Profits and publicity

When schools go back in session this time of year and early
harvest action begins, all our daily schedules, living rhythms and
routine activities change.
We get busier, start our days much earlier and look around at
what else may be new or changed from the same time as last
year.
At the newspaper, we especially note the sources of new energy
around schools and all around town. Sounds, traffic, new window
posters and fast-turning calendar pages fill our September
days.
This is also a traditional time for harvest get-togethers,
church picnics, PTA fund raisers, soccer team car washes, raffles,
benefit concerts and more.
As a locally-owned newspaper, with a very local focus on
community, we strive to offer as much publicity and support for all
these events and causes as possible. Year-round, we support and
promote these community events and ongoing activities. Sometimes we
get to work with well-organized volunteers, sometimes that’s not
quite the case. But we’re happy to accept your announcements
whether they’re in emails or hand-written on a tablet. But, please,
just be sure to meet our weekly news deadlines.
When in doubt, call or email your local editor. If it’s a local
event, open to the public, and not a commercial for-profit entity,
we will print your announcement. For free. What we dislike is when
a member or volunteer of a group or an event complains that we did
not help publicize a certain event. Too often, this is because no
one from the non-profit or volunteer group bothered to submit any
information to us.
Along with publicity, our community non-profits, school groups
and others are always seeking donations of gifts, food or money.
And, during this time of year, the number of requests for donations
seems to grow weekly.
Locally-owned food stores continue to donate food for fund
raisers and events. Merchants donate raffle items. Local
professionals and our community banks write checks or make
challenge grants. We’re all happy to support these many groups and
causes. Together it all adds up to a sense of community and a
highly valued “quality of life,” that is not found in bigger cities
or less generous hometowns.
We feel it bears reminding to all of us, no matter which side of
the fund raiser table we’re on, that community charity and
publicity are not totally free.
For many small businesses, these have been extra difficult
economic times. Sometimes our willingness to give exceeds our
checkbook or volunteer hours. Local non-profits, school clubs and
youth sports teams that show their gratitude in public will end up
being better supported. Businesses, like this newspaper, don’t
require being thanked or acknowledged, but it sure helps.
The most successful and larger benefits, fund raisers and
community projects all share a few basic keys to success. They have
good leadership, a publicity plan and a promotions budget. To raise
money, it takes spending a little money. Everything costs, even
when it is donated. It costs in volunteer hours. It costs local
merchants and it costs your individual supporters who buy tickets,
food or auction items.
Our newspaper is pledged to continue working with the many other
locally-owned businesses who have supported hundreds of local
groups and events throughout the years.
We are always available to accept requests for publicity and
other support. We believe it is an honor to be asked to be a part
of the many great events and good causes that happen year-round on
our community’s calendar.
We also believe it is even a higher honor to be able to report
and write about all the many successes of these various non-profits
and other organizations.
— Rollie Atkinson