School bells ringing, football cheering on crisp Friday nights, the shofar blowing for Rosh Hashanah—the sounds of September convey both a sense of déjà vu continuity and the opportunity for a fresh start. BWNA chimes in as well with its annual transition from implementer of summer festivities to facilitator of autumn initiatives, parsing proposals that can enhance neighborhood livability and spur participation. But the fall spirit delves still deeper, giving pause for reflection on values and aspirations, a reality check also of benefit to newsletter editors.
Reflections on Values
Value No. 1: I’ll begin with the obvious. Without BWNA, there would be no BWNA newsletter. Thus it follows that our top priority is promotion of BWNA through publicizing BWNA activities and encouraging volunteerism, be it serving on the board or a committee, contributing to this newsletter, or participating at monthly general meetings (hence the “Uncle Al Wants You!” logo for this column).
Value No. 2: That said, our newsletter is much more than a BWNA cheerleader. Articles, announcements, and editorials run the gamut from coverage of local issues to grassroots-initiated projects to interview profiles to gardening tips and recipes, a unique blend of content driven by interests, expertise, and love of neighborhood on the part of newsletter team members, board members, and conscientious neighbors.
Value No. 3: Though small in size and staffed entirely of volunteers, our newsletter team takes pride in striving for journalistic excellence. To that end, some bring professional experience to the table, e.g., graphic designer Jane Feinberg, copy editor Myrna Sheie, reporter/writer Susan Trabucco, and some don’t (learning-on-the-job editor that I am), but we all value quality and work collectively on fine-tuning.
Reflections on Aspirations
Aspiration No. 1: First and foremost, we aspire to engage B-W residents as newsletter readers and article/editorial submitters—objectives I’ve repeatedly spoken to in this column. The good news is that submissions have been on the rise; the bad news is insufficient space, which has become our new normal. Expansion is the obvious way forward, but pulling if off requires at least three new yearlong ads, one of which makes its debut in this issue: a warm welcome to MORE Realty, our newest advertiser! (Who’s next?)
Aspiration No. 2: In a world increasingly reliant on websites and blogs for information, upgrading BWNA’s web presence (www.bwna.us) is a newsletter priority. Meet our gurus: webmaster Mario Caoile and web designer/board member Anna Gillespie.
Aspiration No. 3: Alameda N.A. no longer has a newsletter of its own, and their board may be interested in adopting our newsletter for distribution. BWNA board member Deb Harris likes the idea, offering, “It might be a great partnership; there’s power in numbers.” And there’s no better time of year for a fresh start, so let’s talk.