FROM THE EDITOR'S CAULDRON

After considerable deliberation and discussions with my wife, I decided to answer the call and accept the editorship of PROBEmoter. To me, it is an honor to be involved with this publication.

Over the years, there have been excellent editors, all of whom I've respected. Never did it occur to me that someday I might be standing at the helm. With your help, I will do my best to maintain the quality of information that has been a part of PROBEmoter.

One of the factors in my decision was gaining approval from the PROBE officers to pursue something that I feel is very important to the future of all bulletin editors: Bulletin Editors' Classes at all district COTS.

I am not going to use my position to promote and rail on a single issue; rather, the BE Classes at COTS will be approached as an ongoing commentary from all of us - you as members, PROBE officers and your editor.

On the inside back cover is a survey for bulletin editors to complete and mail to me. Please take the time to do this. If we want the Society to recognize and accept the importance of bulletin editors as conduits of information to their chapters, then your support and response to the survey is vital. Your information will be shared with PROBE officers, who will then work with the appropriate people who make the COTS decisions.

If Public Relations Officers are feeling left out, not true. Fortunately for you, PRO Classes are Society-sanctioned at COTS. Those classes are offered in block form that approach different topics.

Bulletin Editors Classes, from my experience, cannot be taught successfully in the block form. Creating a bulletin every month is different from sending out press releases and making a variety of other contacts, whether in person or printed.

In the case of new editors, they need all the time they can get at COTS in order to learn. Veteran editors need to review "old" information and learn new things to improve their know-how. Many areas of skills and professions have schools and seminars for ongoing education. I would like to believe that chapter bulletin editors are important enough to be included in this category! Why is the chapter bulletin important? Getting the word out! Many times during my tenure as chapter bulletin editor, members' wives approached me to say if it wasn't for the bulletin, they wouldn't know what was going on. Sad, but true, men aren't always the best at letting the women in on upcoming chapter events.

Several years ago, I surveyed chapter members to determine the effectiveness of chapter, district and Society publications. Most of the men read the chapter bulletin (which was mailed to their homes; thus, their wives also read it). Half of them read the district bulletin, but only a fourth read the Society magazine.

Kenosha and COTS, I rest my case.