Fun Fact: Sunviews not distributed in Sun City Independent

RCSC stopped delivering Sunviews with the Sun City Independent in January, 2021. They have also watered it down since then. It was much thicker in 2018 when I moved to Sun City.

I made an inquiry to RCSC as to why. I faxed in the Request for Review of Corporate Documents into the RCSC on March 4, 2021. I asked for Financial Records showing the cost of production and distribution for each month in 2020. I wanted the numbers broken out by month, since Sunviews is a monthly publication. I told them I wanted to understand the cost savings for 2021 by changing the distribution to fewer copies on tables in the Rec Centers.

I did receive a written response on March 11, 2021 from Jan Ek.

Annual Cost for 2020, $26,800.
Independent New Pricing (for insert) $44,238. (significant increase)
Independent Pricing if part of the newspaper (not an insert) $36,000.

I contacted the Independent and found out that circulation is 23,700 (March 2021).

In any event, I would be surprised if there are 2,500 copies printed and distributed in the Rec Centers.

RCSC is relying on PDF Distribution (By email notice) and their Website and printed copies in the rec centers. I would expect at most a few thousand downloads. Nothing even close to 23,700 printed copies delivered to the home.

The RCSC operating budget is $15 million. $28,600 is 0.18% of the budget. $44,238 is 0.29% of the budget.
This shows the VALUE that RCSC places on Communication with the Membership.

To an individual, saving 15-20 thousand dollars is a lot. To the corporation, its not even pocket change.

 

Fascinating numbers Michael. I hated when they dropped the printing and distribution in the paper and went in-house delivery to rec centers only. You are right...it speaks volumes as to how important they believe communication is to the membership. For many, the delivery via the Independent was the only contact they have with the rcsc. Dumb and in the dark appears to be the newest game in town.

 

In the words of Duncan Idaho (Dune), I believe they exist in Vast numbers.