Newmar and NKK News

[Route 66]

From the NKK;

First of all, in the NKK office, Linda and Ashley are cut to four days a week. EVERY OTHER WEEK, meaning they will only work four days every two weeks. This is expected to last until at least sometime in August. They have been promised as soon as possible they will go back to four days a week. We are very fortunate to keep them both. There are some long time employees who were laid off this week.

The Konnection magazine will be reduced to every other month. The NKK will make extended use of the Web-site as much as possible. Also, it will require a lot more advance planning for rallies, articles, etc.

The Region Directors have been asked not to travel during July and August unless they had already planned to attend a function.

Every salaried employee took a pay cut. The VP's took a 30% cut. Salary will be restored as business allows.

When production does return on July 14, they will be running 5 units a day, four days a week. Obviously this will increase with orders.

As for rallies with more than 75 units, they will NOT be sending technicians, at least for the rest of the year.

[Route 66]

From the NKK;

First of all, in the NKK office, Linda and Ashley are cut to four days a week. EVERY OTHER WEEK, meaning they will only work four days every two weeks. This is expected to last until at least sometime in August. They have been promised as soon as possible they will go back to four days a week. We are very fortunate to keep them both. There are some long time employees who were laid off this week.

The Konnection magazine will be reduced to every other month. The NKK will make extended use of the Web-site as much as possible. Also, it will require a lot more advance planning for rallies, articles, etc.

The Region Directors have been asked not to travel during July and August unless they had already planned to attend a function.

Every salaried employee took a pay cut. The VP's took a 30% cut. Salary will be restored as business allows.

When production does return on July 14, they will be running 5 units a day, four days a week. Obviously this will increase with orders.

As for rallies with more than 75 units, they will NOT be sending technicians, at least for the rest of the year.

[soricobob]

It is a sorry state for everyone involved, but, if handled well, and the economy recovers soon, it will be worth it. Having administered thru a similar situation, all must be cut, or there is soo much resentment that it does not pay.

[read & learn]

Ralph Martoni Region 7 Director announced at the end of Region 7 Rally just about the same as Route 66.
The Konnection Mag will save $40,000 per yr with just 6 issuses.
Newmar last year helped out the NKK with over $325,000 in aid.
What can we do as Newmar owners. Only 5% of Newmar owners belong to NKK. If you don't belong join, if you know someone who is not a member get them to join.
By increasing the membership it will help pay our bills.
It is a very sad time at Newmar, but since they owe nothing and own everything outright and do not have a cash flow problem they should weather the downturn in business better than most other Companies.

[Scottsdale]

They could save a little money if they would provide the Konnection Mag as a PDF file that we could download instead of it getting mailed it us.

I download the Escapee's Mag and Motorhome Mag this way. It allows me to keep all the back issues and does not take up space in my MH.

[Nathan Focht]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Scottsdale:
They could save a little money if they would provide the Konnection Mag as a PDF file that we could download instead of it getting mailed it us.

I download the Escapee's Mag and Motorhome Mag this way. It allows me to keep all the back issues and does not take up space in my MH. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

And I do not pay double postage to have it forwarded to me. Much better than the printed version.

[read & learn]

This is what NKK needs--suggestions and recommendation from the members.
That is one of the ways they hope to keep the members informed by using the web site.
Call the office and let them know your ideas.

[soricobob]

I wrote, and sent them a copy of two RV periodicals I receive by email.

[Scottsdale]

Here is the reply I got from Barbara Barnett on my inquiry about having the magazine available for download.

"At the present time, we do not have plans to publish the Konnection digitally. We have investigated this option somewhat, but at the present time would have to publish the Konnection in both formats and that would be more expensive . When the number of printed issues decreases, the printing cost increases. We also have to work with all of our advertisers who plan on a certain number of printed copies when they advertise. As you can see, there are several avenues that need to be addressed before we can go digital. Thanks for inquiring."

Barbara Barnett
International Director
Newmar Kountry Klub

[ET]

My 2 cents...

All that's necessary is a scanner and one good copy of the news letter. It could be scanned in PDF format, (if you have Adobe software,) and sent to any member via their email address. The cost of a legal size scanner is not over $500. That would be the total out of pocket expense to do digital. Wanna bet that there's a scanner not being used at Newmar?

[soricobob]

I would venture a guess that there are those who feel quite threatened by that prospect.

[brucedelta]

I do not think the gist of the post is that we do not have a digital copy, as there is very little printed today that does not start out digital. So getting the PDF is easily solvable if they wished to do so.

What I got from that response is that they price the advertising based on circulation and in the simplistic model that they are prepared to use, # copies printed = circulation.

If one were to want to count electronic copies as circulation you get into all kinds of issues on how to count it.

I think that is the problem they have.

[Scottsdale]

If Escapee's can do it, I would think that NKK could, but I might be wrong.

I would be happy if I could get it in PDF format, and NKK could still print me a hard copy, but just keep it and give it away to a potential NKK member.

Since I fulltime, I pay to have my mail sent to me, so it cost. Getting it digitally would allow me to keep all the copies on my hard drive as I do not have room in my MH to keep them.

[GaryKD]

The previous posts are an interesting beginning. Let's say the following are sacred cows and can not be touched:

1. Any change to the current process(es) must save $s in the same calendar year any investment $s were used to make the changes.
2. NKK members who do/will not have Internet capability or skills must be able to receive the Konnection magazine.
3. Advertising revenue should increase but can not decrease due to any change in circulation delivery.

With these items as the ground rules, put your thinking caps on and post what your ideas are.

My advance apology if I do not respond to the ideas immediately. We are in the middle of our Summer trip with the grand kids. Most of you know, when on the road, I wait until there is free WIFI to get onto iRV2. Also, touring with a 12 year old (male) and 10 year old (female) is energy draining and consumes most every waking minute.