Recycling and JEC

[BrianG]

.......You can carry this recycling thing too far IMO.
Robbie

I agree with Robbie. Even though I am now an old codger I have been using computers since before the PC first appeared, so an electronic version holds no fears for me. The model engineering group that I belong to, apart from already going to paper wrappers for their Gazette magazine, are similarly debating on their forum the pros and cons of going over to complete electronic circulation. That is all very fine, and the views have similarities with those on this forum, but both seem to miss an obvious fact: if you haven't seen the forum discussions the chances are either that a) you are not on the internet or b) you don't like electronic forums, so you probably wont like media versions of magazines.

How would the change to electronic format cater for those in either of those groups above?

[steve_m]

JEC has a relatively small circulation so it's effect I think would be minimal

If you look at the issue purely commercially then a quick glance at the Club accounts shows that the production and circulation of the magazine is our biggest expense by far. However, advertising in that magazine is a very significant income. Hard to have one without the other!
I think we have to be long sighted about this. Old duffers like us, even though we use on line forums, still are mostly of the view that we prefer a printed magazine once a month. The vast majority of members do not participate here and many are not in the least IT literate and nor do they want to be. We regularly receive hand written letters from members who choose not to use electronic option like email. To go electronic only would cause a huge amount of negative reaction from members. We can't escape our demographics!
But, as I say, we have to think long term. I can see a future where today's Millenials are as old and crusty as me and form the majority of the membership. They will never have known a time when there wasn't an Internet and will consider a printed magazine that they have to wait a whole month for as hugely old fashioned.
So the future is an online "magazine" that will be more like a website with very regular updates and posted articles. The challenge will be to produce this continuously (which will perhaps require more editorial staff than we have now) and maintains a suitable level of advertising revenue to help fund it.

[Zennan101]

Interesting suggestion to go to an online only format. Clearly technically possible but I think having a nice glossy magazine once a month is essential and It is probably the most tangible benefit of the club that I receive. It Is also readily recyclable unlike the bags in which it is delivered.
Let’s keep the magazine. Just take a green approach to how it is delivered.

Rod

[RichardSEL]

Obviously the way to go is to produce it in electronic format only so that we can download it.
That way you get rid of the plastic packaging and the paper and ink (and electricity) used to print it.
Can't see it being that popular a move though.
Thinking it through further you also get rid of the transportation.
So it's a pretty 'green' option really.

While PC and laptop electronic capabilities have grown over the past few years, have you any idea of how big a 68-page issue of Jaguar Enthusiast would be in .pdf format? Even with photo definition at only 300dpi (the mag's print is at equivalent of 1200 dpi) The current vogue of I-Pad, often the only internet gizmo in today's household means you'd end up squinting into a screen that's a pale imitation of a real paper magazine.

Reading on line still requires a per page download capability, a server capable of that speed (it'll get hacked for sure) and all members having a good fibre broadband connection (mine in inner London is Virgin Media and they can't give me more than 30Mb/s -- services via BT's Home Highway aren't much better due to contention)

I like my hard copy -- it's well produced, well read, and well supported by advertisers
It acts as an ambassador for the club and the marque

[jBlackwell]

Hi guys,
As has been explained at many an AGM, the Club MUST supply every member with a hard copy of the magazine as part of our 0% VAT rating. We do have the magazine online mainly for the ability of members being able to access the magazine in what format they choose. The magazine itself is also very recyclable.

The hard copy of a magazine also has a wider audience as pointed out by another poster.

As with any business and supply chain, you also have to bare in mind that any change has an impact across many aspects of the supply chain, so we must also work with those businesses involved to make any changes work and viable. I am sure that in time, this will change as the whole industry changes.

What your replies actually tell me are that the issue is not the material mainly, but your local authorities recycling policy. Maybe that is a good place to start putting pressure on?

Regards

James

[Zennan101]

Hi James,

I disagree. Putting pressure on local authorities is a positive step but not one that is likely to result in a uniform solution.
The problem would be better resolved by the club implementing a green policy and distributing the club magazine in universally recyclable material.

Rod

[jBlackwell]

Hi Rod,
I agree, as and when it becomes viable I am sure that switch will be made.

The Club does have a green policy and as you can see from the reply I copied in Graham's email to our supplier, the magazine is already delivered in a recyclable material.

http://myzerowaste.com/2009/04/can-a-po ... -friendly/

As the article states it is the infrastructure in the UK that causes the problem recycling (there are many articles, this was just one I picked up). Yes we have a responsibility and I accept that, so when an alternative becomes available at the right option for the Club and members I am sure we will take that step.

Regards

James

[RichardSEL]

<snip>
And what's wrong with driving a V8 or V12? At least I'm not <choke, gasp, achihooo!> killing people around me by belching out diesel particulates according to Brussels's (now proven scientifically wrong) diktat...

Since then there's been some minor media coverage of the far greater effect diesel particulates on our health than does the amount of CO2 petrol engines (in general) affect us.

The following has just been spat into my in box from Loony Labour Lewisham granting me a whole 10 days to enter into their "consultation" period and be ignored:
"Don’t miss your chance to complete our parking permit consultation
Our consultation about parking permit costs closes on 26 July. It’s not too late to tell us what you think of the proposals and be in with the chance of winning a £50 Amazon voucher.
What we’re proposing
We are proposing a new greener system of parking permits, which would base the cost of your parking permit on the emissions from your vehicle.
Tell us what you think of the proposals by 26 July."

So, those who can afford it are greener? And those that can't aren't?

Translation: we're gonna rip off the motorist yet again for having the temerity to own a private car.
No exemptions considered for Classic Cars which are by their nature usually larger engines thus higher "polluters". So a further tax (by the use of parking permit charges based on emissions) is a further attack on our hobby.

n.b. The "permission" to park outside my own house (for which I already pay Council Tax) is £120 per year.
It started at £10 per year "just for the admin charges" we residents were told whey back in the 70s
I'm allowed two cars for that. But in the smallest of small prints both may not be parked at the same time

[greeban]

Yup - is only going to get worse; I am worried about where this is going - I thought life was for living and we in the western world were free and able to what we wish within reason but the joy of owning and driving a car with an internal combustion engine is being taken away from us - I do not seem to remember when I voted for electric cars?? I love ICE powered cars and am upset no one is standing up and saying hang on, wait a minute - Hydrogen powered ICE had been proven and could easily be produced near to delivery yet we are being driven electric.
Can't clubs like this help to turn this on its head and allow us to have some options on the direction of where this is all going? Existing cars including classics could be converted to Hydrogen and we can park alongside electric vehicles and be greener . ICE is for life whereas a battery is not and this is not counting the environmental cost of making a new car!!

[steve_m]

Sounds about right.
Charge for parking a car that has no emissions when it is parked?
The lunatics have taken over the asylum.

[RichardSEL]

How many classic cars are daily drivers in Lewisham? Mebe a dozen? How many cars resident in Lewisham? Mebe 10,000? (2014 population 214,000) Maximum effect classic cars have on the environment in Lewisham? 0.12%

[poprivet]

Seems topical?

[RichardSEL]

.

[poprivet]

My new plastic JEC membership card just arrived.

I'm wondering why I need it? I have been a member for many, many years and have never been asked for it anywhere. Insurance etc just want the membership number.

Possibly a question for James, Is there a way of opting out of getting a new one each year? If most of the membership did this it would surely save the club a small fortune in admin, postage, paper, envelopes and blank cards and reduce the amount of plastic cards discarded each year.

Al

[RichardSEL]

Now that the censor is no longer chairman (qualification: difficult job no doubt. But censorship of my militant posts are one thing; censoring our delightful female contributor to the magazine coz she called her column "A Bird's Eye View" is quite ridiculous) we can now perhaps rely on the delegated responsibilities of individual forum chair - er - persons to decide what should or should not be "allowed".
Good luck to the incoming chair (an item of furniture? )

And a reminder: free speech is indivisable.
If you don't like something posted then just move onto the next message. Not exercise your ego.

Now, where's that advert I was going to sign to endorse the product?
And what's all this advetorial that's in the magazine? Is it marked up as such?