I see the Bradford Championship show date has now been added. Thank you.
Steven Goss
1 month ago
I would like to suggest that we think again about having some kind of monthly newsletter. I am concerned that there are members and exhibitors without the internet, but also how would a member know who holds what positions within the club even if they look at this website? The show calendar does not extend into next year, though I am sure a date for Doncaster has long been set. We must not let standards slip. Sadly, I cannot attend the annual show and the AGM at Harlow because the venue is not suitable for me as a wheelchair user, but I am willing to put forward a proposal about the newsletter if the motion is seconded by someone, and can explain my reasoning in writing for the meeting.
Hi Steve,
The list of officers is available here. As you mentioned, I have now added Doncaster, but I have not received any other show schedules as of this writing.
As for the publication, I think we’re beating a dead horse here. You’re welcome to put forward a motion regarding a newsletter, but I believe the chances of finding someone willing to continue publishing in the spirit of Ruth’s legacy are slim. I should point out that the printed NMC News was not “cancelled” by any decision of the Executive Committee; it simply ceased because our editor-in-chief retired. We can put forward as many motions as we like, but without someone to fill the role it will remain a futile exercise. The same, unfortunately, applies to the Social Media Officer post. We appointed someone only for her to leave the fancy shortly afterwards, so the position remains vacant to this day.
I look forward to seeing many active members at the AGM and hope we will find someone willing to step up. Recent activities have left me optimistic about the future of the NMC.
Sadly I tend to agree with Stephan but for me there is another factor and that is the distinct lack of content contained within the NMC News.
I think most of us who have been club members for more than a couple of years will acknowledge that there has been a steady decline in the what is actually contained within any given edition.
Ultimately the responsibility for the content of the NMC News lies with ALL club members. For whatever reason we seem to have reached a point where it is simply an information sheet giving details of new members and occasionally show calendar updates. It is purely functional and nothing more and that is a travesty.
It is not that long ago that in addition to the Hon Secretary’s Report, pretty much every edition had a contribution from the President and the Chairman together with an update from the Cup Secretary. None of these were War and Peace but they helped to connect and build relationships between everyone within the club.
The other glaring omission now is articles provided by the membership itself. These ranged from the sharing of invaluable experience and advice from our more experienced fanciers to articles written by new members, offering their insights into just how the club welcomes and inducts those just at the beginning of their journey in the mouse fancy. These articles do not write themselves and as I have already said, it is the responsibility of all within the club to ensure that the NMC News in whatever format, is still the mouthpiece of the club.
I for one very much miss the varied content of the NMC News and would like to think that we could all step up to the plate to bring it back to somewhere near the publication Ruth produced so well every month.
Thanks Mike and may I add that the form in which the NMC News are supplied (digitally or printed) has nothing to do with the lack of new content! Even when we still had the printed edition, lack of new content had become an issue.
Explains the lack of social media output. I hadn’t realised the officer left the fancy. I would be happy to take the role on, I’ll be at the AGM so can discuss then and if anyone else is interested in doing it?
How do you suggest this reference should be updated? It looks ok to me. It even has the signup option so you get any new articles into your email inbox.
There isn’t a newsletter. The wording is misleading. Monthly short updates from one officer are brief bulletins. A newsletter is a stand-alone publication (paper or screen) with significantly more content. I signed up for the newsletter, but all I have seen are notification emails.
We also publish show reports. Also, the lack of content is not unique to the digital newsletter, as discussed. Rather than changing the wording on the website, I would prefer it if we could have more contributions from members, sharing their stories.
I see the Bradford Championship show date has now been added. Thank you.
I would like to suggest that we think again about having some kind of monthly newsletter. I am concerned that there are members and exhibitors without the internet, but also how would a member know who holds what positions within the club even if they look at this website? The show calendar does not extend into next year, though I am sure a date for Doncaster has long been set. We must not let standards slip. Sadly, I cannot attend the annual show and the AGM at Harlow because the venue is not suitable for me as a wheelchair user, but I am willing to put forward a proposal about the newsletter if the motion is seconded by someone, and can explain my reasoning in writing for the meeting.
Hi Steve,
The list of officers is available here. As you mentioned, I have now added Doncaster, but I have not received any other show schedules as of this writing.
As for the publication, I think we’re beating a dead horse here. You’re welcome to put forward a motion regarding a newsletter, but I believe the chances of finding someone willing to continue publishing in the spirit of Ruth’s legacy are slim. I should point out that the printed NMC News was not “cancelled” by any decision of the Executive Committee; it simply ceased because our editor-in-chief retired. We can put forward as many motions as we like, but without someone to fill the role it will remain a futile exercise. The same, unfortunately, applies to the Social Media Officer post. We appointed someone only for her to leave the fancy shortly afterwards, so the position remains vacant to this day.
I look forward to seeing many active members at the AGM and hope we will find someone willing to step up. Recent activities have left me optimistic about the future of the NMC.
Sadly I tend to agree with Stephan but for me there is another factor and that is the distinct lack of content contained within the NMC News.
I think most of us who have been club members for more than a couple of years will acknowledge that there has been a steady decline in the what is actually contained within any given edition.
Ultimately the responsibility for the content of the NMC News lies with ALL club members. For whatever reason we seem to have reached a point where it is simply an information sheet giving details of new members and occasionally show calendar updates. It is purely functional and nothing more and that is a travesty.
It is not that long ago that in addition to the Hon Secretary’s Report, pretty much every edition had a contribution from the President and the Chairman together with an update from the Cup Secretary. None of these were War and Peace but they helped to connect and build relationships between everyone within the club.
The other glaring omission now is articles provided by the membership itself. These ranged from the sharing of invaluable experience and advice from our more experienced fanciers to articles written by new members, offering their insights into just how the club welcomes and inducts those just at the beginning of their journey in the mouse fancy. These articles do not write themselves and as I have already said, it is the responsibility of all within the club to ensure that the NMC News in whatever format, is still the mouthpiece of the club.
I for one very much miss the varied content of the NMC News and would like to think that we could all step up to the plate to bring it back to somewhere near the publication Ruth produced so well every month.
Thanks Mike and may I add that the form in which the NMC News are supplied (digitally or printed) has nothing to do with the lack of new content! Even when we still had the printed edition, lack of new content had become an issue.
I agree Stephan, certainly the last few months of the old style NMC News was generally woefully lacking in content. 😞
Explains the lack of social media output. I hadn’t realised the officer left the fancy. I would be happy to take the role on, I’ll be at the AGM so can discuss then and if anyone else is interested in doing it?
I didn’t know the list of officers was there either, but I see below it is a reference to a newsletter which may need updating.
How do you suggest this reference should be updated? It looks ok to me. It even has the signup option so you get any new articles into your email inbox.
There isn’t a newsletter. The wording is misleading. Monthly short updates from one officer are brief bulletins. A newsletter is a stand-alone publication (paper or screen) with significantly more content. I signed up for the newsletter, but all I have seen are notification emails.
We also publish show reports. Also, the lack of content is not unique to the digital newsletter, as discussed. Rather than changing the wording on the website, I would prefer it if we could have more contributions from members, sharing their stories.