Allotment Newsletters.........help please

[twinkletoes]

Do you have an Allotment Newsletter at your allotments?   If so, what sort of topics are covered?    If not but you had the opportunity to have a newsletter, what would you like to see covered?   I am thinking of suggesting this as a method of communicating with plot holders as not all attend meetings - it might be a way for them to feel more involved if they receive this. 
Twinkletoes 

[twinkletoes]

[manicscousers]

we do a newsletter, twinkleties, just gloss through things covered by the last meeting, not in depth, don't want to encourage them to stay away..
also, things we will cover at the next one to encourage them to come, with the date and time of the next meeting  ;D

[busy_lizzie]

Hi Twinkletoes, I did an Allotment Newsletter for my allotment  over a period of years, and also as Secretary of a Community Allotment, do one for them too.

I think it is a good idea, especially when the site is managed by a committee and plot holders don't have the opportunity to find out what is happening on site.  The only time the plotholders meet enmasse is when we have our AGM, so if you can keep people up to date in the meantime, they can give feed back and comment on the decisons being made on their behalf. Also it is a nice community thing to do as it draws people together socially and plot holders can send in hints and tips, and news of any events you might be holding can be published, like plant sales or seed swaps etc.  
If you can pm me your e-mail address I can send you a copy of one of ours, don't know how to send attachments to pm's, so e-mail would be best. Hope this helpls.  :) busy-lizzie

[twinkletoes]

thanks manics and busy_lizzie.  BL I will PM you my details .... when I can remember which buttons to push....won't be long!
Twinkletoes

[Trevor_D]

Our newsletter has proved a very effective way of bringing people together and for giving out information. Everyone gets the "official" version of what's going on, which stops rumours! There's also a recipe slot, and a "what to do on your plot now" section, which obviously helps newcomers, as you can see the advice being carried out.

We used to distribute it by having copies available in a waterproof envelope (We don't have a club-house, or anything similar.) and put notices up to say the next newsletter was available. But not everyone saw it. The last one was posted, along with the notice of the AGM, list of nominations for committee, and the annual bill. Fair enough for that lot, but a tad expersive for each newsletter (one every few weeks during the spring to autumn period), so we're now trying to e-mail where possible, hand-deliver if not, and only post to those who live some distance away. This idea is still in its early stages. How do others do it?

[manicscousers]

we're lucky, there are only 11 plotholders plus some partners..we normally see quite a few between meetings..the letter also makes sure the people who haven't paid get reminded  ;D
we have a whiteboard in the communal shed with 'what to do on the plot this month ' slot , also people can put ideas of what to talk about at the meetings on it  :)

[twinkletoes]

Thanks very much for info so far - anyone else out there have Newsletters on their lottie or do you pass info electronically?
Twinkletoes

[busy_lizzie]

Hi Twinkletoes, Hope by now you have managed to access the Newsletters I have sent you. PM me if you haven't and I will try a different e-mail address. busy_lizzie

[twinkletoes]

Morning BL - I have emailed you - thanks so much for your help. The newsletters are great.
Twinkletoes

[jeanaustin]

We have a newsletter on our allotment site - issued about four times a year.  It started as one side of A4 with a copy put on the notice boards but not everyone would read the boards, so we devolved into sending it to everyone, initially was one side of A4 but now its two sides.  Where possible we send this by email - initial up-take on emails was slow but when we started emailing all 'notices which went on the notice board' as well uptake increased.  For those not on email we deliver by hand locally or post to those very few out of the immediate area.
We've had great feed-back and its an excellent way of 'getting a good community spirit' atmosphere.  Its prepared by our field chairman and me, jointly, we email each other draft copies - and we usually start the next one as soon as one has gone out, as items we need to include come up. We also include a price list of whats available in our field shed and this increases sales.
If you pm me with your email address I will send you a copy of our latest newsletter.
Jean

[twinkletoes]

Thanks jeanaustin.  I have PM'd my email address to you.  Look forward to seeing your newsletter.  I am hoping to be able to email this out like you and busy_lizzie but hand-deliver those close to home or post those further away.  Should save on printing expenses - especially and they would be done at work!!! :-X ::) :o ;D
twinkletoes

[twinkletoes]

Thanks JA - have received my email and attachments - It will be very useful.
Twinkletoes

[moonbells]

If you want to see our newsletters, go to www.cheshamallotments.org.uk and scroll down to where it says the archive is here. It's a clickable link. There's a few missing but you'll get the gist.

good luck

moonbells