LODGE NEWSLETTERS

Lodge Newsletters

HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED?• Who here is responsible for producing a lodge

newsletter?

• Who here today wants to join a lodge newsletter team?

• Who here today has a lodge newsletter, but it needs a major redesign and new energy?

Lodge Newsletters

SESSION OBJECTIVES• To learn the purpose of lodge newsletters.

• To learn about all aspects of lodge newsletters including layout, design, content, building a team and distribution.

• To learn about developing a year-round lodge newsletter communication plan.

Lodge Newsletters

WHY LODGE NEWSLETTERS?• To share information with the lodge membership

including the – Lodge calendar– Leadership messages, – Lodge updates

• To serve as a way to record lodge history • To allow youth interested in communications to learn

relevant skills• Journey to Excellence requirement #9 for lodges.

Lodge Newsletters

FROM THE BEGINNING• Developing a team• The layout and key parts to a newsletter• Developing a yearlong plan• Newsletter distribution

Lodge Newsletters

YOUR TEAM MEMBERS• Editor-in-Chief• Content Editors• Layout Editor• Staff writers• Staff photographers• Advisers• Lodge officers / Lodge Executive Committee• Contributing writers

Lodge Newsletters

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF• The edition-in-chief is the lead youth and oversees

the lodge newsletter team. He is appointed by the lodge chief and provides direction for the team including recruiting youth editors, developing a storyboard, reviewing content, and making decisions regarding the newsletter.

Lodge Newsletters

CONTENT EDITORS• Content editors help lead a section of the newsletter

team. This can be compared to a news editor or a sports editor for the local newspaper. Content editors will oversee the content that is assigned to them by the editor-in-chief. The editors work with staff writers and photographers.

• The newsletter team can determine the number of content editors. Examples include events and programs editor, people and recognitions editor, chapter news editor photography editor.

Lodge Newsletters

COPY EDITOR• The copy editor works with the Editor-in-Chief to proof

each article prior to publishing. The copy editor also ensures that the style guide is followed.

• What is a style guide?: A style guide is a tool for newsletter teams to ensure that names, punctuation and capitalization is consistent throughout a publication. An example would be Arrowmen and Scout.

Lodge Newsletters

LAYOUT EDITOR• The layout editor is responsible for the actual layout

of the publication. He works with the editor-in-chief in publishing the newsletter.

Lodge Newsletters

STAFF WRITERS• Staff writers work with their editors in covering

assignments for articles in the lodge newsletter. This could include writing about a lodge event, interviewing a lodge officer, or covering a lodge program. Staff writers also either work with a photographer or get a photo to go with their story.

Lodge Newsletters

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS• Staff photographers work with the editors and staff

writers to ensure photographs are taken at lodge events to go along with articles in the lodge newsletter.

Lodge Newsletters

ADVISERS• Advisers work with the youth team helping where

needed and supporting the team. Advisers play an important role in helping to approve/edit content. The adviser is appointed by the lodge key 3.

Lodge Newsletters

LODGE OFFICERS / LEC MEMBERS• Lodge officers and member of the LEC also can serve

on the team helping to provide content and support where needed.

Lodge Newsletters

CONTRIBUTING WRITER• Contributing writers help support the newsletter

team by writing articles when needed. The writer may have a special expertise in a topic or is covering a special topic on behalf of the newsletter.

Lodge Newsletters

• Key parts of the newsletter layout:– Articles– Leadership message– Calendar– Officer contact

information– Social media/website

links– Awards/recognitions – Council news

– Lodge program updates

– Chapter news– Event reviews– Adviser’s minute– Burning issues– Section/regional/

national news– Arrowman highlight– Service project

information.

LAYOUT AND KEY PARTS

Lodge Newsletters

NEWSLETTER LAYOUTMasthead

Headline

Byline and text

Lodge Newsletters

NEWSLETTER LAYOUT

Quote

Photo with caption

Staff box

Lodge Newsletters

STORYBOARD AND YEARLONG PLANS• Storyboard:

– Helps a newsletter team establish newsletter priorities– Organize content– Assign article responsibilities– Allows editors to set deadlines for content.

• What to include:– Article topic– Which content editor is responsible– Staff writer who is responsible– Deadline– Purpose of the content

Lodge Newsletters

TIE INTO THE YEARLONG PLAN• The storyboard you develop for each edition also

needs to tie into your lodge’s yearlong plan and goals.

• Your lodge is going to have events throughout the year, meetings, programs, summer camp opportunities and annual dues payments.

• The best way to do this is to take the storyboard and the lodge calendar and go event by event to determine what and when you will communicate to the lodge membership in each edition.

Lodge Newsletters

STORY IDEAS• Where can you get story ideas?

– Lodge leadership– Order of the Arrow websites– Scouting websites– Social media– Council website– Council staff– Lodge executive committee members– Lodge officers

Lodge Newsletters

SPECIAL INSERTS• Another way to distribute information to your lodge

members:

• This can include:– Special flyers– Registration forms– Annual dues membership forms

Lodge Newsletters

THE STORYBOARD: TIMELINE• Example based on 4 quarter editions per year:

– Day 1: Organizing conference call– Day 28: Articles due to content editors – Day 35: Articles due to copy editor/editor in chief for review– Day 50: Articles/photos sent to layout editor– Day 75: Layout complete and sent for final approval – Day 89: Edition approved and prepared for distribution– Day 90: Printed and distributed to lodge members

Lodge Newsletters

DISTRIBUTION• Mailing hard copies through the United States Postal

Service• Posting to the lodge website• Emailing the link to the lodge membership• Post a link to Facebook when ready• Send a tweet for each article in your newsletter

edition over a 7 day period:– Include the title of the article and the link to your online

edition• Share copies with your council staff and volunteers