24 September Kickoff: Format & Roles

Map

Leila Chen, Tomas Reed, and Imani Brooks met on 24 September 2026 to decide what the fictional Alder Quay Bulletin must be before drafting Issue 1. This is the kickoff decision record, not a claim that any venue or story has already been confirmed.

Decisions and reasons

  1. Launch Thursday, 5 November; repeat every other Thursday. A predictable fortnightly rhythm gives the small team time to check practical notices rather than filling a weekly issue with unverified material. Leila will reassess the cadence after the first issue.
  2. Publish a concise email with a matching two-page print edition. The email should be scannable in about three minutes. Print keeps essential dates, places, and next steps available to readers who do not use the email. The library and community hall are proposed pickup points until Tomas obtains their agreement.
  3. Separate approval from production. Leila owns editorial accuracy, contributor permissions, and final approval of the exact release version. Tomas maintains the source-and-consent ledger, assembles both formats, and manages the send and print drop-off. Imani reviews actual email and print proofs for readability and access before release; her findings must be resolved, not merely filed.
  4. Cap the first print run at £120. Tomas must request a quote and confirm stocking permissions before choosing quantities. The team will reduce the run if necessary rather than silently raising the budget.

Follow-up agreed at the table

  • Leila, by 8 October: Define the first-issue sections and a short invitation for contributions, with separate permission for names, quotations, and images.
  • Tomas, by 12 October: Ask the library and community hall whether they will stock copies, where they can be placed, and how many each can take; obtain a print quote.
  • Tomas, by 19 October: Keep a source ledger for each proposed item, including the verifying contact, date checked, and publication-permission status.
  • Imani, by 26 October: Test the assembled email on a phone and without images, and read the print proof at actual size; send specific fixes to Tomas.
  • Leila, by 2 November: Sign off the corrected version or hold any unsupported item. A team-only test email is not permission for a public send.

Open risk

A pickup point may decline, or a useful notice may not be verified in time. Neither should be described as confirmed in Issue 1. The 28 September planning record narrows the candidate stories; the Production & Distribution branch owns the release checklist.