One year ago, March 15, 2023, I was laid off from my job as the Bulletin’s editor. It was not a huge surprise, and I’d already started making plans for finding another way to support myself financially.
I was in our publishing company’s office in downtown Colorado Springs as my colleagues from the Colorado Springs Independent and the Business Journal were hearing the same news. I could hear crying somewhere in the building.
I sat at my desk, thinking about how I could continue giving the Manitou Springs community the news it needed. It would be unacceptable for residents, workers, property owners and visitors to not know what was going on here.
First step: contacting Stephen Dudek, the Manitou Springs Police Department’s executive administrative assistant, to ask him to send the weekly report to my home email address.
Second step: contacting Alex Trefry, then the city’s public information officer, to ask him to do the same.
I wasn’t sure how this would work, but if I had to do it by myself, as a website and emailed newsletter, so be it.
It was immensely gratifying to be invited to a meeting at the Manitou Art Center to discuss the situation with concerned residents and friends. They are all community leaders who give their time, energy and expertise to improve life for all of us. They formed the backbone of our board of directors.
But we wouldn’t have gotten Bulletin 2.0 off the ground without Lyn Ettinger-Harwell. He is both my rock and the wind beneath my wings, to mix metaphors.
As our publisher, he has been in the trenches to do everything it has taken to get us to this point.
He’s negotiated for permission to use the Bulletin name and its assets. He’s paid outstanding debts. He’s recruited supporters, writers and distribution sites. He’s learned an incredible amount about journalism.
I have to express my huge gratitude to the veteran writers, some of whom also were laid off that day, who have joined our team. Also, I’m immensely proud of the less-experienced people who have stepped up to write about their passions and interests.
A roller-coaster through a hurricane.
And where would we be without our photographers who love this community so much?
It’s been a joy to work with all of you.
These are all the people listed in the blue box on this page. If you see them out and about, please thank them for sharing their talents.
Last year was like riding a roller-coaster through a hurricane. Thankfully, the ride has settled down and the storm is now only an occasional gust.
We are here to support you, our readers, advertisers and the community in general. But we can’t do this without your support!
