e-Equipping is coming

To: All users of Equipping Canada
Subject: Updates to Equipping Canada

In an effort to reduce costs, Mennonite Church Canada is making a shift in the way Equipping is distributed to churches.

With email access on the rise (currently 80%, or nearly 200, of MC Canada congregations have email access; about 35 congregations use posted mail exclusively), we are moving to an electronic distribution system for Equipping Canada. Hard copy distribution (to the full subscriber list of 325) will remain at four intervals throughout the year for distribution of those items not suited to electronic distribution (books, bulky items, etc.). In addition, those remaining recipients (about 35 subscribers) that do not have access to email or the web will continue to receive hard copy distribution with each edition.

The chart below describes the month and distribution type for the 10 times per year Equipping, for 2003-04

Notes

Subscribers without email/web access (about 35) will continue to receive hard copy editions 10 times per year.
Those editions marked "hard copy" will still be available electronically

Month	Deadline for submissions	Arrives in Churches	Electronic (supply 35 copies)	Hard copy (supply 325 copies)
June (2003)	May 13	Mid-May	X
July/August	June 10	Within 2 weeks		X
September	Aug. 12	Mid-August	X
October	Sept 9	Mid-September	X
November/December	Oct 14	Within 2 weeks		X
January (2004)	Nov 12	Mid-November		X
February	Jan 13	Mid-January	X
March	Feb 10	Mid-February	X
April	March 8	Mid-March	X
May	April 12	Within 2 weeks		X
Cycle begins to repeat… tentative dates below
June (2004)	May 10	Mid-May	X
July/August	June 8	Within 2 weeks		X

What you need to do:

In months scheduled for electronic distribution, send us an electronic version of your insertion, in Adobe Acrobat format. If this is not possible, then simply plan to distribute your hard copy item during one of the months designated for hard copy mailings. We will still need 35 hard copies of your item for those churches that do not have email. For the months were hard copy of items will be sent out we will require the full 325 copys. If you would still like to send an electronic version please do so.

What we will do:

These files will be posted to the MC Canada web site (www.mennonitechurch.ca). An email news alert highlighting that month’s contents will be sent to all congregations with email, directing them to the web site to download the pieces they want/need.

When will this take effect?

Our first electronic edition will occur with the June issue. The material for this edition is collected in May. The deadline for this issue is May 13th.

Want to be on our e-Equipping distribution list?

If you would like to subscribe to the electronic version of Equipping Canada, simply send your contact information (name, phone number, and email address) to Karen Peters (kpeters@mennonitechurch.ca). An electronic subscription is… absolutely free!

Costs

Insertion cost

The insertion cost for including your content for distribution to our churches remains the same at $65.00 CDN per edition.

Postage cost

"Electronic" editions will cost much less in postage, as packets will be mailed to only 35 churches. Below are the different postage charges for electronic and hard copy editions.

Postage Costs	1-3 sheets (8½" x 11")	4-10 sheets (8½" x 11")	Items over 10 sheets, including booklets, catalogues, videos etc.
Electronic edition (please provide 35 copies)	$1.75	$3.50	postage increase x 35 packets (example)
Hardcopy edition (please provide 325 copies)	$16.25	$32.50	postage increase x 325 packets (example)

An insertion of 1-3 sheets (8½" x 11")

postage charge: $1.75 for those editions available primarily electronically
postage charge: $16.25 for those editions where hard copies are mailed to all churches

An insertion of 4-10 sheets (8½" x 11")

costs $3.50 for those editions available primarily electronically
costs $32.50 for those editions where hard copies are mailed to all churches

Any items over 10 sheets; including booklets, catalogues, videos etc.

Cost is based on the increase in postage per individual equipping packet:
- Multiply the postage increase by 35 packets for those editions available primarily electronically
- Multiply the postage increase by 325 packets for those editions where hard copies are mailed to all churches
For example, if including a booklet increases a packet's postage by $0.20, the cost is
- "electronic" edition: 35 x $0.20 = $7.00
- hard copy edition: 325 x $0.20 = $65.00

Reaching more people?

We hope that through this vehicle we can actually reach more recipients and grow our distribution list. Users can choose to print and further distribute via hard copy to appropriate members/mailboxes in their congregation, or simply forward the message via email to other members/officials with email access – a move we highly encourage as a means of broadening the audience of Equipping Canada – and increasing coverage of your material.

Individuals within a congregation can also subscribe directly by sending us a contact name, phone number, and email address, adding the possibility of putting all leadership/church council members and committee chairs on the subscription list. Hard-copy editions will be sent to church offices only, followed by an email alert informing subscribers to check with their church office.

A win-win situation?

We hope that moving to this method of distribution will create a win-win situation for everyone involved. We also invite your comments and counsel. Please contact me, Dan Dyck, or Karen Peters if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Karen Peters, Equipping Coordinator
kpeters@mennonitechurch.ca

Dan Dyck, director of communications
ddyck@mennonitechurch.ca

1-866-885-2565 (toll free)