President's Message - Reprinted from the Fall/Winter 2010 Merry-Go-Roundup

The Times They Are A-Changin'

By Bette Largent

You will be seeing some changes in the production of the Merry-Go-Roundup in the next few issues. Just as we have gone to a full color format, we have also made some changes in the way it is produced. We hope these changes will improve the efficiency in our communication with you and you with us. We also want the new format to be more informative as well as useful. Some changes are minor enough that you may not notice, others will be more obvious.

Often our challenges are in the actual physical mailing. We are now using a recyclable plastic bag and a bigger mailing address label. We may on occasion mail first class to make sure that the issues are forwarded, that our addresses are correct, and that you receive it in a timely manner.

We are going to go with a four member team in the editor position. Barbara Fahs Charles will become the Feature Editor producing special historical feature issues. An example of this was the special issue in 2009 of the Please Touch Museum restoration and installation of their Dentzel Carousel.

The regular production will be under the direction of a Managing Editor. Pat Wentzel will continue to do the Census printing so our members can have a copy in-hand. We do have the searchable census on the website which is often used by the general public around the world. As we stated in the previous printing, this managing editor position needs to be filled and anyone interested should contact me.

We will also be using a layout person who will prepare the information and photos for printing. This change is intended to improve the production process so that each issue is printed in the most cost effective and timely manner possible.

We have a new website address, nationalcarousel.org. It is easy to remember and to pass on to anyone interested in our carousels. Yes, we will retain the old web address as well. We can now also sign up new members on the website using credit cards. It has already proven to be successful in gaining new members. Webmaster Gary Nance has changed the website so the current news of our carousels is on the front page. The key for this enhancement is for you to keep in touch and be our reporters on the ground.

One of our most important functions is our grant program. A grant committee has been formed with Linda Linford Allen serving as chairman. All grant applications and actions will be handled by the committee and our goal is make it easier to help our operating carousels. And to make our grant program more visible to our members and our website visitors, we have added a list of grants we have made in the past to the website as well.

Just as we discover how our carousel industry in the past was quick to adapt to their current times and technologies, we felt the NCA as an organization must also do the same.

Bette Largent, President

The Times They Are A-Changin' by Bob Dylan, singer-songwriter, 1964, Columbia Records