Electronic newsletters more timely, less costly

Beginning next year – as early as January – the ISBA will begin delivering most newsletters electronically to all section members for whom we have e-mail addresses unless they tell us they prefer the print version.

Section members already can opt for electronic newsletter delivery, and many have. Beginning in 2009, however, the default will be reversed: Section members will get newsletters via e-mail unless they opt to get them in hard copy by mail. Those who do prefer postal delivery will find a “send me print” link in the first electronic delivery.

If you belong to a section and don’t already get your newsletters by e-mail, we hope you’ll give it a try. We think you’ll be glad you did.

For one thing, you’ll get your newsletter much faster. The electronic version bypasses the ISBA print shop. More important, it bypasses the post office, where bulk-mail delivery has slowed dramatically in recent years.

We’ll send you an e-mail message with a link to the latest issue as soon as it’s posted on the Web site, which means you’ll get it weeks earlier than you would in print.

Each issue will be available in html (for easy viewing on the Web) and as a PDF document (for printing out or throwing in your briefcase).

Because newsletters are archived on the ISBA Web site, you needn’t worry about storing back issues. Better yet, the electronic archive is searchable.

By using electronic delivery, you’ll also help keep section fees low. Section membership is a tremendous value, but paper and postage costs continue to rise. By choosing the electronic version over printed newsletters, you help keep our costs, and yours, down.

If you know already you want postal and not electronic delivery, contact Ann Boucher at aboucher@isba.org. Tell her who you are and what you want.

On the other hand, if you want electronic delivery but we don’t yet have your e-mail address, give that to Ann.