I recieved this planner from Karen at Exaclair and the fine folks at Quo Vadis Blog to review and one lucky person will win it just by leaving a comment at the end of this review.
The Minister is a compact weekly planner is part of the Equology line by Quo Vadis. The Equology line of planners consist of the cover and the planner itself. The Agenda contains 88% of recycled materials and 100% recycled paper. The Equology cover comes in several colors including black, red, orange, brown, and rose. The red is a true red, not one tainted by shades of pink or maroon. The cover has a great texture that feels both soft and tactile.
The Minister is a 13 month, December to December, planner made of extra white, 90g paper and is loaded with a ton of useful features. Notice the word “useful” in that previous sentence. This planner doesn’t contain a bunch of so called features that nobody uses and end up just getting in your way. One of the neatest features I like is that each page has a perforated bottom corner so that when you’re done with that day you just tear the corner off. This makes it incredibly easy to quickly open the planner get to the current day. The opening page contains a section for your Personal Notes and also and important section at the bottom: How To Use Your “Agenda Planning Diary”. The opposite page contains International Telephone Access Codes and how to dail them. The next page contains Minimum and Maximum Monthly Average Temperatures in the World and a Chart of International Holidays on the opposite page. Clearly, this is a planner for the frequent international traveler.
At the begging and end of the 13 month weekly planner is a two page spread called “Anno-Planning” The Organization Of Your Year At A Single Glance. I find this incredibly useful as I can see major events at a single glance and know whats happening right away. I can make notes about which football games I’m going to, where I’m spending my holidays and with who, and block off dates for my vacation.
The week view is where you’ll do all your planning. Notice how there is not a lot of room for notes and to do lists. There is space for those things, but that’s not what the MINISTER is about. It’s about organizing your week so you know what’s going on in an easy to see, efficient manner. In the top right corner on the right page is the dates from Monday to Saturday, the previous, current, and next month calendar views as well as what week in the year it is. The dates across the top displays holidays and your single most important activity for the day, whether it be a meeting, a phone call, or your child’s ball game.
At first I was having a hard time figuring out how I would use the Receipts and Payments section. But after thinking about it for a while I could use this section to keep track of all the fountian pens I buy and sell. I could take up a few lines to comment on the buyer or seller, the pen, where I bought or sold it, and of course the price. I’m sure others would use for much more important things…
The back of the Minister planner contains several maps. One for world times zones and eight more detailed maps of all the countries. The last page containes calendar views for the years 2009-2010-2011. One thing I’m glad those smart folks at Quo Vadis thought of was the removable contact booklet. Here you can write down peoples’ info, where you met them, how to contact them, etc. and at the end of the year when you need to order a new planner you can easily take those contacts with you.
This is one heck of planner, regardless of whether or not it’s made from recycled materials. I usually shy away from recycled items because I don’t like the feel or the way fountain pens write on them. But this is a good planner that’s well worth the money. The cover feels great in the hand and the paper doesn’t have that real fibrous type feel to it. I did write a little note in the back for the winner with my Namiki Capless with a fine nib and Waterman Florida Blue ink. It did feather just enough to make the line edges a bit soft but far from making the text unreadable. Also, it wasn’t a smooth as I’d like, but then I’m coming from Clairefontaine and Rhodia paper.
I can’t really think of knocks against this planner, which is unusual for me. I can usually find at least one improvement in everything but this planner is top notch and very well thought out. Maybe after a few weeks or a month of using it I might be able to find something to complain about but I’m sure it would be pretty trivial. So if you’re an unorganized mess who wants to take that step towards being a little “greener” then don’t hesitate to pick up one of these Minister planners, or just leave a comment below to enter the free drawing. The winner will be selected on Monday, October 26th and be notified by email.
I like the looks of this thing. I wonder how easy the daily agenda will work as it doesn’t look that easy to use. However the thing looks well made and you have a decent review of it. I will keep an eye out of these things.
Hmm… I’m pretty attached to my current planner, but this looks tempting. I love the year-at-a-glance feature!! That is fabulous.
Great review! This planner seems very useful, at least to people who are not allergic to ballpoint pens. It’s a shame that recycled paper and fountain pens have such a strained relationship.
Had I seen this planner at the store, I’d have assumed it was geared toward members of the clergy. I hope the name attracts more than priests and diplomats.
Nice looking planner!
Very nice planner indeed… please do not enter me into the drawing though, I got one from Exaclair during the review giveaway as well. I just wanted to complement your review.
I think this may work better than thew one I use and give out to my employees. I can’t wait to see. Now I have to go see the price to stock up before Christmas…
I just saw this browsing in my local college bookstore. I thought to myself that this would be the best planner for me, given its size compared to the President size (much too big for my liking). I’m looking around for a new planner so I may just go back and look at it with greater care. There is nothing quite like handling a possible planner yourself right?
This looks like a nice upgrade from the Space 24 planner that I am using this year. Love the Exaclaire products for my fountain pens.
–Doc
Quo Vadis journals are great. I’ve been using a Miniweek and a Notor this year. Good stuff.
greg
Nice. I like the tear off corners, makes it handy finding the current week. Not sure about the receipts pages, but I’ll bet I could find something to use it for. I especially like the week at a glance. May have to try this one.
This seems intriguing. I wonder if it could replace my Blackberry calendar feature?
I don’t know about replacing but it would probably complement it nicely. I wish I had a digital version that was as useful and easy to use as this planner!
Sounds handy!
Because of your review, when next asked “Quo Vadis?”. My Pelikan and I will be on the web at our friendly stationary store.
This looks like a very useful tool to record all the information I need to track when I’m out on the road. Good luck to me! (and everyone)
I haven’t seen this particular model “in person”. Other Quo Vadis planners I have seen have very nice, although I’ve never used one. It looks like a nice clean layout. And Made in USA to boot!
I have promised myself I shall get organised by December,and this looks like the ticket!Thanks for the review!
Good that its recycled and I do like the red colour… you’re right its ‘proper’ red
Minister: Prime or Preacher?
It’s screaming red color gives it a fighting chance of being findable on my desk.
gary
Hmmm, I’m not really much of a planner user, but this one seems like it might make me change my mind. I’ll have to track one down locally.
Z.
This looks like it has potential. Where would one find a listing of re-sellers?
http://quovadisplanners.com/buy/byid/388
Looks to be a pretty good planner, hope I am the person chosen. If not, will look at it at one of the stores around NYC.
And the winner is…
(drum roll)
LEO!
Thanks to everyone who entered. Be sure to enter for the Habana notebook and check back often for more contests.
I am the fortunate recipient and have to say this is a VERY nice planner. The paper behaves nicely and I especially like all the extras such as maps etc. it includes. Thank you very much.