Steve Hanson
Newsletter Editor

■Conveying the News of Meeting■ 

By Gail Whitehead, Nominating Committee

Several friends will be completing their terms of service in June 2008 and Nominating Committee is undertaking a series of interviews in the hope of attracting new friends to serve our community.  This month we interviewed our Newsletter Editor, Steve Hanson.

What can you tell me about the history of the Newsletter?

Frederick Preparatory Meeting (then under the care of Bethesda Monthly Meeting) published its first Newsletter in Sept. 1985.  The Meeting became a Monthly Meeting in Sept. 1987 but did not begin regular publication of the Newsletter until 1990, and in Oct. 1999, Meeting formed a Communications Committee comprised of 6 members to strengthen the sense of community through the dissemination of information via a Newsletter and Web site. 

When I became the Editor in 2005, the committee had not met in a considerable time, and its membership had been reduced to the Newsletter Editor and Webmaster and the committee was generally thought to have been laid down.  While I think there are many concerns a Communications committee might give its consideration to, it remains unclear to me the needs of Meeting are not already being met by the Editor and Webmaster.

What is the most misunderstood aspect of being the Editor?

Some friends may think the Editor should report on all the activities of Meeting.  I think it’s actually important that the Meeting take responsibility to share the many perspectives of the Meeting community.  This is particularly true as the Meeting grows and it becomes increasingly difficult for anyone to participate fully in all the events or considerations of Meeting.  Committees, for example, may submit regular updates and announcements or use the Newsletter to inform the Meeting.

What is the work of the Editor and how has it changed during your term of service?

The Newsletter is published on or before the first Sunday of each month and the Editors’ publication cycle begins with distribution of reminders for the upcoming News deadline on the preceding Wednesday.  The Recording Clerk and others submit items for publication and the Editor composites the Newsletter electronically.

The Newsletter is converted to PDF and saved with active links and bookmarks and, in Oct. 2006, I took over electronic distribution of the Newsletter to reduce annual postage expenses.    Managing multiple mailing and distribution lists is now an integral part of maintaining the Annual Directory. 

Meeting provisionally approved the Published Record in Feb. 2007.  This requires that separate copies of all minutes and reports be reformatted and submitted to the Recorder for inclusion in the Published Record (available in the Library).   PDF copies are saved with active links for inclusion in the Electronic Archive which I’ve made available on CD to all Officers and Committee clerks of Meeting.

How much time does this service take and, what help can you offer the next Editor?

These responsibilities take about 10 hours per month.  I’ve drafted policies and guidelines and developed a user friendly database program to assist with data management.  I recommend anyone interested in this work be familiar working with a variety of electronic file formats and have basic word processing skills.  It may also be helpful to be familiar with basic mail merge functions, database management, advanced document and print settings and Adobe Distiller.  I’d be happy to share what I’ve learned.

Editors note:  We are happy to report that Sarah Tasker has graciously taken over the Newsletter Editor responsibilities from Steve.  Much Light to Steve for all his hard work in revamping, expanding and distributing the newsletter.

Telephone friends

(phone and/or e-mail friends and families of the Meeting experiencing duress)

Writers by e-mail

If you are providing service to the Meeting, but have not had the opportunity to tell us about it, or if you have a particular skill you are willing to share with Meeting, please let us know so we can call on your help when needed.  Send me a reply e-mail: pawsdedeux@aol.com (Gail Whitehead.)

Please phone or e-mail me with your questions: Gail Whitehead, 301-620-2855

Thank you for your consideration,

Nominating Committee Members:

Gail Whitehead, Clerk

Deborah McCoy

Anne Buttenheim

Sue deVeer

Francy Williams (Ex Officio)