LXA sends "Dear Brother" letter

hoosier · #1 11-09-2005, 04:59 PM

My LXA friends have just gotten a "Dear Brother" postcard, saying they will no longer publish a magazine.

It's now online, at www.crossandcrescent.com

Far as I know, this is the first large GLO to abandon their best method of communications. Obviously a $$$ saving move, and many other GLOs will watch and assess with interest.

adpiucf · #2 11-09-2005, 05:11 PM

This is an excellent move. Many pay-for publications have moved to digital versions, either keeping a limited print circulation or going exclusively online, in order to cut down on costs. Printing and postage are expensive, esp. for a non-profit group.

dzrose93 · #3 11-09-2005, 05:18 PM

Well, Delta Zeta hasn't done away with The Lamp completely, but alumnae got word a year or two ago that individual alumnae chapter news would no longer be published in the quarterly magazine. They still do individual collegiate chapter news and will run some articles on alumnae who have done something exceptional -- but due to cost constraints, they've now put all individual alumnae chapter news online.

I have to say that I really disagreed with the move when it was made. We've got a lot of older alumnae who didn't grow up in the computer age and don't know the first thing about accessing something online. To me, it would make more sense for the collegiate info to be online if they had to do something to cut costs.

#4 11-09-2005, 05:59 PM

Upon Initiation, I know that a part of the Initiation fee goes to the publication of our Quarterly, and that we are entitled to a lifetime subscription. I'd hate for HQ to change that.

I really hope that AGD does not do away with publishing and mailing out the 4 issues a year. I always look forward to getting my issue in the mail even though I've already read it online.

Ditto with our slightly older sisters...many of them have no clue how to use the Internet and many of them don't bother with email.

WCUgirl · #5 11-09-2005, 06:10 PM

We just recently went from four issues/year to three issues/year.

I wouldn't mind receiving mine via email. I think it would be nice if our HQ went to a system where members could opt to receive it via email instead of regular mail. For one thing, my email address hasn't changed since 2001, but my address has changed about six times.

Tom Earp · #6 11-09-2005, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hoosier
My LXA friends have just gotten a "Dear Brother" postcard, saying they will no longer publish a magazine.

It's now online, at www.crossandcrescent.com

Far as I know, this is the first large GLO to abandon their best method of communications. Obviously a $$$ saving move, and many other GLOs will watch and assess with interest.

Yes, it is True.

We as LXA International have run into Money Problems, We were not the first. Are We as Old Time LXs happy, No!

But because of Economics it happened due to Risk Management Insurance which I am sure All of You are aware of.

I will be proud to admit That LXA has been a Leader as Young

Fraternity as We are, but, nothing but a fore bearer of things to come for all of You.

Yes OTW, I was Promised the same thing Many Years Ago.

But according to Your National President, NPC Membership is down along with AGD. I think She would know dont You?Does This Sound Familiar to any one?

To Be truthful The Staff has been cut along with other amenitys because there is not enough Monies coming in.

It is nothing that We as Alums can do, but work much harder to Promote Our Greek Oganizations any way that We Can by Time or Money.

KSigkid · #7 11-09-2005, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OTW
Upon Initiation, I know that a part of the Initiation fee goes to the publication of our Quarterly, and that we are entitled to a lifetime subscription. I'd hate for HQ to change that.

Same here; we paid out of our initation fee, and I really can't see us going all-digital at any point. I know how to get to everything online, but it's nice being able to flip through the magazine when I'm not near a computer.

lifesaver · #8 11-09-2005, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Yes, it is True.

We as LXA International have run into Money Problems, We were not the first. Are We as Old Time LXs happy, No!

But because of Economics it happened due to Risk Management Insurance which I am sure All of You are aware of.

I will be proud to admit That LXA has been a Leader as Young

Fraternity as We are, but, nothing but a fore bearer of things to come for all of You.

Yes OTW, I was Promised the same thing Many Years Ago.

But according to Your National President, NPC Membership is down along with AGD. I think She would know dont You?Does This Sound Familiar to any one?

To Be truthful The Staff has been cut along with other amenitys because there is not enough Monies coming in. It is nothing that We as Alums can do, but work much harder to Promote Our Greek Oganizations any way that We Can by Time or Money.

Hate to call ya out Tom, but the budget constraints at HQ have NOTHING to do with Risk Management/Insurance issues. Remember, we were all briefed on the situation last summer. I saved the financial dashboard that was presented. Lambda Chi Alpha has the lowest insurance premium (or so I have been told) in the fraternity world, because we have had some of the fewest claims (if any). Also, insurance costs and premiums are 100% passed on the the chapters. So no cost of that would be shouldered by the HQ.

The financial concerns at HQ have everything to do with the dip in numbers all GLO's saw in the 90's. The difference is that other groups tightened their belts. LXA didnt. The good news is that they have trimmed hella fat at HQ AND new associates (NM's) have increased 4.5% in the 2004-2005 year. (this years figures obviously arent ready yet). Which is a significant increase over the last few years and a dramatic change from the decrease we were seeing in the late 90's.

I was not pleased with the elimination of our magazine. It was said that it was only on a hiatus and will return in print form soon. I am concerned for our oldest alums who dont use computers or dont have access to the technology. I too was promised that my initiation fee covered my lifetime subscription to the magazine. I can assure you that I will be holding people accountable for that (the specific alum who made me that promise in 1992) at our conference in Orlando next summer.

The elimination of a print version allegedly saves the org $250,000 a year. I know it wasnt an easy decision to have made. Just glad I wasnt the one who had to make it.

AGDee · #9 11-10-2005, 07:52 AM

I would rather pay for a subscription to our magazine (we paid a whopping $21 fee at Initiation back in my day, I don't have the current fees on hand, but that was dirt cheap for a lifetime subscription to anything) than have it go online only. I agree that some of our older alumnae wouldn't have access to it online. Not only that, but there is something cool about having an entire archive of *physical* Quarterlies.

They do require that you update your address and I remember getting a renewal form at some point.. I think 7 years after I was initiated that asked if I wanted to keep receiving it. I don't know if they do that regularly or not.

I could see sending it only to alumnae who pay their voluntary alumnae dues though.

Dee

FreeBecky · #10 11-10-2005, 01:55 PM

So funny that this thread came up....for the longest time, my chapter of Sigma Delta Tau thought that our publication, The Torch, didn't even exist because no one had ever received one. Then, randomly, 3 years after I graduated, I started to receive The Torch....

There is something special about having that connection to your organization, in a physical form. I do not like the idea of the publications going online at all. This is a tradition that should be kept as it is.

Alpha Sig Scott · #11 11-10-2005, 03:10 PM

Alpha Sigs magazine "The Tomahawk" is published semi-annually.

According to our website, HQ is currently looking into putting The Tomahwak on line. This seems to be the trend among GLO publications.

As a side note, The Tomahawk is the oldest college fraternity publication in the world. First being publised in November of 1847 at Yale College (now Yale University).

33girl · #12 11-10-2005, 03:25 PM

It's a relief (well, not really, but you know what I mean) to know almost every group is struggling with this issue.

While I understand the thought behind putting it online, I think the possibility that this will make older alums who already feel disenfranchised, feel even more so, really needs to be looked into and see if the savings is worth it.

I think we could all save money by 1) doing an address purge and eliminating those who come back undeliverable and 2) going to one big issue once a year, instead of 4 teeny ones 4 times a year.

adpiucf · #13 11-10-2005, 03:30 PM

I agree. I think sending out an annual report would be a much better use of funds, and then to have an online quarterly journal.

MysticCat · #14 11-10-2005, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl
It's a relief (well, not really, but you know what I mean) to know almost every group is struggling with this issue.

While I understand the thought behind putting it online, I think the possibility that this will make older alums who already feel disenfranchised, feel even more so, really needs to be looked into and see if the savings is worth it.

I agree, and I agree with those who've commented on the psychological value of being able to hold the magazine. (Literal connection = metaphorical connection?)

Like Alpha Sig Scott said about Alpha Sig's "Tomahawk," "The Sinfonian" is published twice a year. It is available both in hard copy and online. Hard copies are sent only to collegiate brothers (including their first year after graduation) and to alumni who subscribe (either as a separate subscription or as part of voluntary national alumni dues).

NebraskaDelt · #15 11-10-2005, 04:16 PM

This may sound odd, but there is something philosophical about what the GLO is saying by sending an alum the magazine. If it were online, it would be the alum making the effort to get to know what is going on with the national org., by having to go online and to the national website and find it on the website.

By receiving a physical magazine, it is the national org. that is making the effort to get the alum involved, which in turn may get the alum to get involved. By sending the magazine, the national org. is saying that we want you to be involved and here is a token of our desire.