Hello everyone,

General:
I'm not going to talk about welcoming people to anything new because I sincerely hope that the 'join' between Olaf's stewardship and mine will not be noticed. Olaf spoke in mailing 13 of last season about my introducing 'variations'. I hope these will be thematic and not structural. Moreover, I must say that I am somewhat nervous and hope that I can maintain the high standard that Olaf has set in keeping us together and helping us enjoy our writing.

This mail is, maybe, longer than it might be but as we begin a new season, I think it right that some of the mores (I'll not use the word 'rules') are restated. I'm in the process of finalising the programme for season five with individuals and the challenge rota will follow as soon as possible. In addition to the round of challenges, I'm hoping that there will be another long story and a Christmas Challenge. Neither of these will count towards the overall season winner.

May I also ask everyone to be circumspect with their own circulars to alpha-people. During the summer, there's something of an open season for folks to send round things that don't normally fit into the programme – with the understanding that readers might decide to ditch whatever-it-is without even opening it! But I would hope that we all remember that some people (for reasons nothing to do with alpha) can get overwhelmed with mails – let alone ones that are, perhaps, superfluous. And then there are those people still on dial-up (including me after the chaos with France Telecom/Orange/Wanadoo, which is still causing me grief) for whom every mail costs real money over and above their subscription. Okay, enough said…

I hope that you've all had a good summer. I can tell from the emails circulating that you're getting itchy fingers for the new season of writing. And (last time I'll mention it) thanks to all for your understanding while my internet continues to be problematic. And if it's any consolation to those of you who have had a wet summer, it rains in south west France too!

Membership:
My thanks for the responses to my summer mails. It has helped me get a grip of who you all are and how committed you are to the group. It's also helped me get all details up to date.

So the recipients to this mail, as listed at the head, are who we are for season five – and the mail addresses are also as you have them. Included is Teresa, a new member for this season who I've mailed and is looking forward to joining us.

Teresa: please add her to your address list.

I'm also in negotiation with another possible new recruit. Olaf has received several enquiries lately from people wanting to join us, including one who says that if there's a group of people waiting then he'll set up a splinter group! Cheeky monkey… The second person (not this subversive) would bring us back to our previous maximum number. I'm in the same camp as Olaf (and many of you) in wanting a maximum group size and that would be it. If my conversations go to plan, I'll send you details of this second new person.

We've lost Ann and Di for quite diverse reasons. I certainly hope we don't lose touch with either and that, maybe, they'll be back with us at some stage. There could also be a gap in Betty's participation. I have no further information about her progress but will write now our best wishes to you, Betty, and we hope to see you back with us soon.

Sally has agreed to continue to manage our website and it would be good if everyone submitted a mug-shot and pen portrait (and in some cases, offered an update. When did I have that little amount of grey hair?). Now I know some folks don't like having their mug-shot on public display but a pen portrait? That can't be so difficult…

Christine is managing the Log. In advance of Alphaday 1, could anyone with anything to say please make sure such info is with Christine in good time. I know she'll send out subsequent reminders without me barging in.

Thanks for that, if you would be so kind.

Alpha Days:
This season the Alphadays are (as ever) all Thursdays and will be:

Sept 18, Oct 9, Oct 30, Nov 20, Dec 11, Jan 8, Jan 29, Feb 19, March 12, April 2, April 23, May 14, June 4.

The sharp-eyed will have spotted that we slide a week round Christmas. Whilst the prospect of sending a newsletter out on January 1st might appeal to some, I thought the chances of it being read and acted upon (as well as all the bits and pieces to do with the challenges) might be poor!

I view Alphadays as a way of keeping us all up-to-date with internal news and also anything that might be of interest to the others in the group. I'm not sure I have my ear to the ground as Olaf seemed to do, so if you hear anything that you think I should include in the Alphaday news, please tell me.

Challenges:
As we tried last year, I'm suggesting that people take responsibility for challenges. The dates for this are in the planner attached. Last season, there were one or two glitches with people not getting things and not realising there were things they should have got! So please contact the relevant challenge organiser (once I circulate the list) if you think things have gone astray.

As with last year, I'm including as many of you as possible in organising a challenge. And, as last year, some folks are intentionally exempt. I've dusted off my tea-cosy to pull out the name order but if the date I allocate doesn't suit for some vital reason, please let me know and I'll see if I can do some shuffling. Fuller details on Alphaday 1.

Judging:
I'd like everyone to judge the entries for each challenge which, like last year, should be circulated together. During season 4, there was a lengthy conversation about judging, which included the request for external assessors. However, unless there is a chorus to the contrary, I'm suggesting that we continue to judge internally.

As last year, you (as judge) have six marks to allocate. These must go to at least three entries. Unlike the Eurovision Song Contest, your votes should go to the ones you think best satisfy your own criteria for the challenge – along with any given criteria for that challenge. Last year there were one or two heated discussions about whether an entry had satisfied the criteria or not.

Not because I want to avoid the scrap but because I don't think I should be drawn into such things unless necessary; I will leave it to the challenge organiser to decide if a particular entry has missed the given criteria – and to make that observation when they send out the amalgamated entries. Again, referring back to last season's conversation, I think it should be the challenge organiser who makes the decision about meeting criteria and we accept in good faith what has been written and is then circulated.

Deadlines are an important part of this and, from an administrative point of view, I hope folks will do their utmost to meet the given deadlines for challenges.

So… Votes can be allocated in the following combinations:

4,1,1; 3,2,1; 2,2,2; 3,1,1,1; 2,2,1,1; 2,1,1,1,1; 1,1,1,1,1,1

The winner of any challenge would be the entrant who gains the most accumulated votes.

As ever, the results of every challenge will count towards determining the overall winner for the year. Votes are not aggregated but POINTS will be given for those gaining the most votes in any challenge. The winner to get three points; the next two to get two points each; and the two after that to get one point each. In addition, all those taking part in the challenge will get a point.

Last season there was some debate about those entering but not voting. Although I know (only too well!) that things can get in the way of your plans, I'm going to restate that if you don't vote, you can't get any points for that particular challenge. However, the reverse is not true and even if you don't or can't enter, you can vote.

Finally, I know people appreciate comment about their writing. So I hope you will continue to offer helpful comments about entries along with your votes. The challenge organiser will assemble and distribute all the votes and comments each time. I'll then try to tot up the running totals…

I think that all of that, plus the chart below, will have everyone ready for season five. My best wishes to you and yours and I hope the best man wins this year (after the 'girls' winning so often!).

Best wishes

- David