Back in my teaching days, each September felt like a new beginning. And even now, years into retirement, those vibes resonate for me. But the ringing in of the academic year reverberates well beyond teachers and students; in fact, it tolls for all of us in one way or another—parents making the transition from summer road trips to PTA participation, businesses power-shifting into back-to-school-sale gear, motorists and bicyclists acclimating to flashing red bus lights and kids crossing streets, fans flocking to high school gridirons on clear, crisp evenings. The calendar year hasn’t changed, but a new-day-dawning feel is in the air as school bells chime.
And so it is for BWNA. With no scheduled general meetings between June and October and major community events accomplished for the year, Board members have the opportunity to review the “year” gone by and brainstorm plans for the “year” ahead (“year” here defined as September to September). It’s a post-Labor Day transition in the spirit of fall’s Jewish High Holy Days and January’s New Year, when assessment and resolution are front and center. Accordingly, here’s a retrospective on the newsletter over the past 12 months, with an eye to the future as well:
Staff: When you’re totally dependent on a handful of volunteers to keep the ship afloat, even one vacancy can rock the boat. Try three successive departures—first our graphic designer, then copy editor, followed by a reporter/writer. Things looked bleak for a while. But typical of this neighborhood, new volunteers promptly stepped up to the plate, filling not only those three vacancies, but the newly created position of Assistant Editor as well. Looking forward, the search continues for additional reporter/writers, with the modest goal of doubling our reporter/writer crew from two (not counting Pres. John Sandie and me) to four. It’s an every-other-month commitment, and a much-appreciated one at that. Consider making a resolution to help out. Contact me at editor@bwna.us for details and join the team!
Features: A number of content innovations have been introduced over the past several months, this column included. Editor’s Notes was conceived as a vehicle to shed light on the inner workings of the newsletter and provide journalistic context for the content within. Other introductions have been Barb Strunk’s gardening series, Kathy Campbell’s seasonal recipes, and Board member profiles. But most gratifying of all has been the increased participation by residents and organizations in the form of informational announcements, human-interest stories, Letter to the Board editorials, and suggestions for new features. As for the future, I would simply ask for more of the same! Send your articles and editorials directly to me—articles limited to 300 words or less, editorials to 150 words or less—and photos directly to graphic designer Amy Gwilliam (amylee.gwilliam@gmail.com), naming the photo so it’s clear which article it should accompany. Your contributions expand our scope.