1. Submission criteria for the Weekly Bulletin/Announcements
2. Submission Criteria for the Monthly Newsletter
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1. Weekly Bulletin/Announcements: Print and Web Format
Purpose:
The web announcements highlight events and other messages of interest to the congregation from Friday to the Saturday of the following week, the sermon and forum topics of the following Sunday and additional announcements and dates to keep in mind. This final section also includes acknowledgment of past events, activities, and programs of interest. The Sunday Bulletin is the same except that the information begins on Sunday instead of Friday.
Information included:
Events and activities sponsored by church groups, committees, all church functions happening at the church. News of church members that others would want to know: births, birthdays, anniversaries, marriages, deaths. We do not include non-church community events.
Format:
All submissions should be sent to Carla Jo Schaefer, First UU Director of Membership and Communications, at carlajo@austinuu.org or news@austinuu.org. Announcement and bulletin submissions should be as brief as possible. If you are submitting a future event this may be longer to include pertinent information. The material will be shortened if necessary.
Deadline:
All submissions should be sent to carlajo@austinuu.org or news@austinuu.org by noon on Wednesday to be included in that weekʼs Friday announcements and Sunday bulletin.
Questions/Suggestions:
Please direct any questions or ideas to Carla Jo Schaefer, 512-452 6168 ext 301 or carlajo@austinuu.org or news@austinuu.org. Please include email and telephone number with your submission so she can contact you if there are questions that need to be addressed.
Special Announcements:
1. Class announcements and other events that have already been advertised elsewhere will not be sent out in special announcements.
2. If there has been a death of a First UU member, a special announcement will be sent out if it was not included in the regular announcements or Sunday Bulletin.
3. Special Announcements are cleared by the minister if there is any question concerning the appropriate nature of the announcement.
Tips:
- Include your contact information
- Priority will be given to well written submissions
- Avoid insider references, acronyms and jargon. A first time visitor should be able to understand what you are writing about.
Last updated: December 5, 2012
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2. Monthly Newsletter Submission Criteria and Process
The church newsletter is to educate, build community, create institutional loyalties, and focus on people as well as events. The primary focus of the newsletter is future driven, highlighting the important things we want everyone to know at the beginning of each month.
Events and activities sponsored by church groups, committees, and departments happening within the church or in the community will be included in the newsletter. Newsworthy information concerning individual members of our congregation will also be included. We do not include non-church community events unless directed to do so by the minister.
Carla Jo Schaefer is the editor of the newsletter. She makes decisions concerning what goes where, how it will look, and what is included. The editor falls under the authority of the minister. The editor will contact the minister for advice and guidance. The ultimate responsibility is with the editor. If anyone has suggestions, questions, concerns or ideas regarding the newsletter please contact Carla Jo at carlajo@austinuu.org or news@austinuu.org. The editor may change these guidelines at anytime.
Tips for Newsletter submissions:
• Priority is given to articles that provide new, exciting and relevant information to members and visitors.
- Avoid insider references, acronyms and jargon. A first time visitor should be able to understand what you are writing about.
- Use active headlines.
• Put important information (WHAT, WHY, WHO and WHEN) in the lead sentence.
- Write your submission by answering “What matters to the people with whom we are communicating?” not with “What do I want to tell people?”
- If your submission was in a prior newsletter- make sure you are including new information.
• Spell check and proofread your submission for accuracy and correct grammar.
