The NEW Star is here!

[mdsalemi]

Hello Everyone,

If you have not already, you will be seeing the new STAR magazine any day now in your mail box. Presidents should have already received their "drop" of 5 issues which should be used for member recruitment efforts; these are posted separately from the normal means and thus usually arrive earlier.

My personal opinion is WOW. It was better then expected for a first go around. The perfect binding is great, makes it look nicer. The full-color is very noticable as are the extra pages.

You'll note that the regular slate of advertisers are all in place--in name, in quality, and quantity.

I believe it can only get better.

As for "closer to the membership" notice that I wrote an article and had it published, that's the one beginning on page 50 entitled "Honoring The Legends" about the Automotive Hall of Fame. Fellow President Marv Berkowitz from the Western Michigan Section is on the cover, and has an article as well.

Do you, as a President and Club member have something to say? Remember this is OUR magazine, so sharpen your pencils, get out your camera, and have at it. It can be done as this first issue indicates.

In fact, I challenge every President to find something interesting to write about! A fellow member? Interesting car? Cool museum or venue in your area? A restoration project? A technical issue? What do you have to say, and what do you want to share? Michigan has made a significant contribution to the first issue--article author Marv Berkowitz is from Michigan as noted; so am I; and well known author Jim McCraw is also a fellow member of International Stars. That's 5 articles out of Michigan in the first issue!

Other sections and states, speak up!

[dolebludger]

Michael:

I received my new Star yesterday, and posted the following on another thread on this forum:

"I just recieved my new Mar/Apr Star. The first comment I have is that I received it much earlier in the month than I ever have, and I think that's just great. I have only scanned it so far -- no time to read it cover to cover yet. Preliminary comments are that the increase in pages is very noticeable, no decrease in physical quality, and a broader aray of articles. Keeping in mind that the old Star was taking $18+ per year out of my dues, and the new Star only takes $6+, I think the new Star is a quantum leap forward. It not only provides more content, but also may help solve a financial delimma as well!"

I've read more of it since that comment, and to me, the new Star just looks better and better. I would like to thank and congratulate everyone connected with our national organization who was involved in bringing this beneficial change about. I played a little game with some of my non-MBCA friends. I showed them the new Star, along with a copy of the Jan/Feb issue. I asked them, "which of these magazines cost me a little over $3 and which cost me a little over $1?" They guessed 100% WRONG!

[VLayton]

My last Star came on the 30th. So if I see it in less than 3 weeks..... ;)

(Ooops, president's forum, sorry I forgot)

[wwhopper]

It is much fresher and the print and photos look better.

Nice to see a new Star Magazine, now the club can move on and leave all the baggage behind that always seemed to surround the magazine.

[Don350SDL]

Just got it today, and i think it is GREAT! Perfect bound instead of saddle stitched, nice content and layout, super high quality, mailed in a poly bag.

They even have an article on the 350SD (small brother to my car)!! :D

Don

[dolebludger]

Vince:

Hey, no problem. The fact that I actually received my Star for Mar/Apr early in March was a real plus to me. In the past, I would see posts on this board aout things in the current Star that I would have to wait three weeks to see. Hope yours has arrived, and am eager to hear your opinion of it.

My opinion is (donning flame-proof suit) that if we have been paying $18+ per member per year for the OLD Star, and we are paying $6+ per member per year for the NEW Star, we have been getting ripped off in the past!

[mdsalemi]

Richard and others,

Well, speaking in a politically correct fashion, "ripped off" are two very strong words, but we get your point.

The Star was previously run under a contract which was lived up to--so nobody should have a problem with that.

When it came time to renew the contract, many in the club at the board/executive level felt that there could be changes which would yield financial improvements and these were drafted into the RFP (request for proposal) which was used to to help find a new editor/publisher/printer, etc.

The bottom line is we have a new magazine, and everybody's worst nightmare--a magazine with a step down in quality--hasn't happened if the first issue is an indication. Some will say we have a step up. Can and will there be changes and improvements from here? Of course. It is our publication, and I'm sure the comments will come and improvements made along the way. It's organic.

The true finanical picture is only a forecast at the moment--as the year progresses we'll have some history and hopefully your RD will communicate this to you.

[Alex]

We should draw no conclusions until after at least three issues.

[dolebludger]

Michael makes a good point. Sometimes I revert back to my "old hippie era" of the '60, and use that language where it does not belong. "Ripped off" was the wrong term. Alex is right, too. We've got to see a few months of performance before drawing final conclusions. I was merely very surprised, and pleasantly so, at the content and quality of the first issue under new management.