How we are organised

The Elmbridge and Runnymede Talking Newspaper (EaRTN) is run by three main groups which are:

1. The Executive Committee
2. The Production Working Group
3. The Magazine Working Group

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Elmbridge and Runnymede Talking Newspaper (EaRTN) has been managed by an Executive Committee since it’s formation in December 1975. This consists off the statutory officers of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, plus functional officers including the Managing Editor, Technical Officer, and Public Relations Officer; representatives from each of the five Rotary Clubs that helped to form and continue to support it and a representative of the listeners. In practice nowadays, the actual management functions are vested in a Managing Editor, Secretary and Treasurer. In addition, others were and are co-opted from time to time as necessary.

The day to day running of the newspaper used to be in the hands of one person, the Managing Editor, which not only made his task very onerous, but also left the organization at risk, as there was no programme of management development or succession planning.

In January 2001, in an effort to overcome these problems, the Production Working Group (PWG) was formed to manage the day-to-day affairs.

PRODUCTION WORKING GROUP (PWG)

This first met on 20th February 2001 and its mission statement was ‘to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the production, presentation, duplication and distribution of the newspaper.’

These responsibilities cover all aspects of these functions with the exception of fund raising and sponsorship. It identifies the need for new equipment and other items of expenditure but it does not have power to spend EaRTN funds other than that delegated to it by the Executive Committee.

It also represents the views of the volunteers and listeners to the Executive Committee as well as putting into effect any measures, not involving expenditure, that it felt necessary to improve the efficient running of the newspaper.

This committee, which meets regularly, has made a considerable impact on the successful running of the newspaper since its inception.

MAGAZINE WORKING GROUP (MWG)

Although the newspaper was formed in 1975, it was not until 1996, with its re-launch as the Elmbridge and Runnymede Talking News, that the decision was taken to issue a separate monthly magazine instead of including it on side 2 of the weekly news tape. The magazine contains items of general interest, in contrast to the local news digest format of the weekly newspaper.

The Monthly Magazine was originally the sole responsibility of the Editor. This was due to the problems of obtaining sufficient suitable material coupled with the weight of his other responsibilities.

One effect of the formation of the PWG was to introduce fresh blood and new ideas into the management of the organisation. As a result, joint Editors Hugh Read and Sid Stone revived the magazine, with the first edition of the new format being issued in February 2002.

It was obvious for the new venture to be a success, a regular supply of new material would be needed to issue a monthly 90-minute cassette. Encouraged by the success of the PWG, it was decided to form the MWG, which had its inaugural meeting on 23 rd January 2002. This committee now meets regularly and is the source of new and original material in addition to assisting generally with the running of the magazine.