ICSBS Journal going digital

[Wattana]

Hi All,

I was very disappointed to get an email last night from the ICSBS to say that all future copies of the Journal will be issued online in digital format.

When this topic was first mooted last year, I expressed my opinions on the matter to the Board of Directors in no uncertain terms, and proposed a number of other possible ways to boost membership numbers and income. Canceling the printed journal is the easy way out. OK, I understand that a printed version will be available, at an extra cost. With all the other learned societies I belong to going 'paperless' is an optional choice, not the default setting.
 
For me, and I believe for many others who do not attend the annual conventions, the printed Journal is the only tangible connection we have with the Society. It should remain the default choice, letting members who do not want the printed version opt out. Not the other way around.

That's my two-cents-worth. Will be interested to hear what others think.

Best,
Tom

[Joey]

Dear Tom,

   Because of my own preference and due to what you wrote here,
I recommended not doing this.
But I was not at the Board Meeting this year.
I was eating in Ken Lo's Memories of China in London....  
Best,
Joey

[richy88]

Hi Tom

I fully agree with you.

They should either go entirely paperless or retain the current printed version.

Having an option for the printed copy does not help. How many copies should they print? 20 or 50? There is no economy of scale, and the cost may be just as much as printing 500 copies.

Besides, not every member is tech-savvy, and some may have a slow internet connection.

Not to mention that the Society website is not really a pleasure to visit....

Regards.


Richard

[Bob]

I very much looked forward to receiving the journal. In the 19 years as a member I've never been to a convention or met another member, so the journals were my only connection. I'm glad to have met some of you here and on facebook. I wonder if discontinuing the journal will have the effect of further declining the membership?

[bambooforrest]

Tom, I agree with you. 'Paperless' should be an option....John

[Wattana]

Hi All,

I'm relieved to know that I'm not the only one concerned by the decision to discontinue the printed version of the Journal.
Don't misunderstand me, I have been a loyal supporter of the ISCSBS since joining in 1998. One of the first things I did upon joining was to order back issues going back to the early 1990s.
I feel that this decision by the Board, which was made without being put to a vote, will further reduce membership numbers among those of us who do not attend the annual conventions.
For the sake of the Society I hope I am proved wrong.

Best,
Tom

PS: Joey, you are exonerated, especially as I was there in London to enjoy that dinner at Ken Lo's restaurant. 
 

[Joey]

Dear Tom,

     Yes, dinner was very good. So was lunch there with Tommy Robinson [Stephen Lennon] and his family, the following Sunday.

     But I thought you joined the Society much earlier than 1998.
Best,
Joey

Hi All,

I'm relieved to know that I'm not the only one concerned by the decision to discontinue the printed version of the Journal.
Don't misunderstand me, I have been a loyal supporter of the ISCSBS since joining in 1998. One of the first things I did upon joining was to order back issues going back to the early 1990s.
I feel that this decision by the Board, which was made without being put to a vote, will further reduce membership numbers among those of us who do not attend the annual conventions.
For the sake of the Society I hope I am proved wrong.

Best,
Tom

PS: Joey, you are exonerated, especially as I was there in London to enjoy that dinner at Ken Lo's restaurant. 
 

[Wattana]

Hi All,

Have any other ICSBS members received their Winter 2023 issue of the Journal yet?
I see the digital version was "launched" last week, but I am still waiting for my hard copy to arrive.

Best,
Tom

[richy88]

No, Tom.

I have accessed the digital copy but it was slow in loading.

The worst part is that we are unable to download the journal, you can only read it online, which is a pain!

Regards.


Richard

[Wattana]

Hi Richard,

You can't even download the digital version? I didn't even try!
I hope that is simply a technical glitch with the initial launch.

But I am waiting to receive the final hard copy issue under the present year's subscription.

Tom

[Bob]

It's been almost a week now since I received my e-mail with the journal, but it still isn't available on the society website. I am disappointed that when I clicked on the view journal, it took me to a third party website. I guess the only option is to pay for the hard copies.

[Joey]

Guys,

   I've not yet received the hard copy, and I automatically ordered them.
I love reading it in printed form.
I've not even attempted to access it over the net.
Best,
Joey

[bambooforrest]

I have tried opening the digital version 3 times with no luck. This is unacceptable! I suggest everyone contact Julia with their complaints....John

[rpfstoneman]

All,

I can open the Journal from the link provided in Julia's email.  And with document expansion can read it just fine.  What I can not do is download it and save it on my computer for later reference. 

Charll

P.S.- I past along your comments to Julia with an email of my own.

[Joey]

Julia knows my opinion on the subject, as does Berthe.
Best to all,
Joey

[Wattana]

Sorry to come back to this topic again.
I eagerly check my maibox daily, but have not yet received the Winter 2022 printed issue of the Journal, only the digital version.

I see from the ICSBS's Facebook page that they are already talking about the Spring 2023 issue of the Journal. Does this mean that we are not going to receive a Winter 2022 issue?

I fully appreciate that going forward from the April 2023 subscription we will only be offered the printed version as an optional extra. I don't agree with the policy, but will have to swallow it.
However, the Winter 2022 issue is due as part of the 2022 subscription, which includes three printed journals.   

Tom

[richy88]

Hi Tom

I fully agree with you.

I am in the same situation. I wrote to Julia about the printed copy of the Winter 2022 journal.

She suggests that I pay the 'outstanding' membership fee for 2022/2023 first, which is only due in April. If I remember correctly, it is usually due in June or July.

I am now seriously thinking about renewing my membership.

Regards.


Richard

[Wattana]

Hi Richard,

The ICSBS annual subsription runs from May 1 to April 30, as far as I am aware.

I did hear something about paying the 'oustanding' 2022-2023 membership fee during the Zoom talk by Andrew Singer.
So I asked Joey about it, who assumed it was a reminder to those who had not yet paid their May 2022 fees.

The 2023 membership fee is not due until April-May this year.

We should automatically receive the Winter 2022 issue without having to ask for it.
After all, the major cost is in producing the journal, not mailing it. If I recall correctly, Roseanne Chan's costs are virually the same whether they print 50 or 500 copies.

Regards,
Tom