supported and maintained by
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GBW Standards - October 16-18, 2008
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More info at http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/gbw/standards.shtml

The GBW website is supported and maintained by
Conservation OnLine http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/gbw

To post messages, email to GBW@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

For problems, contact Eric Alstrom, List Manager:
gbwlist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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