I motion to table this discussion and refer it to the Free Texas Caver committee to be discussed at the January 10th TSA meeting where registered members present can vote for a majority.
Charles On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 10:30 AM, Mixon Bill <bmixon...@austin.rr.com> wrote: > While I'm in favor of paper copies of the Texas Caver as it presently > exists, it is worth pointing out some advantages of going the route of > making it _completely_ on the Web, with no paper distribution at all. > > 1) There would be virtually no costs in money of publishing. > 2) Therefore it could be made freely available on the TSA Web site, as Gill > suggests, without messing with things like passwords. Since the TC doesn't > publish exact locations of wild caves anyway, I don't see any reason to hide > its contents, except the possible problem of inviting non-cavers to TCR. > (The editor might have to be careful not to print things that might be > misunderstood by non-members, though.) > 3) It would be easier on the editor, not only saving the effort of arranging > printing and mailing, but also the nuisance of keeping each issue a multiple > of 4 pages. > 4) It could be entirely in color at no extra cost. (But don't use color > gratuitously in ways that wouldn't work well in a black-and-white > printout--much cheaper than color, at least on laser printers.) > 5) It could appear at a higher frequency at no extra cost, since the covers > wouldn't cost TSA any more than any other page and there wouldn't be any > binding or mailing expenses. Monthly six-page issues would be little more > work and no more cost than quarterly twenty-four page issues. > 6) It could contain more material at little additional effort and no > additional cost. For example, educational things about cave science or > conservation could be reprinted from other sources to make the TC more of an > educational resource. Even more photos. Maybe more of those book reviews > that somebody keeps posting on this e-mail list... > > I could, of course, come up with a similar list of disadvantages. > Nevertheless, if such a scheme resulted in a larger, more frequent, and more > informative Texas Caver, I'd be in favor of it. What I don't see the point > of is published a paper magazine and then trying to talk people out of > getting a paper copy, not taking any real advantage of Web publishing and > saving just part of the cost.--Mixon > ---------------------------------------- > May the last lawyer be strangled with the entrails of the last priest. > ---------------------------------------- > You may "reply" to the address this message > came from, but for long-term use, save: > Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu > AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Visit our website: http://texascavers.com > To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com > For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com > >
