Stop the presses.

Larger clubs often have their own in-house print shops, but for a small club with limited staff and resources, readily available office technology can produce a professional looking newsletter without breaking the budget. Case in point: a club that made the switch to a full-color printer/copier, and changed its newsletter from two-color with clipart graphics to full color with photographs. The copier lease increased $200 per month, from $250 for the old black-and-white machine. The $1,200 monthly bill for layout, printing, and bindery work on the club's newsletter disappeared completely. A staff member spends about four hours on each issue, using basic desktop publishing software to create layouts.

Beyond the obvious cost advantages, the copier's ability to save files to memory makes small newsletter runs and 'special editions' feasible, and eliminates the need to pay the local printer for overage 'just in case.' Breaking news easily makes it into the issue because in-house production cuts as much as a week out of the process. Other small print jobs have also been brought in house, significantly improving the timeliness, quality, and consistency of the club's displays and materials.

Eldon Miller, editor of The Private Club Advisor business letter and Teri Finan, editor of PCA Plus welcome your comments on items in "Management +" at www.privateclubadvisor.com.