Groundwaters

Transitions

June 8, 2008 on 8:16 pm | In Groundwaters' History | No Comments

This is a continuation of the story I began telling you in the last posting, about the beginnings of Groundwaters…

Some of Judy Hays-Eberts’ early readers and contributors began offering their help with the publication of Groundwaters magazine. Two of them, Pat Broome, who published a story in the very first issue, and Jennifer Chambers, who came on board shortly afterwards, began meeting with Judy and collaborating with her on upcoming issues. I began volunteering my assistance in the Fall 2006 after meeting Judy for the first time when she profiled our store in Lorane in the Summer 2006 issue. Our relationship began slowly — I contributed a few things that I had written and offered advice on layout and content. In the early part of 2007, Judy began having serious health issues, however, and I took over the layout work of the Summer 2007 issue. The pain and the need to focus on her health began taking their tolls on Judy and she began talking about shutting down publication of Groundwaters.. None of us wanted to see what had become a cherished publication to many, end. Besides doing all of the layout work, I began taking on more of the preliminary decision-making and planning with the help of Pat Broome and Jennifer. Judy guided our efforts and contributed whatever writing and advice that her health allowed. Soon, my brother, Jim Burnett, began taking an interest in Groundwaters. He’s been a reviewer for one of the state’s writers groups for several years and volunteered his services as a long-distance consultant via email. He and his wife Jonni have lived in their RV headquartered in Portland, Oregon since his retirement several years ago.

Our goal at first was to just keep the magazine going until the end of 2007. None of us felt that we could take on the huge financial burden that Judy and Sonny faced each quarter and we were unsure how we could generate enough income. Even though Judy’s faithful readers and contributors were generous with cash donations, it was an income that could not be counted on each quarter. We explored the possibility of applying for non-profit status in order to be able to apply for grant funding; but the process of forming a board of directors, holding structured meetings and doing the vast amount of paperwork that would be required was more than any of us wanted to commit to. We also felt that it would take the control for what we produced out of our hands.

Judy began turning over more and more of the responsibility to me as the pain she dealt with on a daily basis took over much of her energies. I began trying to focus our group on identifying a solution so that we could keep the magazine going beyond January 2008. Thus, we all became committed to finding some way to make it support itself. I headed up a plan to seek enough advertisers to pay for the 500 free issues that we commit to each quarter. Judy was concerned that we try to seek the advertisers from outside of the Veneta area so that we would not be in direct competition with the publishers of the West Lane News. That’s just one of the many qualities that has earned her so much respect throughout the area – it’s an example of her heart and love for community. She has never wanted to intrude on her neighbors. But, at the same time, it makes it harder to find enough businesses in the smaller, outlying communities to meet our goal.

We determined that we would need to sign on at least 15 to 20 advertisers each quarter to cover the cost of printing and paper for the magazine. Subscription rates were re-evaluated and raised to make sure that they covered the cost of postage and supplies used for mailings during this time of ever-increasing postal rates. We’ve set our goals and are working towards the day when we can meet them.

In the meantime, Judy has determined that she wants to step aside completely and allow Groundwaters to continue to grow under our guidance. Five of us, Jennifer, Pat Broome, Jim, Sonny and I have formed a Limited Liability Company (LLC) that is called Groundwaters Publishing, LLC. I am the Manager of the business and Managing Editor of the magazine, and we will soon be moving the production operation to a building that my husband and I own in Lorane, Oregon once its remodel has been completed. Groundwaters Publishing, LLC will continue to have its roots in Veneta and much of our distribution will be in the Veneta/Elmira area, but the actual work of producing it will have a new home.

It has not been an easy transition. There were occasional clashes over misunderstandings, but we all kept a close friendship throughout. All of us are working towards keeping Groundwaters alive and well and we all have a tremendous respect for each other. That’s the glue that is holding it together for us and as we go along, that’s what’s going to keep Judy’s dream alive.

My next postings will feature Judy’s good-bye letter and later, profiles of our staff and our contributors.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Poem
By Judy Hays-Eberts
08/24/07

It’s a weight to be carried every day,
heavier and heavier
constant in its persistence
wearing on everything
inescapable and old.

It’s on the inside, an invisible load
always tethered, never free;
it sits on me when I sleep.
…Oh, to rest without that chain
and wake to freedom each day!

It’s a mountain to be climbed with no summit
in often stormy weather
and no shelter to be found
outside of a rare sweet dream
like the story of Heidi…

It’s a contender who demands attention
who beats me regularly
who stomps on my weaknesses
who ridicules my efforts
who’s there at every turn.

It’s familiar to many, old as time,
the subject of all stories,
the standard antagonist,
one’s own ancient odyssey
shared by all in birth and death.

It’s a shape-shifter, extreme in appearance,
gaudy or subtle or bare,
quiet or angry and loud,
ugly or beautiful –
all in the way one sees it.

It’s not going away as soon as I like
nor will it seem gone for long –
still standing when the door’s closed
with windows barred against it –
even when I’m not looking.

It’s a challenge to negotiate with it,
to maintain one’s dignity,
to retain one’s sanity,
to face directly and smile
as it tempts hysteria.

It’s a coat of many colors and textures –
remember Joseph’s story
(no promise of quick release) –
it precedes a bright outcome
yet feels like an endless test.

It’s a drama with despair in the lead part
until one finds the lost key
to unlock that fearful chain,
to loosen the grip of it
at its root deep in the soul.

It’s my companion, and you know its name.