Community Edition
Their past, in their hands again.
A newspaper from a year their family lived through. For residents to read, or for ready-made reminiscence sessions.
The two-week trial
1945 one week, 1969 the next, with everything for a session. The 1945 papers ship within 3 business days of your order, the 1969 papers a week later. After the trial, continue on a plan or stop.
- The 1945 and 1969 issues, 32 pages each
- A 30-minute session guide for each issue
- Read-aloud cards and a find-it sheet
- A handle-with-care note and take-home cards
One payment, no renewal. Full refund before your 1945 papers ship, half before your 1969 papers ship, none after. Questions? Ask us.
Where the Courier goes
Lobby and front desk
The new year on the counter, where residents pass every day.
Library
A fresh issue on the rack each week, beside the donated books.
Café and bistro
Something to read over coffee, and something to talk about.
Dining room
Copies on the tables on paper day.
What's in each week's box
Everything for one session. Nothing to plan, very little to print.
Printed copies
Used in the session, then back on the lobby rack for the rest of the week.
Session guide
A timed plan with a script, so there is nothing to prepare.
Big-type read-aloud cards
So a resident can read to the group.
Log and take-home card
Attendance in a minute, and something to share with families.
How a session runs
Community Edition comes with Courier Club, a 30-minute group session. The guide scripts the welcome and tells you what to do if things go quiet.
- Welcome3 min
- Story 110 min
- Story 210 min
- Find-it5 min
- Close2 min
Short on time, or running memory care? Every guide has a 20-minute version and a bedside version.
Works for everyone in the room
Every story comes with three ways in, so a resident who loves to talk and a resident who would rather point can both join.
- Open question
“If you'd picked up this paper that morning, what would you have done first?”
Anyone can answer in a sentence.
- Choice
“Celebrate in a crowd, or quietly at home?”
Pick one, out loud or by raising a hand.
- Point or thumbs
“Thumbs up if you'd read more.”
No words needed.
No quizzes on memory, no wrong answers. Residents find the answers in the paper.
The paperwork, handled
What you need for your records, your calendar and your executive director comes with every issue.
- One-minute participation logWho came, who joined in, who passed. Initials only.
- Calendar listing and newsletter paragraphCopy-paste ready, every week.
- A week-8 report for your executive directorBuilt from your logs, for orders of 25 or more copies or three or more sites.
Need a yes from upstairs?
A one-page summary for your executive director
What it is, what it costs, what it asks of staff, and how the decision to continue works.
See the email this opens
Subject The Erstwhile Courier Community Edition
Hello,
I found something that could work well for our residents: the Erstwhile Courier Community Edition. Each week a printed newspaper from one year of history goes out in our lobby and library, with a 30-minute session guide anyone on our team can lead.
For 10 copies a week it is $199 every 4 weeks, and we can cancel any time. It asks about 45 minutes a week if you run the session (5 to set out the paper, 5 to prepare, 30 for the session), or about 5 minutes if you only put the paper out.
The details and the 1945 session guide are here:
https://erstwhilecourier.com/community
Could we talk about trying it for two weeks?
Thank you,
Choose your copies
Every set includes the session guide. Copies are printed fresh each week. Cancel any time.
Starter · 5 copies a week
$109 every 4 weeks
$27.25 a week · $5.45 per copy per week
A small group, or the lobby and library.
Order 5 copies →Group kit · 10 copies a week
$199 every 4 weeks
$49.75 a week · $4.97 per copy per week
One weekly session, then the lobby.
Start 10 copies →Prepaid year
$2,388 for a year
Saves $199 on 10 copies
One payment, $4.59 per copy per week, against paying every 4 weeks for the first year. 5 copies: $1,308, saves $109.
Paid once, covered all year.
Prepay 10 copies →Prepay 5 copies →Larger sites and several buildings, invoiced
- Lobby and library · 25 copies$409 every 4 weeks, $4,923 a yearAsk for an invoice for 25 copies a week →
- Dining room · 35 copies$549 every 4 weeks, $6,613 a yearAsk for an invoice for 35 copies a week →
- Whole campus · 60 copies$899 every 4 weeks, $10,188 a yearAsk for an invoice for 60 copies a week →
Not ready to start? Try 1945 and 1969 for two weeks, with the guide and kit.Start the trial →
Copies a week
Group kitOne weekly session, then the lobby. Includes the session guide.
Card checkout takes 5 to 24 copies; larger sets and several sites are invoiced, with copies set site by site. Extra copies are $3.50 each a week; on a prepaid year, $3.25 each at 25+ copies in total and $3.00 at 50+.
Start small, keep going
Try it for two weeks. No contract to sign.
The trial is always 1945 and 1969. The newest year moves forward every week, and any earlier printed year is available on request.
- 1
Choose your copies
5 or 10 copies a week to start, or a larger set for the whole building.
- 2
Your trial
Two issues, 1945 and 1969, with the session guide and read-aloud cards. Then you decide.
- 3
Keep going, or stop
Continue at $199 every 4 weeks for 10 copies, or prepay a year. Cancel any time.
Renews every 4 weeks until you cancel. Cancel any time.
Before you pay, you'll see the date and amount of every charge. A prepaid year does not renew.
Before you decide
Questions directors ask
Something else? Ask us, or write to support@erstwhilecourier.com.
What if copies go missing?
Taking one home is fine. That is what the paper is for. Order enough for a take-one stack.
Who keeps it tidy?
Your front desk sets out the new year each Monday and recycles last week, a five-minute job.
Do we need someone who knows history?
No. Every story has a one-line context note, and the welcome is scripted.
Will it work with residents living with dementia?
Every guide has a 20-minute short version and a bedside version, and no question depends on memory.
What about residents with low vision or hearing loss?
Big-type read-aloud cards, plus a room-setup checklist in every guide.
The 1945 paper covers the war. How do you handle hard topics?
Each guide has a facilitator-only note on the issue's hard topics, with a neutral opener and an easy way for anyone to pass.
How does it get to us?
Papers by mail each week. The guide, cards and log by email as PDFs.
Can we use it in more than one group?
Yes, within your community. Add copies at $3.50 each a week.
How does billing work?
By card every 4 weeks, 13 charges every 52 weeks: for 10 copies, $2,587 a year. Cancel any time. Or prepay a year, 13 periods for the price of 12, for $2,388. It does not renew. Orders of 25 or more copies, and several sites, are invoiced.
Start the two-week trial
1945 one week, 1969 the next, with the session guide and read-aloud cards for both. $99.99 for 10 copies, $79.99 for 5. One payment, no renewal.
Full refund before your 1945 papers ship, half before your 1969 papers ship, none after. After the trial, keep going on a plan or stop; nothing is charged unless you place that order.
Not ready? Download the 1945 session guide →Questions, 25 or more copies, or more than one site? Ask us
We reply within one business day. 25 or more copies, or more than one site: we send an invoice, and with three or more sites we also set up a 30-minute kickoff call.