Questions & Answers

Q - How often will we receive these newsletters?

There are no scheduled times for sending out the Public Information newsletters. They are published on an ad hoc basis, as and when there is a need to send one.  The Village Matters is twice-monthly and each issue includes a listing of current local Planning Applications.  The Goring & Woodcote Practice Patient Participation Group Newsletter is sent periodically, informing of timely issues related to the medical practice.  With a number of different newsletters and each managed by different editors, it may be like buses, there may be none for a while, and then three may come together!

Q - Who edits the newsletters and how will material be selected?

Each newsletter is edited by carefully selected volunteers who have a good knowledge of the subject matter concerned and who take care to edit the material to be included responsibly.

Q - How can such a service be free?

The service is free because the volunteers work for nothing and the professional email system we use is the ‘free version’ for which there are no charges. There were some initial set up costs, but these were covered by a grant from Goring Parish Council.  Also, from time-to-time, local local groups have donated to support the Genie efforts.

Q - What email system is used to send the newsletters?

Genie uses MailChimp, the most popular free ESP (Email Service Provider) and is commonly used to send out bulk, but targeted, emails. This provides free use for up to 2,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month. If, after time, more than 2,000 residents want to opt in for this service, there will be a simple transition to an upgraded (pay) subscription service, which would allow unlimited emails for a small monthly cost. This cost may need to be covered by a modest level of advertising.

Q - Will Genie eventually become a commercial enterprise?

No. The constitution of the Genie Community Group states that all money raised by or on behalf of Genie is only to be used to further the aims of the Group. However, if its popularity causes the number of emails sent per month to exceed the allowance for the free use of MailChimp, we will need to upgrade the service we use to a paid level. At this point we may need to accept some advertising to cover these costs. Any surplus advertising income would be held as reserves for future costs. Our constitution states that surplus income will be given to local good causes. No members of the Genie team will profit from any income made.

Q - Are the newsletters free to start with just to get people’s email addresses to eventually make money from them?

No, Genie does not intend to make money and it is not in our constitution to do so. If, eventually, we need to accept advertising to cover any recurring costs (eg if or when the number of emails we send out exceed the ‘free allowance’), any income will not benefit any of the volunteers working for Genie. Email addresses will only be seen by the administrator and will never be passed on to any third party.

Q - What happens if I want to stop receiving these newsletters?

You can click the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of each newsletter to unsubscribe from it. If you unsubscribe from the Public Information newsletter you will automatically be unsubscribed from all the others.

Q - How do I add information to a newsletter?

You send an email containing the information to the relevant newsletter (see Contact Page)

 

If you have other questions, please do not hesitate to ask - just e-mail contact@genienews.org.