CamelTales Content 

If you do not use e-mail,
we have a form to submit an article or photo.

• CamelTales is published monthly, with January and December being combined into a single issue.
• The deadline for submissions is the 13th of each month. If the 13th falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will be the last business day before the 13th.
• If you are a regular CamelTales contributor and would like to receive the monthly update/deadline reminder e-mail, please e-mail the editor at CamelTales@ElZagal.org
• CamelTales requires “camera-ready” (high quality) artwork and photos to ensure good reproduction. Ads or graphics that have been sent via fax are not acceptable for publication.

CamelTales Photos and Graphics

• Submit your electronic photos via e-mail to CamelTales@ElZagal.org or drop off the disk at the Fargo Shrine Center by deadline.
• Submit film photos to the El Zagal Shrine Center office by deadline. Be sure to put your name, address and phone number on the back of all photos you want returned.
• Photos printed on home computer printers cannot be used in the CamelTales — they look too grainy when published.
• Submit digital photos photos as separate graphic files (.jpg, .gif, .tif, etc.). Photos inserted into MS Word documents are difficult to extract and use; submit the files separately if possible.
• Digital photos that are small may be too grainy to be used in CamelTales. Higher resolution photos are larger files (and your digital camera may hold fewer photos), but they are also clearer and better for publication.
• People frequently submit copyrighted images (symbols, logos, photos, characters) to be printed in the CamelTales. The law allows large penalties for infringement of copyright. To protect the El Zagal — our ability to help kids with disabilities — we cannot run copyrighted material without written permission from the owner.
• If possible provide the names of everyone pictured in the photo, the date, location and event. For paper photos, write this information the back or on an attached piece of paper. When e-mailing photos, include this information in the e-mail or an attached document.

CamelTales Articles and Ads

• Whenever possible, please submit articles electronically (in an e-mail, MSWord or rich-text format). Stories on paper need to be retyped and this means errors can creep in — particularly if the document is handwritten.
• It’s perfectly acceptable to open an e-mail and type your article in the text of the message. Articles can also be written in Microsoft Word and sent as attachments. All articles should be e-mailed to CamelTales@ElZagal.org
• If you use WordPerfect, MSWorks or AppleWorks, you will need to save your files in rtf (rich-text format) before submitting. Click here to open an article template that is already in rich-text format. Click here for information on saving files in rtf format.
• Stories in narrow column format are easier to read when broken into one- or two-sentence paragraphs. (Your local newspaper probably does this.) This format is used in the CamelTales to keep the text as readable as possible.
• PLEASE DON’T WRITE THE ENTIRE ARTICLE OR AD IN CAPITAL LETTERS. This looks like you are shouting and it takes time to edit into a more readable format.
• Don’t try to format schedules or lists you submit for CamelTales — this formatting will have to be removed and that takes time. Simply list the content one line at a time without using tabs, dashes or spaces to align text.
• Don’t try to design ads. These will just need to be redesigned so they fit in the appropriate column space and so they can be used by the printer. Just submit the content (text, pictures, graphics) and let the CamelTales designer work her magic with the proper software and tools.
• Do not use non-standard abbreviations or " in lists to indicate repeated items. This can cause confusion when editing.
• Articles should start with the most important information. Grab our attention with the first sentence. Please keep your articles clear and concise.
• Space is limited in the CamelTales. To ensure that all articles will fit, please avoid unnecessary wordiness and space-wasters.

To ensure clear, consistent communication, the Associated Press Style is used for the articles in the CamelTales. with the following additions:

’57 Director’s Staff – also “Director’s Staff”

Arab Patrol – Patrol after first reference

Arab Room – The proper name for the area where adult beverages are served at the El Zagal Shrine Center.

Bierstube

CamelTales - Italicized and written as a single word.

Circus – Capitalize all references to Shrine Circuses even if not preceded by the word Shrine.

club house, clubhouse – do not use when referring to the El Zagal Shrine Center in Fargo. Easily confused with the golf course shop.

dates – omit th/rd/nd in formatting dates. For example: “Aug. 3” not “Aug. 3rd” Abbreviate months whenever possible.

dinner – this word can mean either a mid-day meal or an evening meal. Whenever possible, use lunch and supper to ensure clear communication.

dollar amounts – omit .00 in formatting dollar amounts — it’s a space waster. For example: $5 instead of $5.00

Detroit Lakes, Minn. – although most people in the eastern part of El Zagal know what DL stands for, it might not be immediately obvious to Nobles in the western part of El Zagal. Spell out “Detroit Lakes” in all instances.

emcee - use “master of ceremonies” instead.

Escort Motor Patrol – EMP after first reference. Use EMP in referring to individual members. Note that EMPs (plural) does not have an apostrophe, but the possessive form does.
Examples: “All the EMPs were able to attend.”
“This is the EMPs’ first competition.”

initials – do not add an apostrophe to make initials or years plural. Simply add the s.
Right: “The EMPs all wore BVDs in the 1950s.”
Wrong: “The EMP’s all wore BVD’s in the 1950’s.”

Jamestown Clowns – Clowns after first reference.

Lady/Ladies – capitalize references to partners of Nobles, even when used without a name.

MC – see emcee

Mobil Nobles – note the spelling of Mobil.

Noble/Nobles – capitalize all uses, even when used without a name.

[El Zagal] office – instead use “El Zagal Shrine Center” when noting the location of meetings, events, etc.

Potentate – Capitalize all uses. Pote is acceptable (with or without a name) when referring to El Zagal’s Illustrious leader. For the Potentate from other Shrines or the Imperial Potentate, the full title is suggested as a sign of respect.

Provost Guard – Provost is acceptable in all references.

[Fargo–Moorhead] RedHawks

states – abbreviate the name of states and set off with commas before and after when used after the smaller communities. For example, “The Director’s Staff traveled from Arthur, N.D., toward Minnesota.”
  No need to use the state after these area cities — Bismarck, Detroit Lakes (Minn.), Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Minot, Valley City, Wahpeton.

Temple – use “El Zagal Shrine Center” when referring to a location.

time – generally omit :00 when indicating time — it’s a space waster. Use a.m. or p.m. (lowercase with periods) to indicate times.