Re: RE: (erielack) The New Diamond

[ANDOVERJct_@_aol.com]

Hi all:

I guess this is a good time to introduce myself to erielack e-mail list 
members, now that I have recently joined the list and am lurking about. I'll 
be happy to answer your questions about the magazine--that is, THE 
DIAMOND--either on list to the group or off list to individuals, at any time. 
For example, the lighter paper issue that Paul brought up . . . We can print 
THE DIAMOND on any weight paper stock that ELHS board members direct us to. 
Heck, we could even do it on sturdy cardstock! But there are two 
considerations here. One is that paper is one of the costliest aspects of 
magazine and book production. The second item involves postage; as you all 
know, the more something weighs, the more it costs to send through the mails. 
Keep in mind too that there are now more pages, too. So, costs savings are 
indeed the consideration in regard to the paper weight of this first issue we 
did.

By the way, I scan the erielack list just about every day, but rarely do I 
actually read all postings (at any given time, our e-mail counter shows us as 
having around 1,000 unread pieces of mail, and much of that is from other 
e-mail lists we are on). Rather, I look for topics that are of particular 
interest to me. So, if any of you wish to really catch my attention, please 
put something in the subject field like THE DIAMOND or HEY MIKE, and be sure 
to sign with your full name. Then I will be sure to read the posting in 
detail so I can answer accordingly. Also, please be patient in waiting for a 
response; we get a lot of phone calls, e-mails and snail mails here at our 
production office outside Chicagoland!

I hope you're all going to enjoy the "new" DIAMOND. We have some good stuff 
slated for upcoming issues. The success of the magazine will determine its 
future, of course. If things go as planned, for example, the ELHS eventually 
might be in a position to increase THE DIAMOND's frequency from two to three 
(or four) times a year.

We also do other railroad historical society magazines. When we took over the 
editing and production of THE MILWAUKEE RAILROADER back in 1994 for the 
Milwaukee Road Historical Association, for example, membership had stagnated 
at around 1,000 members. Now, the press run for THE MILWAUKEE RAILROADER is 
around 4,000, and the magazine now usually runs "in the black." The 
importance of any society's publication cannot be underestimated.

Of course, I can't do this alone. I'm relying on the help and wisdom of all 
you ELHS members!

Mike Schafer
Editorial & Art Director
Andover Junction Publications
Blairstown, N.J. and Lee, Illinois

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