No need to panic! Join the MABC Task Force and help take action at this critical time. The first meeting is Feb 9, 5:30-7:30 at 2608 Granville Street (Transcontinental boardroom).

Please RSVP if you would like to attend.

If you would like to join the Task Force but cannot attend this meeting, please email Stacey McLachlan at smclachlan@westernlivingmagazine.com

Task Force Key Goals:

Grant Proposals and Partnerships
o   Research underexplored funding/revenue opportunities
o   Identify possible interdisciplinary partnerships
o   Assist with writing/submitting grants/proposals for association.

Friendraising and Sponsorship
o   Identify individuals outside our membership who benefit from the association for possible friendships
o   Explore internal and external sponsorship opportunities and contributors (in terms of time, knowledge, connections, and financial support)
o   Consider public/private philanthropy efforts to raise our profile
o   Map out fundraising and revenue-generating opportunities to ensure association’s short-term survival and long-term capacity building.

Board/Committee Recruitment and Development
o   Identify the skill sets and expertise needed for both the Board and various committees
o   Recruit individuals from various publications with relevant/unique skills (MABC membership is not a requirement to serve on a committee)
o   Provide new Board and committee members with a mission-driven orientation
o   Create an Advisory Committee or Council with leaders in other industries or needed experts (e.g. law, accounting, PR).

Advocacy
o   Identify key decision-makers at municipal/provincial/federal levels of government
o   Respond as industry representatives to positive/negative changes in policy
o   Develop long-term strategic plan for continued and sustained advocacy
o   Increase visibility and benefits of MABC membership.

Letter from the MABC Board: Call for Action
The Magazine Association of BC needs your help

CPF Funding Update
The Department of Canadian Heritage has rejected both of MABC’s applications for funding. In a letter dated Jan. 12/12, Ramzi Saad, Director, Periodical Publishing Policy and Programs, Cultural Industries, stated that our applications did not meet “The Government of Canada’s ongoing objectives … to fund projects designed to deliver measurable and tangible results, to optimize available funds, and to meet the needs of Canadians.”
 
The two applications in question:
Industry Investment (II): $125,020
Industry Market Research:  $26,675
Total:  $151,694
This sum constituted most of our working budget for the next few months. (See the list after this letter for applications details.)
 
(In a Jan. 10 conversation Executive Director Sylvia Skene had with CPF representatives, they emphasized that the Collective Initiatives fund was to offer one-time funding for new projects. Since we are concerned that our planned projects did not meet their requirements, and to ensure future applications conform to the guidelines, we have requested a meeting with Minister James Moore or one of his senior aides as soon as possible.
 
Operating Money Low
We now face a seriously depleted cash reserve, and existing resources will only keep our doors open for a few more weeks. There were projects within both applications that we did not start. Unfortunately, other projects needed some up-front spending and incurred administration costs during the wait between the CPF application deadline and their decision, particularly MagsWest 2011 and the BC Ferries initiative. Projects rejected cannot reapply for funding, nor can we claim for any funds already spent. If we wish to continue any of these projects, we will have to find funding outside the CPF.
 
Programming Continues
There is some good news. We have funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and Magazines Canada to offer our professional development conference on March 23rd and 24th, as well as generous financial support from Access Copyright for our popular Mag Scene on Main event (formerly known as the Main Street Magazine Tour). Our Executive Director is mapping out new projects and sourcing future revenues, and her work to date has the complete confidence and support of the Board.
 
A New Strategy
Last week, the Board of Directors met to plan for the survival, and the future, of our organization.
 
And now we turn to you, our members. As a member-driven association, our true value isn’t measured in money, but in our people. Our Board is refocusing on the collective nature of MABC, and will continue to work towards becoming a self-sustaining organization by first fostering relationships with our membership.
 
We believe that our ultimate goal is to make the BC magazine industry the strongest in Canada. But we can’t do it alone. How can you get involved?
 
1. We need enthusiastic and committed Board members who aren’t afraid of tackling a funding crisis, and we need them now. Experience is valued, but so is gumption.
 
2. We need go-getters and experienced members to be part of a Task Force. The Task Force will form for a maximum of 3 months to problem-solve in 4 key areas: grants/partnerships, fundraising/sponsorships, Board/Committee recruitment/development, and advocacy (more details are below). Our first Task Force meeting will be held on February 9th at 5:30 pm in the Western Living magazine boardroom. Please sign up here. If you can’t attend this meeting but would like to join, please email us.
 
3. We need every one of you to contact your MP about the importance of the BC magazine business and the ongoing role that MABC plays in supporting your publication and the industry in general.
 
A Common Goal
It’s the Board’s view that our current predicament is a chance to rebuild from the ground up. We’ll be calling upon you, our members, to ask questions, get involved, and guide us through this time of transition. We’ll be reaching out to many of you directly in the weeks ahead for your input on specific issues and activities.
 
Whatever your reasons for joining MABC, we all share the desire for our magazines to thrive. We believe that with your participation, the Magazines Association of British Columbia can help our industry flourish.
 
Thank you for your support.
 
The MABC Board
Steve Ceron, President
Jenn Farrell, Treasurer
Stacey McLachlan, Secretary

Notes
The CPF Collective Initiatives Industry Investment grant application targeted the following activities for funding:
1.     Bursaries *
2.     Internship Initiative
3.     MagsWest 2011 (held this June) *
4.     Magazine directory (for 2012)
5.     News Group / BC Ferries (July/11-June/12) *
6.     School Curriculum Development (to suggest BC magazines for particular courses)
7.     Direct Mail Phase 2 (subscription campaign based on report)
8.     Circulation Boost Phase 2
* significant funding already spent or owed
 
The Industry Market Research grant application was to support Rowland Lorimer, Canadian Centre for Studies in Publishing, SFU researching and writing an update to the 2005 report, The Heterogeneous World of British Columbia Magazines, along with a current snapshot of the industry in BC (market, infrastructure, digital & print opportunities).

(Original picture copyright Allie Brosh, hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com)