ihmsa forums

Hey all,

I posted this under a previous thread, but realizing how once you get to the third page of thread things can get lost, I reposted it here (sorry for the repetitiveness).

I have not gotten on the forum for the past couple of months, but due to the number of phone calls and emails I have gotten recently, I figured something was up. Upon reviewing recent posts I want to at least clarify some items from my end on the IHMSA News.

When I took over in April, one of the priorities was to get the IHMSA News online, which we did starting with the May issue. In June, I got a call from the printers concerning an order they had gotten to no longer run the print version. I addressed my concerns and that issue was run in its print version, saying we would discuss it at the annual meeting.

In July, we did discuss it at the annual meeting, and I again addressed my concerns about not running the print version. Various alternatives were brought up, such as setting up our own print shop, but in the end, nothing was determined. The idea of setting up our own print shop had some merit, but I'll go on record as saying, "That is not what I signed up for, so if somebody else wanted to do it, that is fine. But that is something I'm not interested in doing." I've got enough other priorities in life than to take on that endeavor.

Then in September (which is when the October issue is submitted), I got an email saying once again that the IHMSA News would not be printed. I questioned that again, addressing my concerns about what a mistake this would be, and was given the response that a plan was in place which would not tick off members or leave anyone left out in the cold. I was given no specifics to that plan, but made the assumption that something would still be sent out.

By mid-October, there was still no IHMSA News in my, or anyone else's mailbox, so on October 20th, I sent an email to all officers/directors resigning as editor of the IHMSA News (you can also see an article in the Nov/Dec issue online on page 8 concerning this). I agreed to go through the end of the year, meaning I still put out the Nov/Dec issue, and that would give people almost 2 months to find a replacement. I still check my IHMSA email every week or so, and forward all pertinent information to Nancy, and now Cindy as well since she requested it. I think we got a lot of good things going this year, and by we, I mean WE… we had several people contribute articles and had some things in place that I thought made it a better publication, and it wasn't just me doing it. And I don't want that to stop.

Also if you read online the Nov/Dec issue, in the Presidents Report, it appears that the intent of the IHMSA News is only to be online.

I am not intending this to come across as a gripe session. This is just simply facts. I thoroughly enjoyed my brief tenure as the editor serving this organization, and I sincerely appreciate the people that thought highly enough of me to give it a try in the first place. But anyone that is personally acquainted with me also knows that I tend to keep a lot of irons in the fire and knows that I value my time allotment, and so to spend time on something that no longer seems to have a priority on getting published, then that is not an effective use of my time. I've got some things out there that I'm better at than shooting (to which anyone that knows me says, "Thank goodness!").

If you have any questions, please contact me. I hope this clarifies any confusion/lack of information that may have been out there.

To be honest print versions of IHMSA news is just wasting money on redundancy. People may like the print copy but the organization should humble up and just say we can not afford to do this. This forum is where all of the 'news' should be shown.

The way the paper is setup now it is like closed circuit TV. Only the dwindling number of members see it.

As far members without Internet access, I have to believe it is a small percentage.

The Mike Bellm articles are the same ones I have read from his site.

Match results are old news by the time the paper comes out. I only see couple clubs the post match results to the forum. I enjoy reading these. Especially the ones posted the day after the match.

The forum is a perfect place for all of the paper content to be posted. I can't tell you how many times I have searched a reloading or shooting topic an a Todd Spotti article will show up. IHMSA news articles are not very searchable online. It is 2015. Keep up with the times.

Thanks to a buddy I got my hands on a copy of shooting steel. While leafing through I saw there were old internationals match results. The cool thing was to see my late father's name in the results from the '78 internationals. We still have the trooper MKIII he used. I would like to enter it at a match this season. For some people old articles and results would nice to see made current.

Dave Smith had listed his phone number on the IHMSA Facebook page saying he was all ears for suggestions. I thought about calling him but I'm not sure anything will get done with suggestions being made. Especially if the editor of the paper can't get anywhere.

I am hoping this will strike a nerve to see if anyone will get upset and show they really care about the future.

That's my rant for the day. I feel better now.

Well, guess thats alright for most of you fellows, but after march 27th
I will no longer be employed and will not have access to the net. Living
on just my social security will not allow me the extra funds to get it, either.
Of course, after our first match in February, at CTSA in New Braunfels, its
doubtful I will be attending many matches anyway. I have not gotten an
IHMSA paper since probably October. So, I guess they have already stopped
printing it. LIke my missing membership renewal, I have heard NOTHING
from headquarters, either.

Lockhart, I just got my Nov/Dec issue in the mail today. In the President's column she mentioned the paper will no longer be printed unless the member pays for it. No additional info provided. Now for $50 per year will that include the printed paper or will it be additional to the $50? If included in the $50, then if a member opts out of the printed paper then will the annual dues be less than $50. Just how much will the printed paper cost each year needs to be specified. Real bummer about your situation and I suspect you will be one of many members who do not have or will not have Internet access. I hope your situation improves soon We need to keep all the members we can get. Best of luck.

Most organizations today charge an additional fee for a printed newsletter, even newspapers have a higher rate for a printed paper - decouple the membership fee and the print newsletter. On the second topic of annual membership fees, my opinion is that as the membership drops that fee will continue to increase and the current $50 is pretty reasonable. But, now that we have East Coast/Region 4+/West Coast annual championships the Internationals should at maximum become bi-annual.