Cuban8 Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 We've been flogging this particular 'dead horse' for a few years now, but the dear old BMFA News resolutely refuses to turn its toes up. Essentially, it does inform members about news and on-going society issues but, as I've said before, whether printed media is the best and most effective way to disseminate such info in 2017 remains to be seen. Many more people rely on social media and news websites rather than newspapers as their main source of information because of the accessibility and immediacy of these on-line news providers, and I've said before that BMFA News should go on-line only to reflect that change. We have the BMFA website, Facebook pages, Twitter, email notifications, and there is always YouTube that can be used to stream news straight from the' 'horses mouth'. As far as I've seen, none of these resources are being used to their full potential to communicate with the main membership. I do wonder how many copies of BMFA News go unopened and ignored? I thought that this month's issue was OK from an information standpoint, club news and general chat perspective, but I'll have to wade through the free flight, competition stuff and indoor reports with gritted teeth. Don't get me wrong, they're very well written and credit should be given to the authors who produce their copy on such a regular basis - sadly, I suspect most of us just skip through the pictures and turn over the pages as the specialist nature of the reports simply don't float most peoples' boats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bran Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 The point above about having a formal and regular way to communicate to ALL members being important as far as CAA, Et Al, is a very good one and worth the cost of the magazine. Do I read it, yes, Do I read ALL of it, No, no interest in a fair part of it from Club reviews to FF to CL. Do I want it stopped or electronic only or anything that means that ALL members do not get it regardless of their perceived "need"? NO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin 216 Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I rarely read the BMFA News in its entirety much of it is uninteresting, however I appreciate that others find it riveting. My copy is already off to be recycled the only bit of interest to me being the Achievement Scheme article. Perhaps it is time for the BMFA to provide a way of opting out of the printed copy and opt into an electronic version, this could be done on membership renewal. It would reduce print and postage costs and those member who wish to have a printed copy would still be informed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Yep i'm with Dave, i doubt we've ever needed the mag more myself, threads on here vary, no ones go's on a thread and says "stop you're boring me" seems harsh to be knocking folk that contribute just because it's not our own sphere of interest. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Posted by Dave Bran on 17/03/2017 10:40:33: The point above about having a formal and regular way to communicate to ALL members being important as far as CAA, Et Al, is a very good one and worth the cost of the magazine. Do I read it, yes, Do I read ALL of it, No, no interest in a fair part of it from Club reviews to FF to CL. Do I want it stopped or electronic only or anything that means that ALL members do not get it regardless of their perceived "need"? NO! I did not say I wanted it stopped, or to go electronic only. What I did say was that those who wish to opt out of the paper copy and receive it electronically should be able to do so, even if it does not garner a discount (I don't really care about that, I just don't want the paper cluttering up my house when almost everything else I read comes via electronic means nowadays). Why is that such an unreasonable request? Surely those who take the step to actively request an electronic version instead of a printed one are therefore more likely to actually read the content put out, not less? Edited By MattyB on 17/03/2017 11:27:51 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Posted by Steve J on 17/03/2017 10:07:58: I seem to recall a comment on a previous topic that stated that the CAA like the fact that the BMFA regularly send a magazine to their members. If this is the case, then I am perfectly happy for the BMFA to keep sending out the mag despite the fact that I only spend a few minutes scanning it before putting it in the recycling bin. That may well be true, but do we really think the CAA would be bothered if the BMFA started distributing it electronically to those who prefer it that way? I strongly suspect they have more pressing things to worry about... Edited By MattyB on 17/03/2017 11:26:06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I may not read all of the BMFA News but I do read the parts that may affect me and which interest me. I say keep printing it. I would probably never look at an online magazine. THis is one of the things that I dislike about modern life. Everything is on line or has to be done on a computer. We see film of kids sitting texting each other while sitting in the same room. A magazine is something that you can pick up and read (or just look at) anywhere, You can pick it up during the commercials or even during most TV programs these days. It is easy to refer back to. And in case anyone is interested. I hate reading books on KIndle though a few only come in that format. I love the feel of a book and turning the pages but then I have been a reader since one heck of a long time ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 OK, Peter, that is fine - you prefer to consume the content via a hard copy, and that is your choice. The reality is though that the number that prefer hardcopy is going to diminish over time, whilst those who prefer electronic delivery is only going to grow. Why should members not be offered a choice of which they want? Where is the downside to providing both options? Edited By MattyB on 17/03/2017 11:54:27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Well one downside is that if you print fewer copies the price will rise per copy. so no saving there so eventually the decision will be made to go for the online copy only and that will deprive us traditionalists of our copy because as has been said, a lot of us will not read the BMFA News. But then, what do we matter. in the modern age. witha bit of luck we old fogeys will have snuffed it by the time that happens so no complaints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 If you don't like the articles then either throw it away without opening it or write an article and contribute to the magazine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Back issues are available on-line and I often browse through them from time to time, so the jump to providing the latest edition in the same place shouldn't, I'd have thought, be too much bother. **LINK** I also dislike reading books on a tablet or Kindle, much preferring the contact and character of a real book that develops over time with re-reading. I have hundreds of aviation/spaceflight/ RC modelling books going back over forty years and it's a delight to handle them. Not so with a magazine. Once it's read, then generally, that's that. OK, certain copies are kept for reference to a plan build or similar and I can understand that (I have a few put aside myself). The BMFA news is even more ephemeral in its nature, so the case for hanging on to a hard copy is much less evident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Posted by Peter Miller on 17/03/2017 12:03:08: Well one downside is that if you print fewer copies the price will rise per copy. so no saving there so eventually the decision will be made to go for the online copy only and that will deprive us traditionalists of our copy because as has been said, a lot of us will not read the BMFA News. One of the clubs I am a member of chose to move to partial electronic distribution a few years ago. It has been a great success. People who want hard copies of the club mag dropped off quickly initially, but then have stayed firm at ~30%. Those who still want a copy pay slightly more in membership to cover postage and printing costs. Nobody ever complains about this, and it seems to work for all. Another good example is SAM 35, who as I understand it are now 100% electronic for their magazine for some time now with no downside reported. According to the website the BMFA has 36k members, so even if 50% chose to take it electronically you would still have a print run of 18k per issue. I struggle to believe we could not find a way to print that economically, especially given there would be savings from the electronic distribution that could be used to subsidise the printed copy to an extent. So what happens if 70, 80 or even 90% choose to give up the hard copy? That would be a different situation I agree, but a) that's currently a hypothetical case given nobody currently even has the option to opt out of the paper copy, and b) if it were to occur we have been reminded on numerous occasions by those high up in the BMFA hierarchy that the governance model to handle such tricky situations . I doubt that would happen within 10 years, but even the outside possibility that it could does not to me seem like a reason for not offering people the option now. They could even just do an experiment for a year to see how many people choose to opt out of the paper copy. Edited By MattyB on 17/03/2017 13:43:27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Laughton Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Posted by Martin McIntosh on 16/03/2017 19:36:45: If I see another photo of a free flight model on here in the next couple of months I shall bin my copy without even reading it. Enough is enough of the editor`s stuff. And another thing, boring pictures of people being given trophies for almost unheard of disciplines is just about the last straw. I was one of those pictured receiving a trophy on behalf of my club (for educating /supporting a local ATC squadron) at the annual awards in the previous issue....I am so sorry to have been one of those who inadvertently irritate some of the forumites here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 the mag has to be all things to all people and it ticks the box's most of the time........ there's a canny photo of a BVRMC member in this edition. He's destined for great things...ie.... world champ........ and he's a nice lad. ken Anderson...ne...1 world champ/BVRMC dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 The worst waste of BMFA News space must be the endless series of ever younger people getting an A or B certificate. Any fool knows it's easier to fly when you have a youngster's eyesight and reactions plus indulgent parents to pay for any wrecked models, so lets have no more of these pictures. High up in the waste of space must be the article about the club that had half a dozen members all building the same model - read the piece and it turns out that 'building' actually means just assembling a well known ARTF trainer! Clearly if there is no more worthwhile article than that together with the award photos and juniors photos then it would be better to scrap an entire issue and have one less issue a year which would save money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Christy Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Referring back to comments I made earlier about having edited a newsletter, and comments others have made about going on-line.... After I retired, my successor decided that the newsletter would be distributed electronically, by making it downloadable from the website, thus saving money. Now it may have been coincidental, but shortly afterwards, membership numbers began to fall, and the usual chorus of "What do I get for my money?" and "Why wasn't I told about that?" began. When it was pointed out that all the information requested was available in the downloadable newsletter, the responses came back: "Oh, that! I couldn't be bothered to download that!" The basic rule of life, "You can't win!", proven again! -- Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwain Dibley. Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Unfortunately, without " Da Yoof" getting on board, you may as well kiss the hobby goodbye, I say that as probably the youngest member in my club, and I am 56 this year. I like to see the kids getting their photos in cos it means, I might see a few more years of aero-modeling going on. Just my 2 penneth. D.D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 yes --- kids are great-i used to be one.... ken Anderson...ne...1..... old kids dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Tarling Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 kc - the hobby NEEDS juniors and we need to do all we can to encourage them - seeing their name and photo in the magazine is but one way of helping with this. As other have said, this is the magazine/newsletter of the British Model FLYING Association and should encompass all disciplines - if your particular discipline appears to be under-represented, then DO something about it, like submitting an article! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Posted by Peter Christy on 17/03/2017 16:03:59: Referring back to comments I made earlier about having edited a newsletter, and comments others have made about going on-line.... After I retired, my successor decided that the newsletter would be distributed electronically, by making it downloadable from the website, thus saving money. Now it may have been coincidental, but shortly afterwards, membership numbers began to fall, and the usual chorus of "What do I get for my money?" and "Why wasn't I told about that?" began. When it was pointed out that all the information requested was available in the downloadable newsletter, the responses came back: "Oh, that! I couldn't be bothered to download that!" The basic rule of life, "You can't win!", proven again! Yet again, I don't think anyone is suggesting the magazine should be online only anytime soon. All that I and others are requesting is the option to opt out of the paper copy of the magazine if we don't want it. And as for not bothering to download it, there are lots of ways that content could be actively pushed to people rather than relying on them pulling it - it does not need anything custom to be developed, off the shelf solutions exist today that will do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 An interesting write up on noise. Now next issue please can we have some info/ ideas on how to quieten glow, gas AND electric models. Rather important that..... We've had the debate about kids and model flying. My view is that if you attract kids then you attract dads/mums/ carers/parents/guardians. The kids leave and do something else leaving the grown ups taking up the hobby. Edited By cymaz on 17/03/2017 18:11:56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 My view is, if you begrudge kids a bit of praise n encouragement, it's time to give up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Posted by ken anderson. on 17/03/2017 16:46:33: yes --- kids are great-i used to be one.... ken Anderson...ne...1..... old kids dept. What do you mean "used to be". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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