Hi Chris,

RE Mag.
Page plus is the program to use, but it has moved on a lot since
Version 2 which must be ten years old now.
I used version 11 to create the mag, and it is now on X3, about 3
Versions on from version 11.
Anyhow, I had little experience of it when I created the mag. The
method I used was a quick read through the book. Had a go at some of
the tutorials then set to work. Once you get used to the idea of
frames, its not that different to word. The latest version is only
about £60. From version 11 onwards it will also create PDFs as easily
as using save as PDF, can sell as download or CD. To save money on
mag, suggest distribute as email, charge for hard copy for those who
wish it.

Merchandising
I looked into this,we are not big enough eg badges, minimum quantity
of 200 price £250 + vat.
Mugs, I can give you my supplier.

Web Site,
what you get is what you payfor. Most internet providers give free
webspace. You can also buy webspace cheaply. The only thing to check
is if we can use our domain name.
Actually writing the web site can be done in Page Plus, but there are
better programs for this out there. What is important is whoever does
it has a flair for design and it must be updated frequently otherwise
people stop visiting. This will affect its Google rating. You need
someone who knows what they are doing to get it rated in Google in
the first place.

My offer for the printer still stands, unless it can be collected, I
think it may be cheaper for the society to buy a brand new one
complete with fresh ink, rather than ship this then buy new inke etc.

Dick




--- In coraclesociety@..., "chris"
<mortimersmiller@...> wrote:
>
> There is a committee meeting coming up soon at Ironbridge.Feb 14.
>
> There are several issues to resolve.
>
> Reading a few e mails sent to me by the coracle society e mail
> secretary I suddenly spotted the word contract to do with designing
> the proposed society web site and I thought what contract? It
would
> appear the freelance "webmaster" might be wanting the society to
sign
> on the dotted line to pay X pounds per annum for an infinite number
> of years. I thought I`m getting out of this! I dont to be party to
> signing over society funds for something that might actually be
free
> via an alternative route! So I`ve been researching alternative
> routes.Has anyone got any experience of the £69 per annum web
> offering from BT?
> From what I have read the cheapest BT offering allows everything we
> have already got on this yahoo group plus the domain name plus
> facility for writings & photos.Like on Conwys web site. The next BT
> offering at over double the £69 also allows selling. The ebay name
I
> have established "thecoraclesociety" allows selling. So I`m
thinking
> its cheapest to sell pdfs or hard copies of past magazines on ebay
&
> memberships & mugs & T Shirts etc on ebay. So saving us the extra
> expense per annum (dont forget) of the deluxe BT web site. Any
> thoughts?
>
> Our Chairman brought up the subject of rejoining the Inland
Waterways
> so that the society can obtain their events insurance package so
that
> members can attend the Broughton Castle Event representing the
> society rather than themselves. This would use up half the
society`s
> funds obtained from subscriptions per annum.
>
> The Regatta at Mortimers Cross Mill uses up half the society`s
funds.
>
> The proposal from the new magazine editor for typing out hand
written
> text plus printing & sending out one super annual magazine might
use
> up over all the society`s annual funds.
>
> So lots of issues here. If we spend the budget on a magazine we
cant
> have any of the other items but its the other items which might
bring
> us new paying members!
>
> I deleted my posts 207,210 & 211 about my thoughts on eating into
the
> society deposit account to pay for extravagant colour printing
> because there are now more important things vying for our limited
> funds.
>
> The Colour Printer & Program Serif Page Plus are all still in Essex
> but this week someone locally offered me a copy of Page Plus 2 so
I`m
> hoping to get that to produce our spring flyer.I tried to attend an
> evening course on Desktop Publishing but the teacher had not heard
of
> Page Plus and told me the courses they offered concerned only Adobe
> £500 programs.
>
> I`ve been looking for a program called Macromedia Dreamweaver or
> Microsoft Front Page to help with the web site though I`m thinking
> the BT Offering is designed such that punters dont need to learn
the
> stuff in these programmes. Anyone got any experience of these?
>
> Society Treasurer.
>