Pursuant to this whole Nova and SLAS PR discussion, I'd like to point folks to the Wasatch Mountain Club (http://www.wasatchmountainclub.org). They have a much larger membership than SLAS and host many more activities than SLAS. So, as Chuck pointed out, maybe one day SLAS will be even bigger and more active than it is now. But I'd like to especially call attention to the WMC's newsletter, the Rambler, which is freely available to everyone, member or no, on their web site. It is a very impressive publication, many times bigger than Nova and complete with grundles of pictures and information about club activities and members. So how do they do it? Well, first they have paid advertising, which helps, but there's also their dues which are twice that of SLAS. But even that does not seem to be enough as I now see they have instituted a two tiered dues structure. You pay one amount if you agree to take the newsletter on line and another, higher, rate to have a paper copy printed and mailed to you. Speaking for me and not as the Nova editor, I'd really like to see SLAS go that same way. I'd rather we not continue to have 100% of the membership involuntarily subsidize the barely 20% who still ask for the paper copies. But considering that subsidy is currently only $2 per member per year I'm not sure I want to get into a big battle over it. FYI, cost to print and mail the current (Jan/Feb) issue worked out to a skosh over $1.17 per issue. As for what the newsletter should be used for, I'll agree with Ann, Chuck and Joe, that it should not try to compete with the likes of Sky and Telescope. Rather it should just report on SLAS related stuff. By "decree" of a long ago board vote, it only _needs_ to contain meeting minutes and a schedule of events. By tradition, announcements have also been included. I too, really liked much of the content of the Novas Tom Sevcik published. But I was bothered by the high cost. Were it not for the fact that a sizable portion of those costs were borne by Tom personally (many don't know that) SLAS's postage and printing account would have been even further in the red than it used to be (we're finishing this year with a surplus thanks, in large part, to so many switching away from paper copies). Possible solutions? I dare say none will be popular with all but here are my thoughts. 1) Set a date saying anyone joining or reinstating their expired membership after a certain date will not be offered the option of a paper copy. 2) Establish a WMC-like two tier system with those not wanting paper Novas paying one rate and those wanting paper copies paying the full, non-subsidized cost. 3) Publish two versions of the Nova: A paper copy paid for by only those who request it containing only the required minutes and schedule and an on-line version with minutes and schedule but also full of stuff of interest to SLAS members. I have some pretty serious reservations about trying to use any newsletter as a primary membership recruiting tool. To paraphrase the guy who SLAS hired to design the SLAS marketing brochure: "Keep it simple, short on text and long on flash." Of course, this may all settle itself in a few years. A quick look at the master roster shows that as time goes by, fewer and fewer new members are asking for paper. pw