Okay .....I will try this approach.
I have asked this question twice over the last seven days in the form of a reply) and have not received an answer.

- Please explain what ''a service is providing layout for the newsletter''
- How much is this ''service'' costing?
- Why are we using a ''service'' if we have an editor?
- How long has this ''service'' been employed?
- Does ''service'' equal voluntary?


Susan...Carl...any board member...Please respond to this approach!


By Inquiring mind wants to know!

Your Answer

As a Volunteer that has co-ordinated the advertising and ad layouts for the NSNA newsletter for over the past seven years I feel that I am qualified to address your concerns. First, the ''service'' you are referring to is the printer that actually takes the electronic input given from myself and various other volunteers and renders it in the final printed and deliverable format. This is what printers do for a living and this is what we pay them for. We are paying for this ''service'' because all of us as volunteers have full time jobs and careers; many people are quite unaware of how many long, and unfortunately, thankless hours go into the monthly production of the NSNA newsletter.
As for the costs involved, the NSNA treasurer, Jim O'Donnell will be glad to give you a complete breakdown of our printing and production costs. They are quite in line with what the current industry standards command.
As far as this ''service'' is concerned-it has been in place since my involvement with the newsletter and has always been agreed to by both the NSNA membership and Board of Directors.
Last, but definetly not least, NO, service does not equal voluntary-I, as well as many others that have given long hours to this project can whole heartedly answer that. We give freely of our time and efforts because we believe in all of the positive aspects of this tremendous neighborhood and feel that these aspects of our community should be shared within our neihborhood. Hope this answers your questions-if not e-mail me (notice I did include mine) and I'll see if I can get you futher closure. Keep reading the award winning newsletter-there are some good things going on here.

MORE ANSWERS

I TOO WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE COSTS ARE. PLEASE HAVE THE TREASURER POST ALL OF THE COST HERE, FOR THE RECORD. ALSO, I READ RECENTLY, AND HAVE NOTICED MYSELF, THAT NONE OF THE NEWSLETTER ARTICLES HAVE THE AUTHORS NAMES. THIS IS NOT GOOD. A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SHOULD BE CLOSE KNIT AND ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO KNOW WHO IS WRITING WHAT WE READ. THIS PROVIDES ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY. NORTH SHORE WRITERS HAVE ALWAYS PROVIDED THEIR NAMES WITH THEIR ARTICLES. WHAT IS GOING ON NOW CAN LEAD TO ABUSE AND EDITORIALIZING! THIS IS WRONG. PLEASE RESPOND.

By TOM W.W.

To: Tom W.W.

What a bunch of hogwash ! Come to a meeting and the treasurer gives reports. Also- in just the last two years the association has earned money through it's tour of homes- if the board can find relief by using a tiny portion of those funds to help inform the entire neighborhood of what is going on, so be it. The newsletter is put out by the board and other volunteers. There are no editorials- if there were, they would be signed. I, for one, do not sign the occasional article I submit because of the verbal abuse heaped upon individuals this past spring and summer. I prefer to stay out of the name calling stuff. Also- the by-lines take up precious room in the newsletter. Ouit criticizing and be part of the positive solution to having an active and good spirited association.

By Abused