I call our yearbook, YEARSBOOK

I graduated in 2007. The Yearbook Committee from our batch started collecting yearbook fees January 2007.

Up to now, I do not have a copy. Up to now, nothing has ever been printed.

It is 2011. My daughter can run, speak, sing and even shout at me when she's mad.

Do I have the right to be so annoyed and pissed off.

Of course yes.

There's this yahoogroups of our batch where members can read posts sent by any member. It is the perfect avenue to update people on what the f*ck is happening with the yearbook. Yes? Yes.

We have not received updates regarding it for MONTHS.

So I just have to ask the committee what's up.


This will be long. Bear with me.

Me:
Yearbook Committee,

Any updates?

If matagal ang Elan to process our request why not look for another? It may not be that simple but we have all the right to pull out our order. As mentioned in the previous thread, nakaline up pa yung pang 2008 or whatever year ang nakaline up, I think it will be very stupid for us to believe Elan's excuse.

We have all the right to remove the order from them since they can't keep up with their promise.

Just my thoughts.

I would be very happy if one of the organizers will care to reply or update this thread.

Everybody has the right to know what's up.

Thank you.

Committee Member:

Hello xxxxx, everyone,

I hope all is fine and well for all you guys.

I just had a phone conversation with the owner of Elan regarding our yearbook. The thing is that we're now second on queue sa production. They're finishing up with one more YB and then we're going to mass print. We're not posting updates so often since we do not have anything to really update you guys with.

Yes, it is our right to pull out our order and look for someone else to print this. In fact, I have contemplated on this idea before. In order to do that, we and Elan have to settle for how much of our payment will be refunded for the printing. This'll not be an easy task since we already consumed part of the package fee with our grad pictorials, printing, framing, as well as other stuff like the grad banners and tshirts. We can pull out but I'm afraid that it'll just put us on a financial disadvantage that may ultimately lead to not having the YB printed at all. Plus, of course, it'll consume a lot of time to move from one printing office to another, which the committee members cannot afford to give right now.

I hope I made that clear enough.

Again, I personally apologize for this. I know you may feel that we are not acting promptly and diligently regarding this concern. I just hope you guys understand that the committee members all have busy lives to deal with, just like the rest of us. We are begging for your utmost consideration and patience.

Thank you very, very much.

Best Regards,
xxxxxxx

Me:

xxxxxx,

Thank you for the quick response. I think the group has been considerate enough to actually wait up to 4 years just for the yearbook to be printed. More so, we understand that the committee members are also busy with their own personal lives.

However, I think that it is an invalid excuse to not update the group for
several months. And If I am not mistaken, the committee was also out of the loop for years. It was only in 2009 or 2010 when this group became active in
discussing about the updates on YB.

The fact that we are 2nd in production is an update enough for us. After
all, we have the right to know it. So thank you for that.

I just hope that Elan has already given you a timeline as to when is the ETA of the YB. I don't want to wait another 4 years for this.

Also, Elan and the committee should have a WRITTEN agreement on
what will be the mutually acceptable timeline for both parties.

Mutually acceptable to me is that I want to get a copy of the YB this year.
I don't know with the others though.

Thank you for the good work.

Forgive me for being frank.

Committee Member:

xxxxxx, Everyone,

Thanks for the response. Your frankness is welcome and needed.

Regarding the queue update, I just got it today from Elan. I check them
every once in a while to see the progress. They'll tell me how long the
queue is, usually. We do not relay those types of info to you guys since we
feel that it's really irrelevant since our next milestone is to actually be
on printing, and ultimately, to finish publishing. I guess, I just thought
wrong that you guys are not concerned with the queue status.

Last time though, I gave the contact info of Elan. I believe that some ofyou actually contacted them personally and got the same thing that I've been telling you guys for months now. We're in a waiting line.

In terms of not updating you guys regularly, we're very sorry. Again, it's
something we hesitate to do when we do not have anything significant to
offer. But some of you usually pm, email, or text me for updates. I promptly
reply to those queries, as far as I can remember. Though I just give them
the same thing that I say on group emails.

Elan told me that we're going to hit the big printers this March. I am
supposed to visit their office next week but I rescheduled it to this
Saturday, to make things a little quicker.

We will be pushing Elan to finish everything this first half of the year.
Granted that I keep on getting updates from them since last year, and some
of you already contacted them personally, I know that they already feel the
pressure of actually delivering as soon as possible.

Thank you, once again.

Me:
Hello xxxxx,

The additional written agreement can be very simple. I think there is an
impetus for us to do this because they have been breaching the contract
already (I hope there is a contract or an agreement to begin with). In fact,
we are being so kind for giving them this much time to print a freaking
yearbook of how many people? 100? 150? We are not asking them to print the
graduates of the whole university. Are we?

If I may suggest, the statement can be as simple as this.

"There was a delay in the printing of the yearbook of_____. The group is
eager to see the end result and the timeline that the group is giving "Elan"
is 8 months from the date this agreement has been executed. Failure to
comply will result to a 50% discount to the outstanding balance owed by the
group "

OR

"There was a delay in the printing of the yearbook of_____. The group is
eager to see the end result and the timeline that the group is giving "Elan"
is 8 months from the date this agreement has been executed. Failure to
comply will force the group to pull out the account and ask for a 100%
refund "

I'm sure the committee will be able to agree on the terms but please give
them a deadline. Of course we can make the agreement formal and
legal-sounding. We are the customers and we have all the right to give them
the deadline. Whether marami silang piniprint.

Nothing will happen if we are just going to be passive about the whole
thing. Forcing them just by talking and not have a binding agreement will
result to nothing. Even if we complain, wala tayong habol.

As you mentioned, they don't have clients anymore, and us pulling the
account from them is suicide for Elan.

If you need help on the agreement, I can help you on it. But believe me,
walang mangyayari kung puro usap usap lang sa kanila.

Thank you.

Committee Member:

Hello xxxxxx, Everyone,

Thank you for your suggestions.
Come Saturday, when I get to personally meet Elan's owner, I will demand
for something more solid than mere promises and words. I will see to it that
your ideas be taken into consideration. Until then, I have nothing more to
offer to you guys.

I will let you know on Saturday the results of our discussion with Elan.
Again, thank you very much.

Committee Member's Friend:

Guys, wala tong input sa progress ng YB pero just to give roj credit, he
volunteered for this responsibility (i think na no choice din siya in a way)
and is not being paid for his time and efforts (including his trips to elan
and YB meeting spots). i'm a close friend and I know that he always has this
at the back of his head while the rest of us live our lives without much
worry. So what am I saying... but just be a bit more understanding and tone
down a bit on the emails. :) or if you have something stronger to say, you
can always PM him.
Of course, suggestions and help are very welcome.

Me:

xxxx,

Thank you. We hope we'll receive a very good feedback from Elan and that the
result will be favorable to our group.

Everyone,

I believe that the emails sent to this group are not in any way to bring down an individual or the committee per se. If you find it strong and frank, then I guess the committee has to deal with it after all, I think there are a lot of people who have the same sentiments like I do. It just so happens that someone must step up and ask about it so everyone will be informed.

Moreover, I think that this group has been created to have an open discussion on what is really happening on the YB. Everyone is free to give suggestions,recommendations or even puna as to how slow this endeavor is or has become.

I also think that the YB committee has done a good job the fact that the yearbook is already on queue. But as suggested, we should be proactive and strict to Elan to give us the deliverables ASAP after all we paid for it.

Just my thoughts.

Thanks

Committee Member:

Hello xxxxx, Everyone,

I just came from Elan to discuss the issues we have for the yearbook. Our YB is already in the printing press but is still on hold for printing since they are working on another one, due to finish this month. We will be prioritized in the production starting next week. Printing will start between first and second week of March. Binding, covers, and other print-related tasks will be done by the last week of April and we will be able to distribute by the 1st week of May.

I pointed out our option of writing a binding agreement for this time table to make sure that it will be followed. They said that we can do it but given that we are already right there on top of the priority queue, it may not be necessary to do so.

They have gave their word that they will follow the time table strictly. I am opting to give them the last chance. I will closely monitor production starting next week and if I see that we are getting delays again, we will opt to write that binding agreement.

So there you have it, we are aiming for a May release for this. I'll just keep you posted with the progress.

I hope you're all OK with this. Please feel free to email your comments and concerns. And to those who still have outstanding balances, please pay up. :P

Thanks a lot!

Me:

xxxxxxx,

Thank you for the update. Now that's good news. I still would want to push for a written agreement though. But if your decision is not to do it then I am fine by it.

Thanks!

-------End of thread-------

Eh di biglang nagkaron ng update at ng date of release. Goodness, why wait for someone to send a frank email and insist the opinion of the majority. Call me rude but I am sorry. I want my money's worth. I want to see my picture when I was slimmer. And I want a freaking yearbook!!!!

And by the way, you volunteered for that responsibility, panindigan mo.

Just saying.

Xoxo,
Me!