We're making some changes starting with this issue. Rising prices have been responsible for this development. We had some choices, raise subscription prices, which have remained the same for over ten years now, send the magazine out bulk rate, which would reduce our biggest expense, postage, or go on-line with MMA.

Not to worry! First of all, for the foreseeable future, the price will remain the same. Secondly, when we used to use bulk rate postage, it saved about 80 cents in postage per magazine. That's a huge savings but the problem is that we had complaints from subscribers west of the Mississippi not getting their copy for up to three weeks. Many other folks complained of the shape of MMA upon arrival. Apparently, bulk mail takes quite a beating. Thirdly, with first class, if MMA is undeliverable (and you wouldn't believe the number of people who move and don't notify us,) it gets returned to us, with bulk rate, it just gets thrown out.

The last option is intriguing going on-line with MMA. I realize from many conversations with readers that MMA is frequently read in bathrooms across America, but I would like to know how many of you would prefer to get MMA on line at a reduced price. This would eliminate postage and many of you seem to be getting all your information on-line anyway. We would do both, the printed copy and the on-line version for those that would prefer it. Let me know! Before we go on-line, there are many obstacles to be worked out. I think the fall issue would be the target for this option.

We will go from 32to 28 pages. Howeve4, there will be no change in content for MMA, the same writers, columns, photos etc. What we will do is put two photos on a page rather than one.

I would like to thank Tom Chisolm for his generous donation to MMA. Every little bit helps.

And lastly, congratulations to the class of 2012 inductees to the MA Band & Drum Corps Hall of Fame. It's quite an impressive group starting with Denise Bonfiglio, Al Bourgeois, Bernard Boyle, Joanne Dodge, Anne Fields, Bob Jennings, Terry Keenan, Don Mac Taggart, Jerry Noonan, Gene O'Brien, Bill Solari, Peggy Twiggs and Al Yesue.

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