Dear Lacemakers,
Tess kindly provided the following information for our use:
"For those who might be interested in exploring the Professor's website a bit
further, the second issue of his newsletter, Webside, is now available at
http://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/webside.html
Having thought about one of the columns in Vol. 1, page 3, I offer it as a
subject to gently "discuss". Please read the column "Wanted: Guild
Newsletters".
Newsletters are usually the number one everyday financial and human energy
expense of Guilds. This is because of the cost of printing and postage and the
extraordinary efforts editors and contributors must undertake to keep the
newsletters informative and of value.
On the other hand, newsletters are often the reason people pay dues to
belong, and can be the only contact many members have with a Guild. If the
Guilds
do not have adequate paid memberships - they will become beset with
difficulties staying afloat.
Further, many members of Guilds are very willing to design and write for them
as an unpaid contribution, and to help newsletter editors. Noone ever told
these generous people their work would become available to everyone in the
world without direct benefit to their Guild.
It is my thought that we need to be sure the invitation to send Guild
Newsletters to The Professor (or any other well-meant offer) does not undermine
efforts of dedicated volunteers to provide the wonderful experience of Guild
membership. Guilds are still the lifeblood of our world-wide lace community.
They
are the ones most to be credited with developing a new generation of
lacemakers, designers, authors and teachers. Guild members provide organized
"entertainment" at good-cause community fund-raisers, museums, etc. In the
name of
their Lace Guilds, they provide free expertise to public and private lace
collections. They offer the opportunity of developing very meaningful
life-long
friendships. Could we lose a lot of positive impact if Guilds lose members or
potential members - people who decide to by-pass membership and get newsletters
free?
Have you thought that what you were voluntarily contributing would be
available on the Internet - at no obligation on the part of a reader not
interested
in supporting today's lace students, authors, designers and teachers? How
would small Guilds stay alive without financing that comes from dues some
people
pay just to get news? Would members be diverted to endless fundraisers which
require time that today's lacemakers already are hard-pressed to provide? Etc.
The Professor's offer of space on his site is very generous. What do you
think? What will happen to his site "someday"? Will it be combined with
something you consider to be inappropriate? (This has been known to happen.)
Do you
think everyone in the world should have access to your intellectual property
that you thought would only appear in your local Guild's newsletter? How does
one obtain permission from each and every individual contributor, or should
that not be considered? Will someone send newsletters to The Professor without
Guild approval? Will local Guild policies and By-Laws require re-writing to
address this subject?
This is an opportunity to have a lively, but gentle, "discussion" on Arachne
and at your local Lace Guild's Board of Directors Meeting(s).
Jeri Ames in Maine USA
Lace & Embroidery Resource Center
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