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You hear the words ‘award ceremony’ and think it’s going to be a rollicking party or at least a cheery gathering.
Not so much, last weekend.
On Feb. 28 I attended the Colorado Press Association Better Newspaper Awards ceremony to collect the Eagle Valley Enterprise prizes. I’ve been going to this thing, on and off, for about 25 years now. But this year’s event was a lot less like a party and much more like a wake.
In the middle of the press convention week, the Rocky Mountain News died. So, when the announcement came that the Rocky had won the General Excellence Award for large daily papers every body in the room stood and applauded. Then John Temple, publisher of the now defunct paper, took the podium to say a final word to his colleagues from around the state.
Of course he thanked everyone and reminded the journalists in attendance that the work we do is important. Then he gave a bit of advice: Say yes more often.
I’ve been thinking about that comment ever since. On the day after he put out the last edition of his paper, Temple was thinking about all the things he coulda, shoulda, woulda done.
That got me to thinking about another gathering I attended last week. The Eagle Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a “Lunch with the Mayor” event to talk about how to spur the downvalley economy. Around 30 area business owners came out for the session.
The talk centered around messages. Some folks in the audience maintained that things aren’t as bad as reported and that by dwelling on that talk, we are actually cutting our own throats. Others maintained that the valley hasn’t yet felt the economic hit it will when summer rolls around and construction is at a standstill. Everybody talked about marketing and events.
The meeting ended with some key questions: What are local merchants going to do? Who is going to do it? Who is going to pay for it?
I bet they asked a lot of questions similar to that at the Rocky during the past year or so. I bet they wish they were still in the position to ask them.
The reality is when businesses are limping by, its hard to step up and help bankroll a marketing plan. When you are working so hard to make a living, its difficult to commit to planning a special event. But its also a reality that we all need to say ‘yes, I’ll do that’ right now.
As the oldest business in this community, the Eagle Valley Enterprise committed to not only surviving this downturn, but to helping others survive it too. Of course, I don’t know exactly what that means right now, but after 111 years in business, the Enterprise has as big a stake as anyone when it comes to the downvalley region’s economic health. After all, how many local businesses can look back and research how they survived the Great Depression and how they helped the community weather it as well. We can.
So, at the Eagle Valley Enterprise, we are taking the advice of John Temple and saying ‘yes.’ Yes, we will work harder at a time when the work is hard. Yes, we will stay committed to this community.
Because in the end, we’d rather say ‘yes’ than find ourselves wishing we had. Just ask the people at the Rocky Mountain News what that feels like.
Not so much, last weekend.
On Feb. 28 I attended the Colorado Press Association Better Newspaper Awards ceremony to collect the Eagle Valley Enterprise prizes. I’ve been going to this thing, on and off, for about 25 years now. But this year’s event was a lot less like a party and much more like a wake.
In the middle of the press convention week, the Rocky Mountain News died. So, when the announcement came that the Rocky had won the General Excellence Award for large daily papers every body in the room stood and applauded. Then John Temple, publisher of the now defunct paper, took the podium to say a final word to his colleagues from around the state.
Of course he thanked everyone and reminded the journalists in attendance that the work we do is important. Then he gave a bit of advice: Say yes more often.
I’ve been thinking about that comment ever since. On the day after he put out the last edition of his paper, Temple was thinking about all the things he coulda, shoulda, woulda done.
That got me to thinking about another gathering I attended last week. The Eagle Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a “Lunch with the Mayor” event to talk about how to spur the downvalley economy. Around 30 area business owners came out for the session.
The talk centered around messages. Some folks in the audience maintained that things aren’t as bad as reported and that by dwelling on that talk, we are actually cutting our own throats. Others maintained that the valley hasn’t yet felt the economic hit it will when summer rolls around and construction is at a standstill. Everybody talked about marketing and events.
The meeting ended with some key questions: What are local merchants going to do? Who is going to do it? Who is going to pay for it?
I bet they asked a lot of questions similar to that at the Rocky during the past year or so. I bet they wish they were still in the position to ask them.
The reality is when businesses are limping by, its hard to step up and help bankroll a marketing plan. When you are working so hard to make a living, its difficult to commit to planning a special event. But its also a reality that we all need to say ‘yes, I’ll do that’ right now.
As the oldest business in this community, the Eagle Valley Enterprise committed to not only surviving this downturn, but to helping others survive it too. Of course, I don’t know exactly what that means right now, but after 111 years in business, the Enterprise has as big a stake as anyone when it comes to the downvalley region’s economic health. After all, how many local businesses can look back and research how they survived the Great Depression and how they helped the community weather it as well. We can.
So, at the Eagle Valley Enterprise, we are taking the advice of John Temple and saying ‘yes.’ Yes, we will work harder at a time when the work is hard. Yes, we will stay committed to this community.
Because in the end, we’d rather say ‘yes’ than find ourselves wishing we had. Just ask the people at the Rocky Mountain News what that feels like.
