Being a part of the Toyon staff for the 2016-17 year feels like a great opportunity that I want to make the most out of. I am going to help make a piece of literature which is going to mean so much to myself and other individuals. Sure, there are thousands of other literary magazines in the world, and this issue is going to just add to that list, but that's not what is important. It doesn't matter how many lit mag's there are floating around in the world and that most people don't even know what these magazines are. What is important is that there are handfuls of people in the world who do love these magazines. The people who submit their work to these magazines are because of the people who read and produce them. They are the same kind of people who will understand what they are producing, versus a big time publisher. This creates a community both inside and outside of that magazine which in a way, becomes bigger and better than the most popular publishing company.
So with that said, I want to do the best job I can to make this issue of Toyon a great one. My position on the staff this semester is the internal communications manager. It is my responsibility to make sure that others on the staff know what we are doing for current and upcoming weeks. I'm going to do this by taking notes during our class meetings and then post what we have decided to do including when we want to do it by, on our class home page. These agendas will be posted the day after every class meeting. Along with posting our agendas, I will maintain our Google calendar with the days that members want to reserve our Toyon room in Humboldt States Founders Hall.
It is also my responsibility to make sure that the staff's Google drive is accessible, navigable and understandable to all staff members. Once a week, I will check to see if all folders and documents can be accessed. If there ever is a problem, I would email our staff instructor and try to help fix the problem.
Most importantly, I want to create a staff handbook throughout the semester for next year's Toyon staff. Inside of the handbook would include a number of sections. Firstly, I would give a summary of what Toyon is and a brief description of its history. There are some students that take this class and have no idea of what Toyon even is. If they had a handbook that would explain this to them in detail, it would give these students a better understanding of what they will become a part of. Next I want to have a section with all job descriptions. Having this job list inside of the booklet would be great for students to see all areas of what the staff does and how they come together. Another section I am thinking about adding-it depends how the semester goes- is a run-down of the editorial and production process. I think it would be good for students to have this so they are prepared on what to do (or at least have an idea) when the time comes for these jobs to be done. Lastly in the end of the handbook I want to include a common Q and A section. This way, if anyone has questions they need answers for, they can get them answered in the handbook.
So with that said, I want to do the best job I can to make this issue of Toyon a great one. My position on the staff this semester is the internal communications manager. It is my responsibility to make sure that others on the staff know what we are doing for current and upcoming weeks. I'm going to do this by taking notes during our class meetings and then post what we have decided to do including when we want to do it by, on our class home page. These agendas will be posted the day after every class meeting. Along with posting our agendas, I will maintain our Google calendar with the days that members want to reserve our Toyon room in Humboldt States Founders Hall.
It is also my responsibility to make sure that the staff's Google drive is accessible, navigable and understandable to all staff members. Once a week, I will check to see if all folders and documents can be accessed. If there ever is a problem, I would email our staff instructor and try to help fix the problem.
Most importantly, I want to create a staff handbook throughout the semester for next year's Toyon staff. Inside of the handbook would include a number of sections. Firstly, I would give a summary of what Toyon is and a brief description of its history. There are some students that take this class and have no idea of what Toyon even is. If they had a handbook that would explain this to them in detail, it would give these students a better understanding of what they will become a part of. Next I want to have a section with all job descriptions. Having this job list inside of the booklet would be great for students to see all areas of what the staff does and how they come together. Another section I am thinking about adding-it depends how the semester goes- is a run-down of the editorial and production process. I think it would be good for students to have this so they are prepared on what to do (or at least have an idea) when the time comes for these jobs to be done. Lastly in the end of the handbook I want to include a common Q and A section. This way, if anyone has questions they need answers for, they can get them answered in the handbook.
September 12, 2016