This issue of the Echo marks four years since I committed to reintroducing the paper to the community. After this issue, I will begin to withdraw from some of my multiple roles of producing the paper. By the time the November issue (12-5) is being prepared, I will need to have transferred a considerable amount of my current responsibilities.
If the Echo is to continue, that means the Echo needs people to take over:
- accounting and billing
- graphics and layout
- volunteer coordination for distribution
- seeking out advertisers
- maintaining the Echo website
Taken together, this sis a major task. But when distributed, these are all very manageable. The paper could be much improved if there were editors working with a small team of people interested in specific aspects of Lowertown. The sections that would profit most from this are:
- news;
- arts & culture;
- community; and
- business
A volunteer, community newspaper can only exist with community support. The more people involved, the lighter the workload and the more enjoyable the experience. Distributing the paper on one of the routes takes less than an hour. That’s less than five hours a year to give back to your community. Five hours of exercise, fresh air, and possibly a few neighbourly conversations along the way.
Working on stories that are of interest to you can enhance the ties to the subjects and people that you interview, perhaps leading to further involvement.
Think about how you might contribute to keeping the Echo vibrant and meaningful to our community. Consider how you can help the paper live up to its motto, “Reflecting our community.”
John Chenier, Editor