GSD BC MAGAZINE - Page 1

 I dont know if every one has recieved the letter yet, but we will need to come up with a way to save our breed mag ever since i have been owned by this breed (1976) there has been some sort of mag, be it the Alsatians Club News the GSD weekly or Shepherd Scene even a gsd scotland mag, it would be a sin to let it go what if it went bi-monthly at say £10 a mag or yearly subscription of £55 for 6 mags (saving you a fiver for taking out yearly subs), if every two months there would be a lot more content in it and hopefully more articles and if we want to keep it then we will need to start advertising in it, (me included) lets not let this go by the wayside, it is still a way of knowing what is happening within the breed so we need as many ideas as possible.
jim h

True Jim,

I know its in danger.  It is sad, I know we moan sometimes at the content, or the lack of, but we all have to contribute,  and I think there should be less personal comments therein.   This months has dropped through my door, and again, people are being named - in a negative way.   We dont need a gossip mag (we have the pdb for that ) but we could have lots of info in there that we are all interested in.   What about the hip status chart that used to be there and it was I think a quarterly run down of dogs that were producing low scores in their lines etc    Mo. . 

Hi Jim and Mo,

My mag was due for renewal last month, but have had to postpone due to all the usual bills and money issues with daily living so renewal will be out of the question for a month or 2 which is a pity as I have collected these in folders for many years.

However, a solution to the big one off payment or 6 monthly payment would be a quarterly subscription by Direct Debit - it is so easy and it would be a small sum to pay 4 times a year rather than having to find a chunk of money once a year.  I know this sounds a bit miserable, but as circumstances change for many for to many reasons to mention this might be a consideration.

Your thoughts please on that.

I used to write a lot of articles for the Mag at one time, but have found less and less time over the last few years to do this.  I think a lot of people are afraid to air their views in case they are castigated for it.  Not sure how we could encourage others to write in - although I feel the climate is changing rapidly and it would be nice to see more interesting articles on health or training etc etc.

Aileen

Hi Aileen,

I agree with everything you  have written, and think the quarterly direct cebit is a superb idea.   Bits size chunks and makes it easieer to access for us all.   Mo.

Why not publish it on the internet

No printing or distribution costs

A secure subscription of say £2.00 - £3.00

Every body would be able to contribute Articles and Letters easily by e-mail

interesting Sites could have  a link page

Kennels and Breeders could advertise for a small fee

Would just need an Editor as present

Len Gill

Yes but the Magazine put them all in one place

Things you never knew or realised was happening

and not everyone looks at PDB do they

I always found the reprinting of old articles very interesting

these could be scanned in, no need to rewrite

Show results would be more up to date, no need to rely on any other site

Local Area notes made interesting reading

And of course a lively letter page

No forum needed, we have this one and would save the Mag. editor the problem of "moderating"


Just need someone with Web Site Knowledge to set it up

Len Gill

Before a new format is decided upon and anyone commits to paying for it - the management of the magazine needs to be sorted out.

The magazine has been running at a loss for a very long time - I am sure it has been continued with the best of intentions but it is just not feasible to carry on unless it can be made to cover its costs.

I personally think that it needs to be considered whether the Breed Council is right concentrating its efforts on reviving the Magazine with so much against it. Does the Magazine really help the Breed Council achieve it's objectives?

I do look forward to receiving my monthly mag and it is about the only piece of post that gets opened as soon as it arrives but, as has already been pointed out, there is now so much competition from the internet - someone needs to really think about what can be acheived from a magazine that cannot over the internet. For me point one would be reaching those who don't use the internet but that is an ever decreasing number and may not be viable.

I think the mag should be quarterly, should concentrate on welfare, health and training matters and should be more welcoming to new comers as well as providing a media which subscribers will want to keep - so lots of pictures, show reports and league tables. (They can be found on the web but not easily forever, unlike that box in the attic!)

But is the Breed Council the best guardian? I don't think they have done a great job so far - sorry folks!

Shirley

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I agree with Shirley.make it a quarterly magazine with subs.being taken quarterly by direct debit as Aileen suggested.I for one look forward to receiving my magazine and it,s opened and read as soon as i receive it.It would be a shame if it were to fold completely.For some people who dont have the internet(or like me,not very good at doing things on it)or the 2 dog papers,the mag.is the only way to see wot champ.shows or breed open shows are on plus the nos.for schedules,and show results+pictures of the dogs.Shelia i for one will not complain re a rise in price.Sorry David i,m a new member of the league and have had the 1st of the leagues mag but its not as good as the national one.Carole S.