Fan Club Survey

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From: AUTOFORSE@aol.com
Full-name: AUTO FORSE
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 11:34:16 EST
Subject: Here's the Survey....

This survey will run in Auto-Update Transformers newsletter #76. There are 3 
prizes to the survey for anyone who responds to it via snail mail or 
email...Read on to see what you can win:

Issues of the TransMasters fanclub (if there is a fanclub left at this point) 
have come up recently. The question has been brought up of how to get the 
club into the swing of things? What can we do to promote it and to raise it 
from the ranks of obscurity? These points are well taken and have not fallen 
on deaf audo receptors...I have pondered these same things as of late. So 
here is the first step, I am creating  this poll for starters to ask you fans 
what  YOU want. I will put this in my newsletter and send it via email to 
some fans I know of (Thanks, Screamer, for helping me) in the hopes of making 
a change for the better out of the conscensus of opinions.

WHAT YOU WIN: All fans who answer this survey will be entered into a contest 
to win 1 of three prizes: #1- Machine Wars Starscream....mint in the box, A 
good toy even if he is a recolored UK Skyquake. #2 A standard size new Beast 
Machines toy... It will be a random choice so who knows which one it will be 
until I announce results. #3 Finally, a copy of the British Transformers 
comic #1....it may be in so-so condition but it's #1 afterall and is 16 years 
old. All 3 prizes will be picked out by an outside source not entered in the 
contest. Results will be posted via email to fans who I have email addresses 
of...those who don't will see results posted in Auto-Update and results will 
be available from me for a Self-addressed-stamped-envelope as well. Deadline 
is  Friday April 14th 2000 you may send answers and opinions to: 
Fate Of The TransMasters c/o
Tony Buchanan
1215 S Andrews Rd
Yorktown IN 47396-1002
Or Email: AUTOFORSE@aol.com
Thanks and good luck!.........And Now the SURVEY:
#1 Do you think TransMasters (or any TF fanclub) should have an official 
newsletter
paid for by some sort of annual membership due?

#2 If an annual fee was instated, should it include address updates, 
letterhead, name tags or other such features? Any other ideas?

#3 How much would you expect to pay for this fee...what would be a reasonable 
figure and how often should the newsletter come out?

#4 Whould you participate in the fan scene more if such changes were made? 
I.E. send in your stories, drawings etc. to the fan media of choice and/or 
respond to a letters forum in the main newsletter for the club?

#5 Should special concessions be made for fans who are against or cannot 
really afford to pay an annual fee. Would you be for two levels of 
involvement...one where the fan gets their name and address on the club list 
and the other for full honor members being marked specially somehow so fans 
know they get the newsletter and are more involved (and would most likely 
answer their letters)etc. Not excluding any fan for any reason this way.

#6 Here's a fundemental question, should club members have to sign the 
typical club application/questionaire? I've always believed it helped us to 
know their knowledge, interests and sources and in turn allowed us to fill 
them in on what they were not aware of...where to complete their collections 
or produce their works. Is this something that should be kept or eliminated?  

#7 Organzing, running, producing a newsletter for, keeping track of medias 
and addresses etc. for a fanclub of any size is a big job for one person. 
Would you be willing to do any "community work" for the club? If so 
what...examples might include helping with a website, putting up flyers at 
local comic shops, helping with an official letterhead or member list etc.  
(The list goes on)

In truth this involvement in a fanclub is a never ending thing. It is a job 
you do out of your love for the mythos and hobby and for your appreciation 
and friendship with other fans like you. Fans don't get paid (and legally 
cannot) for this labor of love but we need all the help and support we can 
get. It's up to us to keep the spirit alive.  Will you let this fanclub 
exist? Will you help Keep it a reality? Even if the chance to get a free toy 
or comic is the only reason you are responding to this survey don't make this 
your only involvement in the fandom of TFs...keep your involvement and help 
dust off and reinvigorate a great club that was and IS TransMasters!!
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