Date:         Sun, 13 May 2001 05:04:28 -0700
Reply-To:     '80 Westy Pokey <pokey@vanagon.org>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         '80 Westy Pokey <pokey@vanagon.org>
Subject:      Re: Adventures in Publishing | Vanagon Magazine
Comments: To: irtaylor@fas.harvard.edu
Content-Type: text/plain

Hi Isaac,

It IS a good idea and probably a lot of listees would subscrible if it cam out, but no one is falling all over themselves because the Limbo newseltter already has a great deal of Vanagon content.

Here is a quick rundown of LIMBO from http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/:

LiMBO stands for, the Late Model Bus Organization, international.   LiMBO was established, in 1988 by Zach Woods. Designed to help fellow owners and enthusiasts of 1968 and newer Volkswagen Type 2 Transporters, Vanagons and the new Eurovan, maintain, restore, buy, sell and enjoy their vehicles. Membership is open to all owners and admirers of these vehicles, and ownership of a 1968 and newer VW Transporter is not a prerequisite to join.We currently sports thousands of members Worldwide.

Our newsletter, The Transporter, is a bimonthly publication dedicated to late model VW Transporters. Each issue brings readers bus adventure stories, and useful information regarding the maintenance and restoration of these vehicles. All material is submitted by club members. The Transporter also helps club members nationwide and internationally keep in touch with each other through its classified ads and listings of LiMBO (and other VW club) events.

LiMBO organizes and sponsors regional campouts and get togethers. Many of the larger VW shops and specialty Bus shops offer specials and discounts to LiMBO members.

Once a year we publish, with NEATO, the 'Transporter Tourist and Travelers directory (TTT). In it is a volunteer list of members throughout the country who can offer assistance if you have a problem while your on the road. It may only be a camping space or a cup of coffee but its save a lot of people when they are having bus troubles.

Seems like you might be re-inventing the wheel. What distiguishes your idea from LIMBO?

Thanks,
Chris

On Sat, 12 May 2001, Isaac Taylor wrote:

>
> Thanks, Andrew.  Anybody else interested?  I am surprised at the lack of
> response to this thread.
>
> Isaac Taylor
> Cambridge, Mass.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "andrewbell" <andrewbell@qwest.net>
> To: "Isaac Taylor" <irtaylor@fas.harvard.edu>
> Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2001 9:30 PM
> Subject: Re: Adventures in Publishing | Vanagon Magazine
>
>
> > I'll subscribe.
> >
> > AB
> >
> > Isaac Taylor wrote:
> >
> > > Hi all, longtime lurker Isaac in Cambridge here.  It struck me the other
> day
> > > while catching up on last month's listmail backlog, that there's a better
> place
> > > to do all this reading than here at my desk.  The porch, the couch, even
> the
> > > can beckon.  But without a laptop and a wireless connection, what are volk
> to
> > > do?
> > >
> > > And then it hit me: what about that other technology, paper?  Think of the
> > > download speeds -- you can just turn the page, and bam: more Vanagon
> content.
> > > Pictures?  Yep.  Diagrams, sure!  So here it is: I'd like to start
> > > brainstorming with anyone who's interested about how we might migrate some
> of
> > > the interesting and helpful content that piles up in our inboxes over to a
> > > newsletter, magazine or other paper-based periodical.  There's an amazing
> > > community here; this is far and away the most active list I have ever
> found.
> > > Despite the increasing amounts of spam and off-topic dialogue, there's a
> lot of
> > > truly useful (and often entertaining) content generated here... but I
> wonder if
> > > we could do better, or more, or at least... different than the faithful
> > > listserv?
> > >
> > >                                                       Some Pros
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> > > Stable Archive     -  Useful information that fits in glovebox filing
> cabinet!
> > > Mobile Medium   -  You can take a magazine wherever you want!
> > > Editorial Control  -  HOT TEENS and FREE DIPLOMAS be damned!
> > > New Audience    -  Think of all the PC-less Vanagon enthusiasts!
> > > Revenues            -  Subscription and Advertising: ugly but proven!
> > >
> > >                                                       Some Cons
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> > > Logistics             -  Printing, Binding, Delivery?
> > > Money               -   Are we willing to pay, and/or accept advertising?
> > > Green Guilt         -  E-mails recycle really, really well.
> > > Editorial Control - Who decides what gets published?
> > > Speed                -   Do For Sale, and Help Please work a month later?
> > > Time                  -  Who has the free time to publish a magazine?!?
> > >
> > > If any members have experience with newsletter, or niche-market publishing
> > > please weigh in here.  I'm also interested to hear from folks with design
> and
> > > editorial skills, and everyone with relevant small-business experience!
> > > There's
> > > a lot of smart and capable people on this list, and I'm interested to hear
> your
> > > thoughts.
> > >
> > > Isaac Taylor
> > > Cambridge, Massachusetts

Thanks,
Chris Gronski
'80 Westy "Pokey" - SLOPOKEY
'87 Chevrolet Sprint - Ice Racer
'91 Pontiac Firefly - Convertable
www.vanagon.org & .ca
www.gronski.com, .org, & .ca
www.nineeleven.org & .ca