[nfb-talk] Need Advice: Newsletter for Our Affiliate

[Tina Hansen]

The Oregon affiliate has come under new leadership, and we've bounced back 
and forth the idea of producing a newsletter. As I see it, I have several 
thoughts in mind as to how we could do it.

Traditional media (print, Braille, etc.
Sent bia e-mail
Online as text
Online as downloadable mp3 audio
On NFB Newsline

We could also do podcasts featuring interviews, that is, if we had the right 
equipment and tools.

So, here are my questions. What experiences have folks had with newsletters 
in their states? What media have you used, and how effective have they been 
at getting information out to the membership?

If you've done audio newsletters, what media have you used? Have they been 
effective? Why or why not?

If we look at doing a newsletter as mp3 audio, I'm bound to get questions on 
whether we should use voice talent or one of the newer text to speech 
technologies for the recordings. Does anyone have thoughts on this issue? If 
voice talent, why or why not? Can you suggest anyone? If we use speech 
synthesis, why or why not?

If anyone has tried podcasting within their states, I'd like to hear what 
they've learned from their experiences.

I have definite views on this, but I'm open to hearing anyone's thoughts on 
these issues. Thanks.