Editor's Letter
by Jim Caldwell

Welcome to our first online ASMP Houston Newsletter! I tentatively dubbed it the ASMP Houston Webletter but am open to suggestions.

So why have we abandoned our printed newsletter? Cost mainly, but there are some other benefits which we think you'll appreciate. First of all, we're still going to use multiple methods to reach you about upcoming meetings, printed postcards or fliers and e-mails--make sure you're on the list.

After the excellent response to our ASMP Houston at the Millennium poster, the first color newsletter, we thought it might be time for a change. If you remember this request for images, the submissions were all electronic, mainly e-mail -- over half our members participated!

With almost all of you having e-mail and Web access now, and with our Web site actively managed again, the Board realized the possibilities. Our experience with this Millennium poster pointed the way.

A web newsletter has the advantage of minimal cost, expedited submission and handling via e-mail, expanded visual possibilities (like multiple images and color photos in every issue, maybe!), and permanent archiving of issues making them available to members and other interested visitors to our site. It will also refresh our Web site on a regular basis.

There are still some policy decisions to be made, about WebLetter advertising, issue frequency, photo essay content, new features, interactivity, want-ads, etc. What do you think? This is your chance to make a difference as we head into the brave new digital world.

Sincerely,

Jim Caldwell