Monday, June 14, 1993

One Year Anniversary

This week the newsletter celebrates its one-year anniversary. To all that have written, commented, participated- tres bien! Keep it up! I look forward to hearing more from everyone in the next year. I would also like to thank Al for his support. We pledge to keep striving to improve, and obviously we have lots of room to meet that goal. Someday we will obtain legal newsletter status.

Here is a look back at the past year:

May 1992 – A notice is posted in the back room of the St. Paul Cheapo announcing the opening of editor for the company’s newsletter. Already working seven days a week, I decide that’s exactly what I need, more work.

June 1992 – I interview with Scott, getting some idea of what will be expected. I leave thinking it will be a monthly effort for the Cheapo stores.

June 19, 1992 – The first issue appears. My biggest fear is a memory of "20/20’s" debut on ABC. The show started with two co-anchors and goofy graphics. After one episode, the show is yanked and remodeled to reappear with Hugh Downs as host. Fiasco or competence? I really don’t know.

June 25, 1992 – Al tells me not only does he want it to be a weekly newsletter, but it is for the Applause stores as well. A bigger readership-a definite plus despite more pressure.

July 14, 1992 – We begin to settle into a determined format.

July 15, 1992 – We run out of original ideas.

September 1992 – Our "Dylan" issue wins awards, demonstrates the editor is loopy.

December 1992 – Highlight of brief history as many participate in year-end edition.

March 1993 – Attend newsletter seminar. Plenty of ideas presented. Enthused and itchy to implement some of them.

March 1993 – New look, same newsletter.

April 1993 – Approval from Washington DC.

May 1993 – Our "McCartney" issue draws groans.

June 1993 – The big "Sinatra" issue is planned but postponed for purely personal reasons.

FUN FACTS:

# of sausage egg biscuits consumed by newsletter staff over past year – 58

# of breakfast burritos consumed over same period – 46

Typographical and grammatical errors made over past year: 634, leading to a game more popular than "Where’s Waldo", called where’s the errors?

Words most frequently mentioned over past year: "Max", "chafing", and "I’m sorry".

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