Allotments 4 All

General => News => Topic started by: Squash64 on February 07, 2010, 17:56:38

Title: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: Squash64 on February 07, 2010, 17:56:38
If anyone is interested, there is a copy of our latest newsletter at the bottom of this page -

http://www.growit.ik.com/p_homenew.ikml

I'd love to know what people think of it because I get very little feedback from plotholders.  They all get a copy, either by hand or posted to the ones who aren't coming to the site at the moment.

Constructive criticism welcomed.
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: glosterwomble on February 07, 2010, 18:13:03
I'm VERY impressed!! I love the website and I think the newsletter is brilliant! I think it's very important to keep in touch with plotholders and build a community, it must be a bit disheartening if you don't get much feedback about the newsletters but you are doing a FAB job and I'm sure they appreciate you!
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: saddad on February 07, 2010, 18:30:07
Excellent as always Betty...  :)
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: InfraDig on February 07, 2010, 18:32:30
That's brilliant! Well done!
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: Unwashed on February 07, 2010, 18:46:08
Indeed, very impressive. Obviously a very active site with a lot of involved people.
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: Sparkly on February 07, 2010, 18:49:21
Love your website Betty. We have a seasonal newsletter so ours is quite a bit longer than yours. We also put in an idea of what you should be doing (total basics) for newbies and the odd article written by members.
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: caroline7758 on February 07, 2010, 19:15:49
looks great to me- I wish I was on a bigger site with a bit more community spirit.
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: JustGrowIt on February 07, 2010, 20:15:13
It's a really lovely newsletter, clear and straight to the point. I'm interested in the "BEES on the ALLOTMENTS" talk on SUNDAY 14th FEBRUARY at 11:00.

Can anybody come to the talk?  ;D
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: Squash64 on February 08, 2010, 06:49:30
Thank you all so much for your really kind comments about the newsletter.   :) 

Sparkly - that's a good idea about the info for newbies and also the article by a member.  Our newsletter is usually 2 sides of A4 but I only had a day to get this one together so it could be given out in time for everyone to know about the bee meeting.  I will use your ideas for the next one, thanks  :)
How do you distribute yours?  I've just given out about 60 by hand and will have to post the other 50.

JustGrowIt - Yes, anyone can come to the bee talk, hopefully we will get a good crowd.  Welcome to A4A by the way!
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: grawrc on February 08, 2010, 07:02:17
Great newsletter Betty! Clear, informative and uncluttered. Wish mine were that good! ;D
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: lavenderlux on February 08, 2010, 08:41:44
Betty - that's a great newsletter.  We issue a newsletter 4 times a year and where possible we email it, otherwise its hand delivered. 
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: Trevor_D on February 08, 2010, 08:57:29
Looks good Betty.

We have four a year (double-sided A4) during the growing season which are e-mailed where possible (about two-thirds of the members), otherwise hand-delivered. Then a fifth one gets posted just after Christmas, together with the notice of the AGM (in early February) and the bill for the year.
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: gwynnethmary on February 08, 2010, 09:30:48
Very good!  And I LOVE your website!   It looks like a very happy place to be.
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: emmy1978 on February 08, 2010, 12:38:53
Wow! Your website is fantastic and your newsletter is lovely and friendly and warm. Looks great too. Please may I come to the Cream Tea?   ;D  MacMillan is very close to my heart and I promise to come laden down with plants for you!!
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: Squash64 on February 08, 2010, 19:11:12

Thanks everyone for the very kind remarks about the newsletter and website.  :)

Quote from: emmy1978 on February 08, 2010, 12:38:53
Wow! Your website is fantastic and your newsletter is lovely and friendly and warm. Looks great too. Please may I come to the Cream Tea?   ;D  MacMillan is very close to my heart and I promise to come laden down with plants for you!!

Emmy - of course you can come to the Cream Tea, it would be lovely to see you!  I'll put a reminder out nearer the time.  (thanks for the offer of plants, I appreciate it)
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: Sparkly on February 08, 2010, 19:47:08
Quote from: Squash64 on February 08, 2010, 06:49:30
Thank you all so much for your really kind comments about the newsletter.   :) 

Sparkly - that's a good idea about the info for newbies and also the article by a member.  Our newsletter is usually 2 sides of A4 but I only had a day to get this one together so it could be given out in time for everyone to know about the bee meeting.  I will use your ideas for the next one, thanks  :)
How do you distribute yours?  I've just given out about 60 by hand and will have to post the other 50.

JustGrowIt - Yes, anyone can come to the bee talk, hopefully we will get a good crowd.  Welcome to A4A by the way!

Our newletter is delivered by hand, but we have a smaller site than you (60ish plots).
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: Digeroo on February 08, 2010, 20:01:46
I think your website is very impressive.  I would like to have one for our site and this is a great inspiration.
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: Squash64 on February 08, 2010, 20:39:56
Quote from: Digeroo on February 08, 2010, 20:01:46
I think your website is very impressive.  I would like to have one for our site and this is a great inspiration.

Thank you  :)
I use a very easy website builder http://www.communitykit.co.uk which is free for community groups.
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: Bill Door on February 08, 2010, 20:46:28
Well done for getting the newsletter out and being involved.

Just a thought, most of us like being told but occasionally we all like to feel we can have a say.

I wonder if a section asking for input from the plotholders about the site might not help with feedback.

If I look at the newsletter critically then I get the impression that everything has been well organised and I, as a reader, don't need to join in. 

You say with the bees the place they are going has been decided.  You may not be able to change it anyway but probably asking for suggestions might be a good idea.

I am not suggesting this for every section but just one to begin with.

Obviously this is based on one newsletter and you may have done this previously.


Best wishes with the newsletter and the web site, very neat.

regards Bill.
Title: Re: Our latest newsletter - any comments?
Post by: Squash64 on February 09, 2010, 05:51:56
Thank you for your comments Bill.

I can see how it must come across, that everything is already decided and all people have to do is join in or not.  (I love being the secretary but perhaps my naturally bossy nature takes over sometimes.  ::))

It's a good idea to ask for feedback, I will add a tear-off bit to the next newsletter.