Newsletter supports bulletin editors

“‘Bylines’ is a monthly ‘how-to’ newsletter offering ideas, training, and encouragement to district bulletin editors,” says Lynn Seeden, co-editor of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District magazine, who also writes and edits the new publication.

“This niche publication presents tips on photos, writing, design, storytelling, and newsgathering, and the first issue was e-mailed out to 45 bulletin editors on February 1.”

The idea came from a group of about 20 district bulletin editors who gathered for the first time (at the 2006 Kiwanis International Convention) in Montréal, Québec, to chat.

“While I met two editors whose careers have been in journalism or publications,” Lynn says, “I was struck by the fact that so many editors have never had any training. So this newsletter is one way to help.”

Lynn’s own background is in public relations and marketing, but for the past six years, she was a news reporter, editor, and designer at the Orange County Register.

“Because I know what efforts go into a district bulletin,” Lynn says, “I want to offer resources and encouragement to my fellow district bulletin editors. My desire is to see all the district bulletins look topnotch, be quality examples to our clubs, cheer on our current members, and be attractive to potential quality members.

“I see the district bulletin editors as pivotal players in the quest to grow to 1 million members. I want to encourage the districts to use the graphic standards—to ‘look like Kiwanis’—and to redesign their bulletins so they can be dually used as marketing handouts to the public.”

Though the newsletter is prepared for district editors, club editors also will find its content helpful.