By Mike Phillips
Editor
July 10, 2022
“And here are some positions we still need to fill asap: local government coverage and business coverage, marketing and advertising (two positions), and copy flow/backup editing assistant with – and this is critical — strong WordPress software skills.”
It’s time that I gave you an update on the Observer’s transition.
Non-profit – We’ve completed the transition from a standard LLC to a non-profit. That required changing the corporate name (long, boring story) so now we’re Nassau Observer Inc., DBA Fernandina Observer.
Financial status – We have $20,000 in a business account with Truist Bank. We’ll have a CPA firm shortly, doing bookkeeping, payroll and quarterly filings.
Expanding coverage categories – We are half-way to where I’d like to be by fall. Let me introduce you to the new contributors:
Kaleigh Simmons — who has a BA in classical studies from the University of Florida/Gainsville and a masters in emergency management from Clemson University. She grew up in Yulee, still lives there and is (by all accounts) the ball-of-fire administrative assistant in the Fernandina Beach Fire Department. She will be writing about the dramatic growth and change in her hometown.
Christopher Bogosh – who is an RN specializing in end-of-life issues and who also has a theology degree, will be covering churches, focusing on congregational contributions to community.
Kendra Shafer – who has a journalism degree from UF Gainsville and, after several years in that profession, came back home to Nassau County to take care of her aging father, got a teaching certificate and taught middle school. After her her father’s death she moved into free-lance writing, tutoring kids who are struggling in school and volunteering with environmental organizations. She will be covering the education of youngsters in our highly-rated schools.
Pat Foster Turley – No, she’s not new but wanted to know if I wanted her (and if she wanted me, I suspect). I gleefully invited her and her popular Wild Ways column back into the fold, and she accepted.
And here are some positions we still need to fill asap: local government coverage and business coverage, marketing and advertising (two positions), and copy flow/backup editing assistant with – and this is critical — strong WordPress software skills.
That will get a new, expanded Observer off and running by fall. I’m talking to occasional contributors who might want to get a little more active – but very interested in hearing from anyone new who’d like to take on one of the positions in the previous paragraph.
“..here are some positions we still need to fill asap: local government coverage and business coverage..” If I were you, Sir, I’d blow my entire budget to retain Suanne Thamm on staff as long as she’d be willing to stay. FYI, it’s “Gainesville.”