BMM Newsletter/ Vritta Past, Present & Future

Vinata Kulkarni, Mohan Ranade

2

Started in 1981 as Brihan Maharashtra Vritta/Mukhapatra

Mukhapatra of whom ? Of all Marathi people across North America , as a Platform, to bring

together and to reach out the Marathi People...in North America . (It’s

Purpose is NOT and should NOT be- BMM ownership approach , neither be just a voice of BMM

Governing body.)

3

Initial (1981) Purpose of the Newsletter

To convey news from Maharashtra in absence of Marathi Newspapers

in North America Break down

60-40: (Maharashtra News-US, Canada

News)

This format continued till 2000 Phased out as Internet became

popular

4

Initial (1981) Purpose of the Newsletter

Early decision not to compete with Ekata (Literary magazine from

Canada published quarterly)

Therefore does not publish Stories, Poems and other literary content

except in special issues

5

US portion - Hand written Indian portion - Type set

Changed to computer fonts in 1991Fonts developed by

Madhav Deshpande, Detroit, MILate Shrikrishna Patil, San Jose, CA

6

No set subscription initially - 1987 subscription set at $12 /year - Current subscription $25/year

- Life Membership started in 1987

at $150; currently at $250 - Electronic subscription started in

2007 at $10 /year (now free, since 2011)

7

Current Subscribers

- 272 Print Edition ( 46 Annual, 207 Life, 19 Canada and other countries)

- 116 Electronic edition Complimentary E copy, goes to 90 BMM donors, 16 foreign Marathi Mandal Presidents, 387 Past subscribers, (Potential to send copy to also 602 past subscribers if their email ids would be known )

8

Subscriber Base- Mostly over 50 years oldAcquired through Past EC’s efforts and lately through BMM Convention registration process

( Since 2012, current month’s e -copy also goes on BMM website and BMM Face book, so age group of e

copy- readers may vary than previously observed. )

9

Content- Adhyakshiya and cover (1 page), - Back page (½ page ad plus address block) -Other Ads (1½ page max.) - BMM projects, Mandal news, convention (4 pages), - Other (Lalit & other sahitya, book intro, noteworthy -profile, specific sadars, occasional cartoon ..) (5 pages)

Total 12 pages

10

Content (contd.)

12 page Paper -Newsletter weighs 1 oz.

(# 80 Bond Paper)Can be mailed with basic first class

postage- US 0.44 cents- Canada 0.75 cents- Int’l 0.98 cents

(any page sheet beyond that causes approx 25% increase in printing + mailing

cost)

11

Financial OutlookIncome

Life Member reserves-return on investment,

Subscription Ad Revenue

Annual Income vs Revenue –Hardly breaks- even

12

Analysis of Current Situation

WHAT IS WRONG or IS ANYTHING WRONG?

-Not a financial problemDOES NOT REACH INTENDED

AUDIENCE One suggestion was

SEND IT FREE TO EVERYBODY

13

Analysis of Current Situation-Good balance sheet is necessary but

not Sufficient - Current trend in the Newspaper Industry- revenue generated through other means- In 12 pages quality of the content is well maintained but need to take it to further level - (Making free copy is not the solution, many other free papers lack in quality (eg. papers in drive-way)

14

Analysis of Current SituationWhat is first

Chicken or egg(Content or readers)

BOTHWill get new readers

(and keep current ones)- if the content is strong- if marketing is improvedNeed Efforts on both fronts

simultaneously

15

Analysis of Current Situation (contd.)

Need more good writers from North America

Historically those who send articles on their own do not meet standard

- Good writer does not volunteer - Need to seek writers

(BMM reps. Can suggest names of good writers from their Mandal

zones)- Need cajoling of known writers

16

Analysis of Current Situation (contd.)

Why content has less variety?- Lack of story ideas from members - Lack of feed back - Lack of interest of readers about write up on BMM issues discussed by EC and Board of directors(similar trend in many Other Marathi publications in US)

17

Analysis of Current Situation (contd.)

Why subscribers do not increase- Lack of marketing at local level

- At Mandal programs- Through Mandal e-mails- Through Mandal web site

18

What is the future ?

- Current liability is Life Members- Course direction need to be identified

- Who will be readers in 2020- Delivery format: Print or

Electronic?- Content?

19

What is the future ?A: Need More funds, B: Resources who can spend time to attract and motivate good writers.C: Resources who can motivate readers to participate, express and discuss issues of the community.

20

What is the future ?- More electronic than print (may be web based format )

-Amortize Life Members and reduce liability?- Phase out annual print subscription?

- Separate e-letter for MAIYTRA - Sahitya Section on the Web- Special editions ( one we have in Diwali ) to generate interest

21

Overview Where we have been ?

- Where We are ?- Where We are Going ?

22

Vritta Outlook :

Hand- written copy of US/Canada’ news

Early 80s- Type -set news

from Maharashtra, and

23

January 1989 October

1989

Late 80s

Vritta Outlook

24

January 1999

Late 90s

Vritta Outlook :

Diwali

2000

25

January 2002

Early 2000s-

Vritta Outlook :

Diwali 2002

26

January, 2012November, Diwali, 2012

Vritta Outlook

27

contents

Info about :BMM activities , BMM events,

Various Mandal news , programs

Notable –North American -Marathi Vyakti- parichay

New Book- Parichay Cartoon on topics relevant to

North American Marathi communityOccasional poems, stories

Lalit sahitya –Specific topics/sadars

28

January 2010 -12

E- section on BMM WebsiteVrutta on BMM Facebook Few Audio,Video linksNew topics/sadarsE-copy - Wider Circulation

BMM vritta

29

2013 and ahead Along with paper,

Web-based digital copy in the interest of North American Marathi

Community for wider circulation.

30

What is the future ?For sustaining Marathi language,

informing Marathi community, and keeping the community closer

across North America, BMM Newsletter in format(s)

suitable for various age-groups, is essential communication tool.