Island Matters Update by George Block, President and Editor Happy July 4th weekend! I hope everyone is enjoying our island this weekend with their family and friends. I expect to be in full “Grandpa Mode” myself.
I want to take this opportunity to both thank you for your continued support and give you a quick update as Island Matters continues to evolve as an independent 501 (c) 3 nonprofit online newspaper.
You may be getting tired of hearing this again and again, so this will be the last time I will remind you. POWC gave birth to Island Matters as a facts-only, nonprofit, online newspaper. POWC’s goal has always been to inform the residents and property owners of critical issues on the island. Last year, POWC determined that the best way to do that would be to join the worldwide movement toward hyper-local, fact-based, online news.
This year, Island Matter filed with the IRS as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit news corporation. All memberships paid after April 1st will be tax-deductible as charitable donations.
As we move through the year, you will continue to notice changes. The separation of Island Matters from POWC was the first. Soon, you will see the contents of Island Matters being free to the public. Island Matters subscriptions will be free, and we will unlock our archives.
As a member/donor, you will have special privileges. You will also receive our member newsletter and invitations to our “Members Only” events. These events will highlight our island businesses and feature interesting, often outside speakers.
Additionally, we will develop an advisory board to help us focus on content and important issues to residents and property owners.
What’s Next? We are going to move to a M-W-F publication schedule. Mondays will focus on people, places, and things. We will write about interesting people, places, and things to do on our island.
On Wednesday, we will publish our Member Newsletter. Help us come up with a great name! Should it be simple, Member Newsletter? Or should it be more descriptive, The Insider, for all those getting the inside story? Perhaps The Scoop might be better, or maybe that might be better for an ice cream parlor!
Send us your ideas, please!
Our Friday issue will focus on local governments: the city council, the water district, the school district, and any county commissioners’ topics directly related to the island.
Help Wanted Island Matters is looking for writers. We want to enlist a cadre of part-time writers in specialty areas. If you have good writing skills and an interest in one of these areas, please let us know.
Island Matters wants to evolve to reflect the whole experience of living on the island. Do you want to help us do that?
In the meantime, have a great Fourth of July!
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