<VV> Communique, Print vs. Electronic or Both Suggestion

[Harry Jensen, Executive Secretary]

Hi--

Communique costs are difficult to accurately determine with declining 
membership. Between 2007 and 2008, there was a 2% increase in total 
Communique expenses, printing costs were about even, postal costs 
increased by 6%, editorial fees by 2%.

--H

On 12/10/2009 10:04 AM, airvair at earthlink.net wrote:
> In the course of this discussion, I wonder if the CC cost is increasing at
> a faster rate than the rest of the cost of CORSA per se? In other words, is
> it the cost of the CC, and not the rest of CORSA expenses, the main cause
> of our financial problem?
>
> Also, what ARE our income and cost percentages like on a per-member basis?
> Particularly, how do those percentages compare over the last few years?
>
> -Mark
>
>> [Original Message]
>> From: Harry Jensen, Executive Secretary<corsa at corvair.org>
>> Subject: Re:<VV>  Communique, Print vs. Electronic or Both Suggestion
>>
>> Hi--
>>
>> I do not know about any on demand printers for publications. I do know
>> that when we printed the Corvair Basics book, the cost per copy was much
>> higher for the on demand printer than a traditional printer.
>>
>> An on demand printer is attractive to those who are on a budget and do
>> not want to tie up a lot of funds in book inventory. CORSA does not
>> necessarily have that problem, as the return we earn on book inventory
>> is much higher than the return we can earn from any bank.
>>
>> --H
>>
>> On 12/9/2009 4:53 PM, John Dozsa wrote:
>>> The major issue that needs to be resolved is the print vs. electronic
>>> distribution of the Communique.  Since it's CORSA largest expense that's
>>> were the major effort should be expended.  There may be a way to have
>>> both.  There are publishers of books that print books on demand.  One is
>>> http://www.infinitypublishing.com/  Their business model has a book
>>> author prepare the book electronically in the specified format and
>>> upload the files to them.  They print only on demand.  For books there
>>> is a minimum author pre-buy.  After this they will accept orders for
>>> only one copy.  This is possible because of the technology changes that
>>> permit it economically.  IF, a bit IF, such publishers exist for
>>> monthly, semi-monthly, quarterly publications,etc., CORSA members could
>>> buy a printed Communique directly from the on-demand publisher.  So for
>>> example, a CORSA member wants monthly printed copies, they pay the
>>> publishing company for that service.  If a member want only archive
>>> printed copies, they could for example just request annual printings of
>>> 12 past issues, all bound together.  I would suggest the CORSA BOD
>>> explore this possibility.  There may be limitations on color and paper
>>> quality.  I do know the softback color book covers from Infinity are
>>> excellent.  Inter color pages on lighter weight paper are also excellent
>>> and similar to the Communique paper.
>>>
>>> Perhaps the same on-demand printing business model could work for
>>> republishing old CORSA publications.  Perhaps sell the publishing rights
>>> in exchange for a cut of sales.
>>>
>>> John
>>>
>
>

-- 
|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Harry Jensen  mailto:corsa at corvair.org
| CORSA Executive Secretary
|
| Corvair Society of America (CORSA)
| P.O. Box 607, Lemont, IL 60439, 630.257.6530  fax 630.257.5540
| http://www.corvair.org
|--------------------------------------------------------------