We are trying
to publish a newsletter at least every other month, delivered through
first class US postal service. We have adopted this strategy after
experimenting with various other forms of distribution.
- We tried bulk
mail, which is cheaper. However, bulk mail also takes much longer,
which means that we are unable to use it to provide timely notice
of neighborhood developments.
- We tried hand
distribution, which has the advantage of being free. However, we
also found that organizing and implementing a distribution system
was extremely time-consuming and unwieldy, especially in the absence
of an established and smoothly-functioning block captain system.
In addition, hand distribution tends to be unreliable, especially
in winter time, when icy sidewalks and cold weather deter many newsletter
distributers.
For these reasons,
we have relied on first class mail for the regular Newsletter (every
other month) to ensure that everyone in the Civic Association boundary
lines gets information about meetings and key events, such as election
of officers. Right now, every resident within the Civic Association
boundaries is included on our mailing list, whether or not they have
paid their dues to become an active member.
We supplement
the regular newsletters with:
- Hand-distributed
special newsletters to the entire Civic Association to update residents
on developments and events. We published these four-page newsletters
in October 2001 and February 2002. We plan on publishing another
hand-distributed four-pager in April 2002. Williamsburg neighbor
Sara Anderson is organizing
distribution.
- Hand-distributed
action alerts, targetted at specific neighborhoods (i.e., for issues
relating to Minor Hill)
- Hand-distributed
meeting announcements, targetted at specific neighborhoods (such
as Little Falls residents for meetings of the Little Falls Task
Force and Williamsburg Boulevard residents for meetings on the Williamsburg
Boulevard Project)
- Williamsburg
web site
- E-mail (linked
to specific web pages)
- Signs on telephone
poles
- Flyers at the
Williamsburg shopping centers
- Signs posted behind the plexiglass doors on the Williamsburg Information
Kiosk at Sharp Park.
The July 2001
through June 2002 newsletters are being funded through advertisement:
a single half-page ad by Williamsburg resident and realtor Jim
Toronto. For the July 2001 issue, we expanded to six pages.
For the September 2001 newsletter, we expanded to eight pages, still
within the one ounce limit for a $.34 stamp. The hand-delivered issues
in the in-between months are four pages long. All of our newsletters
are printed at discount rates by Graphic Print, located at
6505 29th St N in the small shopping center near the Williamsburg
traffic circle.
How
You Can Help:
- Tell us what
community issues you want covered in the newsletter. Name the issue
and we will research it and write it up.
- Volunteer to
research and write an article (half or full page).
- Volunteer
to be part of the labelling party: one hour of stamping, labelling,
and adding the round, sticky closures.
- Volunteer to
organize the entire newsletter mailing operation.
- Volunteer to
edit an issue.
- Volunteer to
distribute special newsletter issues and other flyers. Contact Sara
Anderson to volunteer.
- Volunteer to
organize distribution for special issues.
Back
Issues
(in Word format)
Other
Publications
(in Word format)
- March
2002 (Information sheet on the Williamsburg Boulevard Project
distributed to residents in the Williamsburg Boulevard Project area)
- February
2002 (Meeting announcement for the 11 February 2002 meeting
on the Williamsburg Boulevard Project. Distributed to 150 homes
in and near the project area.)
- June
2001 (Distributed to 400 homes near Sycamore Street)
- January
2001 (Distributed to 200 homes near Minor Hill.)
