Flare! Editor Needed

Unfortunately, Michael has had to step down from his position as FLARE! Editor. He has been instrumental in re-shaping Flare! into the dynamic publication it is today and we wish him well.

We are in need of a new full-time FLARE! Editor. If you have the following skills and would like to help the IBC, please consider becoming our new editor.

Our new Flare! Editor would require the following skillset:

• Approximately 20-40 hours per issue to spare. This is an average estimate and can often require more time (depending on the issue content and committee participation). This time is, however spread out over many weeks and is not required to be done in one sitting. Organizing the files throughout the two months of an issue are included. Actual assemblage time depends on how many changes there are from the last issue and what new submissions for articles, pictures, and shows have come in.

• Organizational Skills. A great deal of the work in FLARE! is keeping track of incoming submissions.

• Analytical skill. We get numerous different files from many talented people. In addition to keeping track of everything, they all have to fit into the FLARE! framework.

• A knowledge of the English Language. While our membership in the IBC is from all over the world, the bulk of our files and information are still currently in English. (We do accept and encourage submissions in other languages for articles and show information!)

• Word Processing Skills. Flare! must be put together as a coherent whole, which involves knowing the software you’re using and how to work with it.

What is involved in putting together a FLARE!?

• Soliciting articles and photos (99% of the time, they won’t just appear in the lead up to publication).

• Proof-reading the articles and submissions (they’re not always print-ready, some copy-editing will be required).

• Getting the required information from the various IBC members (A list of all required elements for the FLARE! will be provided – you just have to make sure it all gets in, which often requires emails and follow-ups).

• Putting everything gathered together in print-ready format (I’ve also put together a file for this as there are multiple items that have to be considered in a publication).

• Posting a web-quality color version pdf of the FLARE on the Official IBC Website (with the assistance of the WebTeam).

FLARE! comes out quarterly and we have to get the information to the printer usually about two weeks before publication. This is particularly important for any Judging Board changes to show seasons and for the elections before convention.

For Software, technically, any FLARE! Editor can use what they like to get the job done. Traditionally, we generally stay inside the larger commercially available programs so that others can quickly take over if needed, no training required.

1. Adobe inDesign. The main portion of the newsletter is currently compiled in inDesign. It’s a common program that editors have been able to use fairly easily. Current version preferred, however previous versions can also be used without too many problems.

2. Microsoft Excel. We don’t use Excel directly in FLARE!, however a great many of our files come in with Excel (show results, membership and judges lists, etc) and we need to be able to open and work with them. Open Office and Google Sheets will probably work as well.

3. Adobe Acrobat Professional. This is a requirement so that we can send publication-quality pdfs to the printer. Also required for creating the ballots each year. There are other software programs that can do publication-quality pdfs, however make sure they really are publication quality and that you also have the ability to manipulate within the pdf. (Covers are pdf’d separately from content, and they need to be combined at the end.)

4. Adobe Illustrator and/or Photoshop or other professional quality picture software. We need to be able to manipulate and work with the photos that members send in. Also, the cover is usually of such high quality that it is done separately from the rest of the newsletter (file is too large otherwise).

Please consider being the new Editor of FLARE! Share your love for the hobby and make the world a Better place. Michael and the Flare! Committee are more than happy to answer any questions and will assist where they can.

If you would like to apply for the Flare! Editor position or have questions, please email: volunteer@ibcbettas.org