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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 13, 1986
MAIL PROCESSING UPDATE
REPEAT CALLERS; BULK LIT DISTRIBUTION; POSTCARDS;
MR. TKACH'S VISITS; STD BROCHURE
Repeat Callers
We are encouraged to report that there is an increase in
calls from people who are already on our mailing list. To illustrate, on
the weekend of April 12-13, 56 percent of those who responded were on our
files, while 44 percent were calling for the first time. By contrast, in
January 1986, only 30 percent of the callers had previously contacted us.
This trend demonstrates that more and more people are taking a serious
interest in "The World Tomorrow" program. Like daily radio a few years
ago, the telecast is becoming a powerful feeding tool and is helping to
bring viewers along.
The wide variety of subjects covered in recent
programs and the new literature being offered are also important reasons
for the increase in repeat callers.
Bulk Lit Distribution
New members continue to ask if it would not be more
economical to distribute literature to them through the local chµrches
rather than mail it directly. Although the idea appears to be a good one
on the surface, bulk distribution of literature poses a nu·
mber of
problems.
The logistics of delivering our numerous publications to each member at
church services would be extremely complex. For example, some people are
unable to attend each week because they're ill, on vacation or traveling.
Some are shut-ins. A few are unable to attend on a regular basis because
of distance, bad weather or other circumstances. These members would have
to wait to pick up their literature days or weeks later, or have it mailed
to them by the local minister or someone he may appoint.
A designated person in each local area would have to be responsible to
receive and distribute the literature.
This could become a mammoth
project that would involve a great deal of time and work on the Sabbath.
For headquarters to keep track of the exact amount of literature to send
to each church area would be a time-consuming task.
No matter how
carefully we plan, there would always be too few or too many pieces sent
to most church areas. There is also the problem of members being away for
several consecutive Sabbaths during the Feast of Tabernacles.
We have found that mailing is more economical. For example, we recently
mailed a booklet to all U.S. members at a cost of $3,600. If the booklet
had been bulk shipped, the freight costs alone would have been about
$4,000.
Labor for preparing the shipments would add another $600,
bringing the total to $4,600.
Clearly, the best way to distribute our publications is to mail them
directly to each member.
Postcards
About two years ago, Mr. Armstrong approved the use of
postcards to replace certain form letters used in Mail Processing.
Postcards are used only for short, routine messages, which are not of a
personal nature, such as information on what literature is available.