News From Around the World

• UCG–Australia Develops Ambitious Media Plan
• UCG–Australia Hires Additional Staff Member
• British Isles National Council Meets in Gloucester

UCG–Australia Develops Ambitious Media Plan

On June 11 the budget and operational plans for the 2006-2007 financial year were approved by the UCG–Australia National Council.

The Australian media plan is particularly expansive in that, owing to the recent National Council decision to increase staff in the National Office (see article below), the target for adding new subscribers in the next financial year has been set at over 12,000. This is the first time that such an ambitious goal has been adopted.

Such a goal is realistic given the success of Internet advertising and the opportunities available to repeat some reliable print advertising initiatives.

When the proposal was presented in March, the media coordinator alerted National Council members to the fact that an almost twofold increase in new subscribers over the previous year would mean a proportional increase in literature requests, increasing the workload for the Mailing Department. The National Office manager assured National Council members that measures were in place to handle this increase.

The chairman of the Pastoral Committee commented that such an ambitious plan was an investment in the future growth of the Church.

Current Print Advertising

Along with various Internet ads, UCG–Australia has been using the following print advertising programs:

•Response Direct Publishing card deck drop of 600,000 in early May advertising The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy and offering a subscription to The Good News.

•Yellow Envelope drop of 100,000 reply-paid cards in northern Queensland in April. (The Response Direct Publishing deck drop covered most of the coast of Australia and the urban areas of Adelaide but missed northern Queensland.)

• Reader's Digest ad in the May edition to coincide with the release of the movie The Da Vinci Code and offering Jesus Christ: The Real Story and a subscription to The Good News. (An ad on the Internet referencing The Da Vinci Code is receiving over double the hits of any other topic advertised.)

—Excerpted from United News Australia, April-June 2006.

New Subscribers

2001-2002  6,538
2002-2003  5,662
2003-2004  6,004
2004-2005  9,232
2005-2006  7,200 (estimated)
2006-2007 12,160 (target)

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UCG–Australia Hires Additional Staff Member

At the March Australian National Council meeting, Allan Hambleton, National Office manager, made a presentation regarding the steadily increasing workload. He explained that the Good News subscriber list had increased from approximately 3,500 in 1995 to over 20,000 in total distribution today.

In addition to this sixfold increase in workload resulting from the growth in the GN subscriber activity and the development of multilevel subscriber development programs, activity on the Australian Web site has increased geometrically. This much sought after and pleasing growth in subscribers and responses from the Internet—and the administrative work associated with them—had caused a reassessment of the way these matters are currently being handled at the office.

Web Volunteer to Retire

As these systems were under consideration, Harold Ingham of the Melbourne East congregation, who has been donating many hours of his time each week to assist in developing the UCG–Australia Web site, Internet advertising programs and reporting systems, notified the staff that he planned to gradually phase out these responsibilities over the next 12 to 18 months.

After discussions it was agreed that, since the Web site has become such an important part of the media efforts and would likely become even more important in the near future, the prudent decision would be to transfer the Web site back into the National Office as Mr. Ingham recommended.

The National Council was informed that, even if one of the webmasters were not retiring, there was already a need for at least 15 hours of additional help.

Therefore it was recommended that Ruth Root, one of the co-webmasters, spend more time on Web matters and Internet advertising and delegate some of the more routine administrative office and Web site tasks.

New Employee Hired

The National Council agreed to add another person to the office staff and agreed that even after employing the additional person, giving a total of 31/ 2 office employees, the Australian National Office would be operating in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

Alisha Herold was hired in June to fill the new position. "We are very happy to have her," said Ruth Root.

—Bill Eddington

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British Isles National Council Meets in Gloucester

The National Council of UCG–British Isles met in Gloucester May 21.

Circulation report: Jan Schroeder reported that the circulation of The Good News is likely to rise with the resumption of UCGIA's Internet advertising.

Financial report: Barbara Fenney discussed a proposed budget for the financial year beginning July 1. After discussion, National Council members confirmed that the budget should be based on the principle of meeting the needs of the Church and its members first, and then using remaining funds to support the distribution of the GN and other literature. Once approved, the budget will be submitted for ratification at the annual general meeting July 16.

Young Adults' Leadership Week: The National Council reviewed details of the young adults' activity to be held July 21 and 28 near Mablethorpe. Council members confirmed their support and agreed to donate £800 from Church funds. Ministers and other adult leaders will be fully involved with the young adults in this activity, which is being organized by Hannah Ellams.

Gospel Cost Minimization proposal: The National Council considered a proposal from Church members in the Isle of Man for minimizing the costs of preaching the gospel that would involve Internet advertising on the Manxnet Web site. Those responding to the ad would be directed to online-only versions of GN articles. The Council referred this suggestion to its Media and Internet Committee to examine the technicalities and strategic and cost implications.

Feast 2006: Gerhard Marx reported that around 125 people had registered so far for the York Feast site.

Feast Site Selection: David Fenney reported on behalf of this committee, which is searching out potentially less expensive sites, such as caravan parks, especially where it may be possible for all Feastgoers to be housed on the site.

Media and Internet: Peter Hawkins reported for the committee on the effective use of Google ads and other items.

Strategic Planning and Finance: David Fenney reported on behalf of this committee. The report included:

•Suggestions for optimizing the running costs of the local congregations.

•Preliminary disaster recovery plans.

•A review of the impact of the Royal Mail's Pricing in Proportion scheme.

National Council members: As chairman, Bryan Ellams reported that Gerhard Marx, a ministerial member of the National Council, had decided to retire from the Council when his term expires at the annual general meeting. Council members offered a vote of thanks to Mr. Marx for his service to the Council since its formation in 1998.UN