As you all know by now this issue is about three months late due to problems with having CM #25 printed by the "free" arrangements. I intend to recover from this situation as quickly as possible, printing the next three issues of the 'zine on a monthly basis until I can get back on a regular, bi-monthly schedule. In the future, should the 'zine go out to another member to be printed, I'll keep a copy of the masters in case of emergency.

Starting with the next issue of the 'zine, the club directory will no longer be listed. Since the club is getting so large (hooray!) there is an apparent desire by a number of members concerning listing each member's gaming and hobby interests in greater detail than the small "Codes" section currently affords. Therefore the club's Secretary /Treasurer and I have decided to address this situation.

Each 'zine will feature a "Membership Services" page, on which will be listed the people to contact in order to obtain information about the club, information about the club's finances, activities the club has to offer, and the means by which to obtain it. This will facilitate the broader, more meaningful database concerning the individual members, and place all the responsibility for coordination under the Sec/Tres (where we both agree it should be). I've started this new item with this issue.

Last issue I asked for membership input concerning how to present the many different AD&D deities I've received (or expect to receive) for CM. I did so by framing a few key questions to receive some guidance from the club membership about the method of presentation and acceptance. My intentions were to get a consensus about the matter; my intentions were not to stifle creativity, nor impose my will or that of a majority upon any author or artist. Instead I was looking to see if the club membership wanted some sort of continuity to a pantheon of gods tied into the club's Crimsonvale town project.

In doing this I made an error, which Tim Morgereth cites in his letter in this issue's "Club Forum." Chain-Mail is not designed to necessarily present a uniform front, such as a TSR product might, but rather to share freely ideas and information. While I will adopt a specific method of presentation for anyone who submits a deity for publication, rest assured that you need conform only to the standard 'zine subn-dssion guidelines.

In my role as Newszine Editor, my job, as Webster defines it, is "one who edits," with edit being defined as "to alter, adapt, or refine especially to bring about conformity to a standard or to suit a particular purpose." I have striven to present an author's work as he or she intended it to be presented; I started the current procedure of sending out a draft copy ("galley") to each author for proofing before the article or submission sees print in order to assure that what was submitted is in fact printed. I do, however, also occasionally make alterations, adaptations, or refinements to make the sentences flow better (such as connecting two choppy sentences with an "and" to make them one longer, better sentence).

I generally highlight such changes or, if they are long enough to warrant it, send a separate page with the galley listing my suggested ideas and modifications for the author to consider. These suggestions are my opinions, as a reader and experienced writer, things which would make the submission clearer, more detailed, or simply read and/or appear better.

Most of the membership have apparently been pleased with this assistance and method, but of course no group is completely polarized to one opinion so that some have also objected to this. Therefore, to avoid problems in the future, I have decided (which I should have done long ago) to make all such suggestions on a separate page, in parallel with the original submission. This will permit the author to consider the suggested modifications versus his own method of presentation without confusion and without worry that I am infringing upon his creativity.

Regardless, I continue to assure all members that if you want your submission to be printed unaltered by anything or anyone, then you will most certainly have, and are entitled to having, it done according to your wishes. This is my unswerving policy. If you wish further clarification about this matter, please contact me directly. I want to make sure that no one feels unhappy, unsure, or uncomfortable with submitting works to CM to share with the club.

About three years ago I had a friend make up a silk screen template for club t-shirts. Many club members bought the original t-shirts, done simply in red ink on white shirts, and more bought the fancier, white tshirts with the logo done in full color airbrushing (the outline done in black ink). I'm offering the shirts to those who want them again, in time for summer. Refer to the insert to order yours today-this will likely be the last time t-shirts will be offered due to the fact that my friend is moving his business out of state.

In closing, a bit of bad news. I intend to resign (yes, it is a final decision this time) as Newszine Editor at the end of August, 1993. My new job, the fact that I want to devote more time to my social life and other activities, precludes me from spending the necessary quality time the 'zine needs.

Before resigning, I'm hoping to have the Crimsonvale Compendium finished and mailed out to all members by mid-August. I will have the 'zine back on schedule before then as well so that the next Editor won't have any additional burdens to worry about.

This issue has a great many interesting submissions, and I've spoken enough already, so on to them!

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