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| Add Christmas Pageants Were a Big Part of the Christmas Season - I recently received a newspaper clipping from the Orillia Packet and Times dated December 17th, 1961, entitled Children Enact Bible Stories.
Sparrow Lake – Children from Sparrow Lake United Church, Kilworthy delighted elderly members of the community when they presented a program with a Christmas Theme at the Balmoral Home on Sparrow Lake. Parents assisted the small children when they dressed in ancient costumes to enact the Christmas Story.
The presentation sponsored by the Sunday School and performed by the members of the various Sunday School classes lasted for about an hour following by the singing of Christmas Carols. Twenty-Five residents and the children from the Sunday School got acquainted at a social after the presentation.
Christmas Concerts and Christmas Pageants were an important part of growing up in the Fifties and Sixies in the community of Kilworthy, Sparrow Lake and Severn Bridge.
The above photograph taken on Wednesday, November 27th, 2013 was once a hub of Christmas Activities with Pageant rehearsal and Sunday School classes filled to capacity.
Fred Schulz Photo |
ONE FROM THE FILES 2012
PART 2; PROPAGANDA IN ALL IT'S SILLY GLORY
OLD FASHION MUSKOKA BUSINESS - WE LIKE IT THIS WAY
WE TOOK A CHANCE, AND INVESTED IN THE MAIN STREET OF GRAVENHURST…..WHAT A SAVVY BUSINESS MOVE
OUR FAMILY CUT THROUGH THE RHETORIC, THE DOOMSAYING, SKY-IS-FALL PREDICTIONS, KEPT THE BLINKERS ON, AND BACKED OUR SONS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, WHEN THEY DECIDED TO OPEN THEIR VINTAGE MUSIC AND GUITAR SHOP, IN GRAVENHURST. THAT WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO, BY THE WAY. WE WERE TOLD OUR BUSINESS PLAN, WAS THE TRUE "IMPOSSIBLE DREAM," AND THAT IT WOULD "NEVER WORK IN GRAVENHURST." FRIENDS AND FAMILY THOUGHT WE WERE NUTS, AND TRIED TO CONVINCE US IT WAS BETTER TO OPEN THE VINTAGE MUSIC SHOP ON THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE. BUT WHAT WE SAW IN THE FORMER MUSKOKA THEATRE, WAS A UNIQUE FORMER ENTERTAINMENT VENUE, THAT HAD A LOT GOING FOR IT……PARTICULARLY ITS PROXIMITY TO THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE…..AND CENTRAL BUSINESS LOCATION. WE DID OUR OWN SURVEYS AND IT ALL CHECKED OUT. WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO RISK, SO WE ALWAYS PERFORM OUR DUE DILIGENCE, TO MAKE SURE WE CAN COUNT ON A RETURN FROM THE INVESTMENT. LONG TERM RETURNS ARE FINE. WE JUST NEED SOMETHING TO RISE FROM THE CULTIVATED GROUND.
AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, CUSTOMERS WOULD ASK ANDREW WHEN HE WAS GOING TO CLOSE THE SHOP. AFTER THE SECOND YEAR, MORE PEOPLE ASKED ANDREW AND ROBERT, WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO SELL OFF THE BALANCE OF THEIR INVENTORY, ON-THE-CHEAP, AND CLOSE THE SHOP. EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE HAD THE SAME A--HOLES ASKING THIS STUPID QUESTION; AND EACH TIME THEY ASK, THE BOYS JUST SMILE AND SHAKE THEIR HEADS. THERE'S NO POINT ANSWERING THESE DOOMSAYERS, WHO APPARENTLY PREFER FAILURE TO SUCCESS. TRUTH IS, MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS, STILL CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW WE HAVE SURVIVED, WHILE OTHER BETTER EQUIPPED BUSINESSES HAVE FAILED MISERABLY. IF NICK THE GREEK HAD BEEN TAKING BETS, EVEN AMONGST THE OTHER MAIN STREET VENDORS, HOW LONG THE BOYS COULD KEEP THE SHOP GOING, CHANCES ARE WE WOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED, A SURE THING TO DISAPPEAR OFF THE COMMERCIAL MAP. THE PROVERBIAL LONG-SHOT. EVEN NOW, WE HAVE THOSE WHO PREDICT WE WON'T MAKE IT UNTIL THE SPRING. NICE PEOPLE EH? BETTING ON OUR DEMISE. THEY NEED TO GET LIVES, WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?
THERE ARE A LOT OF BUSINESS SECRETS I CAN'T SHARE. THERE ARE A FEW I CAN. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO EXPLAIN HOW ANDREWS MUSIC AND COLLECTIBLES, HAS DEFIED THE ODDS, TO SURVIVE INTO THEIR SEVENTH YEAR. FIRST OF ALL, ON OUR ADVICE, THEY OPENED A LOCAL BUSINESS. I TOLD THEM CLEARLY, THAT IN ORDER TO SUCCEED IN MUSKOKA, THEY WOULD HAVE TO CREATE A LOCALLY SENSITIVE BUSINESS, BASED ON OLD FASHION VALUES OF FAIR PRICING AND EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. NOW AS A FOOTNOTE, THESE TWO RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADS, DID KNOW A LOT ABOUT OLD FASHION ENTERPRISE, AS MOM AND POP HAVE BEEN IN THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS SINCE THE LATE 1980'S. WE SHOP IN OLD FASHION BUSINESSES, AS A RULE, AND THEY KNEW THE LOGIC BEHIND ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS THAT WOULD CATER TO THE PERMANENT POPULATION. IT WAS GOING TO BE A HOME-GROWN GRAVENHURST ENTERPRISE. NOT A MIRROR-IMAGE SHOP, OF ONE IN TORONTO, HAMILTON, OTTAWA OR KINGSTON. IT HAD TO BE WHAT THE LOCAL POPULATION OF MUSIC LOVERS AND MUSICIANS WANTED, IN A BUSINESS, IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THE BUSINESS WAS NOT CREATED AS A SEASONAL "TOURIST" SHOP, ALTHOUGH WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN GLAD TO INVITE TRAVELLERS TO OUR TOWN, TO COME AND VISIT. BUT THE PRIORITY FROM THE BEGINNING, WAS TO LOOK AFTER OUR TOWN FIRST. WE MEANT IT THEN AND NOW. IF YOU ASK OUR CUSTOMERS, THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION, WE'RE ALL COMFORTABLE THEY'LL TELL YOU, THE BOYS ARE LOYAL HOMETOWNERS; THEN COME IN, ON A TYPICAL SATURDAY MORNING, WHEN THE PARTY FAITHFUL SHOW-UP FOR SUZANNE'S HOME MADE COOKIES. LET'S JUST SAY, BY MID AFTERNOON, SEVERAL DOZEN HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO CRUMBS. THE FOLKS IN THAT MORNING SCRUM? OUR LOCAL MUSICIAN FRIENDS AND LONG-TIME CUSTOMERS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND SUZANNE CAN'T QUIT NOW. SHE COULDN'T STAND THE THOUGHT OF DISAPPOINTED COFFEE-TIME VISITORS.
THE BOYS, AFTER GRADUATING GRAVENHURST HIGH SCHOOL, WENT RIGHT TO WORK ON SHOP PLANNING. ANDREW TOOK A BRIEF "YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR'S COURSE, WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND IS ONLY ONE A FEW STUDENTS WHO FINISHED THE COURSE, STILL WORKING IN HIS CHOSEN PROFESSION…..WITH A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. THEY HAVE NEVER BORROWED A DIME FROM A LENDING INSTITUTE, AND TO KEEP PRICES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, THEY DON'T ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS OR EVEN DEBIT. OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, WELL SIR, ONLY TWO PEOPLE HAVE LEFT AN ITEM BEHIND, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T OFFER CREDIT PURCHASES. WE SOLD THOSE ITEMS SOON AFTER, MINIMIZING THE CASH-FLOW PROBLEM FOR US. THEY PAY FOR ALL THEIR INVENTORY AT THE TIME, AND OWE NOTHING……NOT ONE DIME TO ANY ONE, OTHER THAN THE COSTS OF RENTAL AND INSURANCE AT THE START OF EACH NEW MONTH.
SO WE INVESTED AS WELL
Once again, despite our friends asking if we were "nuts," we decided to take advantage of some newly vacated room, in the old theatre building, to offer a variety of antiques and collectibles, under the business acumen of second son Robert, a lover of art and nostalgic furnishings himself. As Suzanne and I prefer to enter retirement as antique hunters, called "pickers," we didn't want to get into the day to day selling of items. From the first of June, we couldn't get out of the shop because of the rush of business. We had folks come up to the counter, honest to God, with a line up of customers with purchases in hand, standing behind, and with crass boldness, ask us how long we thought we could last, doing business on the main street. We've had a half dozen, who left after saying things like, "I wish you good luck on your venture……cause you're going to need it in November." Or "Maybe you'll have some winter sales, to fend off the wolves." The four of us are pretty good with our responses, and hand gestures, which are either inaudible, or acted out with assorted fingers below the counter. It's a shame you know, how folks get their jollies at other peoples' expense. I suppose we'd make our critics happy if we put a "closed forever" sign on the front door. We'd break the hearts of those who visit here two or three times each week. We're not kidding about that. As for our capability to survive and profit, all I can say, is that the lease was extended on the antique expansion for an additional year, based on the success and joy of being in business on the main street of Gravenhurst.
As far as it being an acknowledged edition to the main street, we haven't received a fruit basket yet, or a tasteful "welcome to the neighborhood" card, and that's just fine; considering the boys were never welcomed to the business community when they opened shop seven years ago. It wasn't a requisite anyway, but it just kind of seemed the right thing to do……especially considering we kicked aside a lot of adversity and negativism to open in that first year. Having that faith in our hometown, and the citizens who do shop here, was a solid strategic investment. No regrets. Not one. They have never missed making rent, and related expenses, and having a profit at the end of each month. Not big profits, but ones that were large and promising enough, to look forward to increased sales for the next month, and the one after that. Folks, we're not bragging. If anything we are a humble crew, so very grateful to those customers who believed in us, and who gave us reason to carry-on and re-invest, on the promise they'd be back to see us soon. And they always have. As for the tourists and cottage community, by golly, what a pleasant mix it creates, in company of the regulars throughout the summer season, right up to late October. Many friendships have been made, in our studio, between out of town music lovers and musicians, and our local clientele and performers……by the simple act of sharing stories and general conversation about the good graces of music. It's what we're about.
The boys have been teaching guitar and drum lessons from the beginning, which actually started here at Birch Hollow. We made them studio space here, and the rent was very affordable. But there was no holding them back, and after a couple of years working in confined quarters out of a residential neighborhood, they finally had pooled together enough inventory and cash, to rent one small room, on the second floor of the old theatre building. The rest has been an amazing odyssey for two sons of Gravenhurst, who decided to stay home, and take their chances on a good idea. The customers have proven, it was indeed, a good idea.
During the days, since September, I have been the assistant clerk, to both my sons, in the antique wing, and it has been a real thrill to have a "Waltons' Mountain," kind of business, where the four of us at present, get along well in commerce……as we always have in home-life. We weren't sure it was going to work, and we initially worried that they would feel crowded, having us close by each day. Suzanne is on the brink of retiring, and hopefully we will be able to do a little more traveling in the coming years. She's such an amazing seller of old stuff. She used to work at her family's Windermere Marina snackbar, "The Skipper," and then for many summers, in the pro shop of the Windermere Golf and Country Club, before becoming a full time teacher. She has run our antique business, from a variety of locations, and at shows, since the late 1980's. I just purchased a Feather-weight Singer sewing machine, for her future operations, because she wants to repair old quilts once again, as she used to in our former Bracebridge antique shop. She also restores vintage wool blankets, from Hudson's Bay to locally produced "Birds' Woollen Mill" blankets. Suzanne knows a lot about Birds, as we used to run the museum, in Bracebridge, known as "Woodchester Villa," the octagonal estate, that was built by Henry Bird in the 1880's. Point is, she's pretty excited about moving on from the classroom, and pursuing some of her hobbies and possibly some minor league "clerking" in son Robert's little shop.
As for the antique component of the business? Well, we are doing fine, and while sales are slower this time of the year……and they were the same in Bracebridge in the mid-1990's, those sales we do have, make up for the fewer number of customers. Being on the main street of Gravenhurst has been fabulous. Not because we are getting wealthier each day, but because like Dickens character, "Old Fezziwig," we have a family business that is also very much a way of life. I often lounge in the boys' pleasantly appointed studio, where they have recorded many fine local musicians, including the guitarists and drummer who created the popular "Skokie Song," for the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival. I can't really tell you, in a heartfelt way, just how important it has been for Suzanne and I, to know today, that our gamble, and their's, worked out so well. They love going to work in the morning, and with lessons, happily stay late in the evening. They come home tired, but never disappointed by the business they created, dollar by dollar.
The best business strategy for Gravenhurst merchants, regardless where it, or they, might be clustered, is for proprietors to cheerfully greet each day, each customer, and each and every partner business in the locale, because networking with our allies, has been the most positive change in the uptown landscape, since we opened shop. We had our frustrations, and deadlock with some members of the business community, and for that reason, we opted-out of association reindeer games. We had no choice. Nothing has changed, except, we have found other businesses that feel exactly the same about representation, and are only too happy, to make friends with other neighborhood entrepreneurs…..no strings attached, other than general goodwill. We feel in good company, and I hope they feel the same. What was once an unfortunate blockade, is no longer. And we continue to represent our own old fashion values, and it's what our customers seem to appreciate most. I suppose you might say, we're a "little behind our times," but we always get the job done.
The point I really want to make here, is that we defied the critics, and have never looked back. If you were to ask Robert or Andrew if they consider their businesses "successful," they'll just smile, as they usually do, and wait for you to ask them "how long before they go out of business." I hate to say they're a little jaded by this line of questioning, but it's true. And it is what's wrong with Gravenhurst in a nutshell……that too many naysayers are salting the earth with their critiques; but we don't know why they insist on cultivating negativity, rather than attempting to reach-out to everyone with a vested interest, to work side by side……instead of being adversaries, which has been the case. It didn't make sense when we started the business and it makes no sense today. But yet it continues.
We have found a gentler, kinder, more comfortable allegiance of local businesses, and have found that there's a deep pool of willingness to co-operate, when it comes to sharing and networking to look after customers……which of course, is the pivot of any successful enterprise….here or anywhere.
As a critic of the business community myself, I felt it was necessary to put-up or, as they say, "shut-up!" We invested in Uptown Gravenhurst, and with a lot of hard work and resilience, and long, long hours, we can honestly say, we have financially benefitted and profited, by investing in our hometown. We feel pretty good about admitting that. And we're going to have a Christmas celebration, in recognition of a gamble that was also a winner!
Thanks once again, for taking the time out of your busy schedule, to spend a few moments here at the Birch Hollow hearthside…..at this festive time of the year. It's always nice to have company on these snowless winter nights. Green Christmas? Christmas-time isn't diminished by the weather, as it is a heartfelt celebration…..not just one celebrated on skis and snowshoes. And by the way, "Goodnight John Boy!"
WHEN PROPAGANDA BECOMES ACCEPTED TRUTH - WE BUY THE HOUSE OF CARDS - AND LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES
IT'S SEEMS AN EASY OUT - BUT HAVE WE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM RECENT DECEPTIONS IN CANADA?
IT HAS BECOME ACCEPTABLE PRACTICE TO TELL PORKIES. IN FACT, IT'S EXPECTED THESE DAYS, THAT TRUTH WILL NEVER SPOIL WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GOOD NEWS STORY. I HEAR AND READ IT ALL THE TIME HERE IN GRAVENHURST AND MUSKOKA GENERALLY. AUTHORS OF THESE MISTRUTHS WHO KNOW FULL WELL, THAT IF THERE WAS A FORENSIC AUDIT OF THEIR STATEMENTS, OR A LEGAL INQUIRY, THEY'D BE EXPOSED AS LIARS. IF THERE WAS A GAIN OF MONEY, AS A DIRECT RESULT OF ONE OF THESE DECEPTIONS, IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED AN ACT OF FRAUD. YET IT HAS BECOME A TOOL OF UNSPECIFIED GAIN IN MANY OTHER WAYS, ESPECIALLY USEFUL IN SHIFTING OR BUILDING PUBLIC OPINION. YOU ARE LEARNING OF THE PUBLIC OPINION FALL-OUT, AND COLLATERAL PARTY DAMAGE, FROM THESE PURPOSEFUL DECEPTIONS, IN THE RECENT DEBACLE OF THE SENATE SPENDING SCANDAL, FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE PROVINCIAL MINEFIELD, OF THE CANCELLATION COSTS FOR THE PLANNED GAS FIRED GENERATING PLANTS, SCRAPPED AS A VOTE-GETTER, PRIOR TO SEVERAL BI-ELECTIONS. THE SCANDALS HAVE BEEN ACCELERATED BY THE FACT THE MEDIA EXPOSED THE COVER-UP, AND THE CAMPAIGN TO MAKE EVERYTHING SEEM NORMAL; EVEN AS THE EXPLOSIVE ALLEGATIONS WERE HITTING TORONTO CITY COUNCIL, THERE WAS DENIAL EVERY FREAKING DAY IT SEEMED. SO THE ART OF LIEING, MISLEADING, COVER-UPS, AND PROPAGANDA, ARE PART OF THE REPRESENTATIVE EXPECTATION. AT SOME POINT, DURING THE PERIOD OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL'S TERM OF OFFICE, IF NOT EVERY OTHER DAY, THEY WILL BE EXPECTED TO "LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE." SPEAKING OUT AGAINST YOUR OWN LEADERSHIP IS POLITICAL SUICIDE; OF COURSE, GETTING CAUGHT AS PART OF THE COVER-UP, IS SUICIDE BY MEDIA. WHAT'S YOUR POISON? IS IT ANY WONDER, SO MANY CITIZENS PAY SO LITTLE ATTENTION TO THE POLITICAL SCENE THESE DAYS. MANY REFUSING TO VOTE. LIKE THE MOVIE "THE STEPFORD WIVES," IT'S HARD TO PLAY POLITICS WITHOUT TOWING THE LINE. YOU HAVE TO WATCH FOR THE NETWORK OF FRIENDS., WHO HAVE EACH OTHER'S BACK, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY. BEING TOO HONEST CAN BE MEAN AN EARLY EXIT FROM THE CLUB. MAYBE I CAN PROVIDE A LITTLE INSIGHT, AS A FORMER REPORTER / EDITOR FOR THE MUSKOKA MEDIA.
BACK IN THE EARLY 1980'S, WE HAD WICKED COMPETITION FROM THE BRACEBRIDGE EXAMINER. A RELATIVELY NEW AND CHALLENGING PUBLICATION, THE EXAMINER WAS HURTING THE HISTORIC "HERALD-GAZETTE," WHICH I WAS EMPLOYED. THIS IS THE ABRIDGED VERSION, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT MORE INVOLVED IN THIS, THAN JUST TWO COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS BATTLING FOR MARKET SHARE. WHAT THE VICIOUS COMPETITION MEANT, WAS THAT OUR REPORTING STAFF NEEDED TO "UP THE GAME," AS THEY SAY. WE HAD TO PROVE WE WERE GOING TO PLAY HARDBALL, AS THE EXAMINER WAS DEMONSTRATING OF THE NEW GAME IN TOWN. THEY WERE KICKING THE CRAP OUT OF STATUS QUO IN OUR COMMUNITY, WITH WHAT WE ALL KNEW WAS AN EXCELLENT PRODUCT. REPORTERS WERE TEARING APART THE "YOU CAN'T TOUCH THIS," CODE OF CONDUCT, THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY INGRAINED IN LOCAL UNWRITTEN (BUT ASSUMED) PROTOCOLS. THE EXAMINER MARCHED TO A DIFFERENT DRUMMER, AND BEGAN EXPOSING LOCAL POLITICS FOR WHAT IT WAS.....WHICH SEEMED A LOT LIKE A GENTLEMAN'S CLUB IN THOSE DAYS. IN A FEW SHORT YEARS, THE HERALD-GAZETTE, THE LEGACY, WAS BEING PUSHED HARD TO IMPROVE ITS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. TO PROVE ITS RELEVANCE TO THE COMMUNITY. TRUTH BE KNOWN, THERE HADN'T BEEN MUCH INVESTIGATIVE ANYTHING PRIOR TO THIS; AS ANY PUBLICATION CAN GET AWAY WITH, WHEN THERE IS NO SERIOUS COMPETITION. THE BIRTH OF THE EXAMINER, IN FACT, IN THE LATE 1970'S "HERALDED" A NEW AND IMPORTANT PERIOD IN THE COVERAGE OF LOCAL NEWS. THE HERALD-GAZETTE WAS FORCED TO CHANGE OR LOSE ITS MARKET. READERS WANTED THE REAL, UNCENSORED NEWS. NOT PRESS RELEASES AND PROPAGANDA. UNFORTUNATELY, WITHOUT INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS, TO TAKE APART PROPAGANDA, FOR WHAT IT WAS, EDITORIAL COPY WAS TOOTHLESS. IT WAS A GREAT VEHICLE FOR COMMUNITY NEWS, BUT IN ORDER TO COMPETE WITH THE TRAIL-BLAZING OF THE EXAMINER, CHANGE HAD TO OCCUR OR ELSE. I WAS A LATER PART OF THE TRANSITION TO HARD NEWS, BEING EXTRACTED FROM PREVIOUSLY PROTECTED PUBLIC SOURCES. A BIG ADJUSTMENT IN ATTITUDES WAS SLOW TO MATURE. THE READERSHIP AND CONSTITUENTS GENERALLY BENEFITTED FROM THIS COMPETITION, TO GET THE BIG SCOOPS. WE WERE A HUNGRY BUNCH BACK THEN.
IT WAS DIFFICULT AS EDITOR OF THE HERALD-GAZETTE, FOR A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT REASONS. OUR MANAGEMENT WAS FIRMLY ROOTED IN THE POLITICAL SCENE, AND IN BOTH LOCAL SERVICE CLUBS, AND CHURCHES. THIS IS PRETTY AVERAGE FOR A SMALL COMMUNITY, AND QUITE EXPECTED, AS A FRIENDLY ENCUMBRANCE FOR AN EDITOR AND NEWS STAFF. EVEN THE EDITOR, OF A SMALL TOWN NEWSPAPER, HAD CERTAIN CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. I WAS A DIRECTOR AND PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICIAL WITH THE BRACEBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND YES, I WROTE A LOT OF PRESS RELEASES ABOUT OUR NEW MUSEUM, WOODCHESTER VILLA. I DIDN'T LIE ABOUT ITS SUCCESSES, BUT I DID INFORM THE READERS THAT EVENTS HELD THERE, WERE GOING TO BE "ENTERTAINING," AND "FAMILY FUN." I'D EVEN WRITE ABOUT THE SUCCESSES OF THE PROGRAM, BUT I WAS ALWAYS VERY CAREFUL NOT TO PAD THE ATTENDANCE FIGURES, BECAUSE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN REVEALED BY ANY ONE OF MY TOWN COUNCIL OVERSEERS, IF AN AUDIT SHOWED I WAS FUDGING THE STATS. POINT IS, THERE ARE INTERNAL MORAL STRUGGLES WE FACED EVERY WEEK, TRYING TO KEEP OURSELVES UNBIASED AS FAR AS THE STORIES WE WERE RUNNING, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, STILL TRYING TO MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONS, WITH THOSE GROUPS WE HAD CONFLICT OF INTEREST ASSOCIATIONS. SOME FELT, BECAUSE OF FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATED CONNECTEDNESS, WE OWED IT TO THEM TO BOOST THEIR PROFILE WHENEVER POSSIBLE. WE REFUSED AS MUCH AS WE COULD. AT LEAST US NEWS STAFFERS. THERE WERE SOME THINGS AND COVERAGE WE COULDN'T DENY. WE DIDN'T OWN THE PAPER. WE WERE A TORY NEWSPAPER. THAT WAS NO SECRET. THE BEST PART, WAS THAT MANAGEMENT WOULD WRITE PRO-TORY EDITORIALS, AND I CAN SAY HONESTLY, I WAS NEVER ONCE TOLD TO SLANT A STORY IN SUPPORT OF ONE OF MANAGEMENT'S MANY CONNECTIONS. IF I WAS, AND I DON'T REMEMBER SUCH A CASE, I WOULD HAVE TURNED IT DOWN, AND VACATED MY SEAT AT THE KEYBOARD. I WAS ASKED IF I WOULD WRITE A HARD-LINE EDITORIAL ABOUT A BRACEBRIDGE COUNCILLOR ONCE, BUT I JUST LAUGHED AND WALKED AWAY....ASSUMING THE OVERSEER, AT THE TIME, WAS JUST JOKING AROUND.
I LEARNED, DURING THESE MEDIA YEARS, WHEN WE GOT TO POKE OUR NOSES INTO A LOT OF PREVIOUSLY SECRET AREAS, JUST HOW MUCH HAD BEEN GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY, BELOW THE RADAR. WE FOUND LOTS OF SECRET STASHES OF INFORMATION. READERS LOVED IT, AND BOTH NEWSPAPERS WERE GETTING GOOD REVIEWS, AS MORE AND MORE REVELATIONS WERE BEING OFFERED, ABOUT THE INNER WORKINGS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENT. IN SHORT ORDER, ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE APPEARING AS THE PROVERBIAL "DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS," NOT KNOWING JUST HOW FAR THEY SHOULD GO, TO "COOPERATE WITH THE PRESS." IT TURNED OUT, THAT MOST CAPITULATED BY FRIENDLY PERSUASION. HAVING A PEN AND NOTEPAD BENEATH YOUR NOSE, WAS HARD TO IGNORE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WERE BEING QUOTED; WHEN IN YEARS PAST, AN OFFICIAL COULD "GO OFF THE RECORD," AND SEEM SO HONORABLE FOR DOING SO. NOW THERE WAS FAR MORE "ON THE RECORD" BEING ACCUMULATED, AND THE CHRONICLE OF LOCAL HISTORY, HAD TAKEN A SHARP RIGHT TURN. ISSUE BY ISSUE, THE TOWN WAS BEING OPENED LIKE A STUBBORN CLAMSHELL. WE FOUND LOTS OF ATTEMPTED COVER-UPS OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, AND ENJOYED MAKING COUNCILLORS UNCOMFORTABLE, HOLDING ON TO INFORMATION. CONSTITUENTS HAD A RIGHT TO KNOW. PREVIOUSLY, IT WAS THE CASE, THE MUNICIPALITY WOULD PROVIDE THE SANITIZED VERSION. TWO PAPERS EAGER TO OUTDO EACH OTHER, STOPPED THIS PRACTICE ABRUPTLY. BOTH PUBLICATIONS STARTED EXPOSING COUNCIL'S PRACTICE OF LIMITING INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. AND BY THE WAY, THE PUBLIC GRADUALLY UNDERSTOOD, JUST HOW MUCH OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES AND MANIPULATION, THEY DIDN'T KNOW.....AND THEY WEREN'T PLEASED ABOUT THE REVELATIONS. IN THE BEGINNING, THEY ASSUMED WE WERE THE ONES EMBELLISHING THE TRUTH JUST TO GAIN MORE READERS THAN THE COMPETITION. WHICH WAS SAD REALLY, BECAUSE, THEY HAD BOUGHT INTO THE PRACTICE OF ONLY ALLOWING CONSTITUENTS TO KNOW WHAT THEY FELT WAS NEWSWORTHY. WE HAD A DIFFERENT PLAN; AND IT WAS THE RIGHT PLAN. THERE WAS A LOT OF NEWS IN OUR SMALL COMMUNITY. BUT ONLY A SMALL PORTION WAS MAKING ITS WAY TO PRINT, UNTIL OUR NEWSPAPERS BEGAN BATTLING FOR SCOOPS. IT WAS THE HALCYON PERIOD OF JOURNALISM IN SOUTH MUSKOKA. NO NOOK OR CRANNY WAS SAFE FROM THE PRYING OF HUNGRY REPORTERS.
THIS IS WHAT IS MISSING TODAY. THERE HAS BEEN AN UNFORTUNATE RETURN TO THE "GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL" YEARS, THAT NEWSPAPER COMPETITION HAD KNOCKED ON ITS ASS. NOW THERE ARE MORE NOOKS AND CRANNIES THAN EVER, AND NO INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS TO FERRET THEM OUT. SO WHAT BECOMES PREVELANT INSTEAD, ARE THE SAME OLD REIMS OF PROPAGANDA SPILLING OUT FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT. ESPECIALLY ABOUT ANYTHING THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE PRESENTING, IN OF COURSE, THE MOST POSITIVE LIGHT ATTAINABLE, VIA WORD SMITHING IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. IF A PUBLIC EVENT FOR ANY GROUP IS HELD AT THE OPERA HOUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE REPORT ON THE ATTENDANCE IS GENERALLY OFFERED AS "BIG. REALLY BIG." TO MOST OF US, READING THIS, WE WOULD ASSUME, THAT OUT OF 320 AVAILABLE IN THE "HOUSE," THAT "BIG" WOULD HAVE TO MEAN, IN EXCESS OF TWO HUNDRED TO CAPACITY. IF THESE "BIG" AUDIENCES WERE AUDITED BY INVESTIGATIVE MEDIA, WE MIGHT FIND THAT FOR "PUBLIC CONSUMPTION," AND THEIR SATISFACTION, "BIG," MAY BE AS SMALL AS FIFTY PEOPLE. IT HAS BECOME ACCEPTABLE PUBLIC RELATIONS, IN THIS MODERN ERA, TO MAKE UP THE RULES AS ONE GOES ALONG, AND WHAT IS BIG TO US, IN NUMBERS, IS FRANKLY, IRRELEVANT. WE'RE NOT THE "DECIDERS" FOR THE RULES OF THE GAME. BY THE WAY, I WOULDN'T WRITE THIS, IF I HADN'T STUDIED THESE CLAIMS IN THE PAST, AND FOUND THAT ON ALL OCCASIONS, THE NUMBERS BEING CLAIMED, AND THE SUCCESSES GARNERED, WERE OFF BY A CONSIDERABLE MARGIN. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WERE USING WORDS THAT WOULD COVER ALL THE BASES. "AN EXCELLENT TURN OUT!" WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? "A LARGE CROWD WAS IN ATTENDANCE?" WHAT IS THE DETERMINATION OF A "LARGE CROWD?" IT DEPENDS ON THE WRITER AND THE PURPOSE OF THE STATEMENT. A LARGE CROWD TO ME IS DETERMINED BY THE SEATS AVAILABLE AT THE PARTICULAR VENUE. FORTY PATRONS IN A FIFTY SEAT VENUE IS LARGE. FORTY PATRONS IN A 320 SEAT FACILITY IS NOT A LARGE CROWD. YOU'D BE SHOCKED AT HOW MANY TIMES THIS IS CONSIDERED A SIGNIFICANT AND LARGE AUDIENCE, DESPITE THE FACT EVERY PERSON IN ATTENDANCE WOULD AGREE, IT WAS A SMALL, SMALL ATTENDANCE. SO WHEN DOES THIS STRETCHING OF THE TRUTH BECOME UNETHICAL AND DAMAGING. WELL, FOR ONE THING, WHEN IT IS USED TO SUPPORT A POLICY OR PROGRAM WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION, AS NOTHING MORE THAN PROPAGANDA FOR UNSPECIFIED GAIN. THE ONLY WAY TO EXPOSE THESE MISTRUTHS, OR EXAGGERATIONS, IS TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. OTHERWISE IT WILL NEVER BE REVEALED. SO WHAT DAMAGE DOES IT CAUSE? IF GOVERNMENT OR A PUBLICLY FUNDED ORGANIZATION DOES THIS, THEN THEY ARE MISLEADING THE PUBLIC. IN MY WORLD THIS IS WRONG. THE TRUTH NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH, SOONER OR LATER. THE PROBLEM COMES, WHEN GETTING FORTY PEOPLE OUT, DOES BECOME A "BIG" CROWD, AS EXPECTATIONS ADJUST TO THIS NEW NORMAL. THE BETTER PLAN, IS TO COME CLEAN, AND ADMIT OPENLY AND HONESTLY THAT THE EVENT ATTRACTED A "SMALL" CROWD. THE WORLD WON'T END AS A RESULT. AN HONEST ANSWER CAN MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER TOO.
THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF COURSE, IS THAT WHEN IT IS IGNORED TIME AND AGAIN, THE PUBLIC BEGINS ACCEPTING WHAT IT'S FED WITHOUT FEELING ANY NECESSITY TO INVESTIGATE THE CLAIM. THE "GETTING AWAY WITH IT THING," BECOMES A MEDIA RELATIONS ADDICTION. WHEN I HEAR A PUBLIC OFFICIAL GENERALIZING ON THE STATE OF THE UNION, IN FOR EXAMPLE, OUR TOWN OR THE REGION, I NOW ASSUME THAT FUDGING HAS OCCURRED TO SOME DETAIL BEING ADDRESSED. IF I WAS TO PUSH THE SPEAKER ON SOME OF THE DETAILS, I'D GET AN ANGRY RETORT, AND EXPECT TO BE KNOWN THEREAFTER AS A HERETIC. "HOW DARE YOU CHALLENGE THE AUTHORITY OF PUBLIC OFFICE?" FOR GOSH SAKES, LOOK AT WHAT REPORTERS HAVE UNCOVERED IN THREE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THAT WAS BEING COVERED UP AS INCONVENIENT TRUTHS? "PROBLEMS AT CITY HALL? NO, EVERYTHING IS FINE." EXCEPT THE CRACK SMOKING THING!
I'VE ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN PUBLIC RELATIONS LONG ENOUGH, TO KNOW THE INHERENT DANGERS OF LIEING AND GETTING CAUGHT. I'VE WORKED WITH SOME VERY SAVVY PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALISTS, AND WHILE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CORPORATE OR GOVERNMENTAL SECRETS, AND RIGHTLY SO, THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS TRYING TO ERASE THE EXISTENCE OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES BEFORE ANY ONE CAN FIND OUT. I WOULD NEVER ADVISE A CLIENT TO MISREPRESENT THE TRUTH OR TRY TO DODGE REALITY, FOR THE SIMPLE REASON, THAT IT DOESN'T WORK. WHEN IT IS FOUND OUT, THE PERSONAL DAMAGE IT INFLICTS, CAN END CAREERS; WHEN AN HONEST APPROACH, TO SOMETHING LIKE A DRINKING AND DRIVING CHARGE, CAN BE USED POSITIVELY, BY THE SUBJECT, TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE PUBLIC, THAT TO ERR IS HUMAN. IT'S WHEN THEY TRY TO COVER IT UP, THAT THE IMPACT OF THE EVENTUAL REVELATION, DOUBLES IN NEGATIVE WEIGHT.
SPIN-MASTERS DO THEIR JOBS. THEY HAVE A PURPOSE AND A LEGITIMACY. WHEN THEY ARE USED TO COVER-UP SERIOUS SHORTFALLS OR PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY GOVERNMENTS, THERE SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE WHEN THE POOP EVENTUALLY HITS THE FAN AT TWICE THE SPEED. WHEN ROOKIES, WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, PLAY PUBLIC RELATIONS ROLES OUT OF NECESSITY, THAT'S WHEN ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE IN MOST DANGER OF BEING IMPLANTED INTO AN EVEN BIGGER HOLE.....THAN IF THEY JUST 'FESSED-UP TO THE PROBLEM AT HAND. WHENEVER AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TELLS THE PUBLIC, IN CLICHED PITCHES, ABOUT "CLEAR SAILING AHEAD," OR "WE'RE MOVING FORWARD," I READ THE MATTER DIFFERENTLY. MY TAKE IS, "OH CRAP, WE'RE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE," AND "WE'RE SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL, SO DON'T GET IN OUR WAY!" SO WHY CAN'T THEY ADMIT THIS, AND LIKE REDUCING THE STEAM FROM A PRESSURE COOKER, CUT THEMSELVES A LITTLE SLACK. I HAVEN'T HEARD TELL OF A LYNCHING OF A PUBLIC OFFICIAL IN A LONG, LONG, LONG TIME. SO WHY THE VEIL OF SECRECY? WHY COVER-UP THE TRUTH? I'M WILLING TO BET THE HANDBOOK ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THIS COUNTRY, DOESN'T HAVE A SECTION HEADED, "HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY BLOW OFF THE MEDIA," OR "FIFTY WAYS TO LEAVE THEM GUESSING!"
THERE IS AN OVER-BURDEN OF PROPAGANDA IN THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST. I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS MANY TIMES IN THE PAST, BECAUSE IT REALLY BOTHERS ME, THAT BEING OPEN AND TRANSPARENT ABOUT MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST, IS SUCH A BAD THING TO SO MANY PEOPLE.....WHO NOW ARE ADDICTED TO EMBELLISHING EVERY MEDIA RELEASE....AND PUBLIC PRESENTATION, FOR FEAR, I SUPPOSE OF A PUBLIC BACKLASH. YET, THE TOOTHLESS MEDIA DOESN'T EVEN ATTEND MOST OF THESE EVENTS, OR SHOW ANY REAL INTEREST DIGGING INTO THE MATTER. BUT I WANT TO OFFER ONE BIT OF ADVICE, TO THOSE PART-TIME SPIN-MASTERS, A LITTLE ON THE GREEN SIDE, WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS "FUDGING" OF THE TRUTH. THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING IN CYBER-SPACE THAT IS DOING WHAT IS MOST DASTARDLY, TO THOSE WHO CONCEAL AND MISREPRESENT THE REAL STORY. IT'S CALLED TWITTER.
I CHALLENGE ANYONE READING THIS BLOG, WHO DISAGREES, OR WHO POSSIBLY AGREES, TO CHECK OUT TWEETS, INVOLVING GRAVENHURST. I DO NOT TWEET. BUT THOSE WHO DO, ARE NOT AFRAID OF CONTRADICTING ACCEPTED THOUGHT, OR OFFICIAL STATEMENTS. IN OTHER WORDS, A PERSON WHO ATTENDS A SHOW, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE OPERA HOUSE, WHERE IT IS CLAIMED A LARGE TURN-OUT OCCURRED, COULD BE CHALLENGED TO SHAME, BY A PATRON WHO TWEETS A STATEMENT, NOTING THAT A TINY CROWD ATTENDED INSTEAD. MAYBE WITH A PICTURE. WHILE WE'RE NOT LIKELY TO GET A TEAM OF WOLF-LIKE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS HERE, ANY TIME SOON, THE GENERAL PUBLIC USING COMMUNICATION ALTERNATIVES LIKE TWITTER, ARE BECOMING POWERFUL REPORTERS....MAYBE EVEN WITHOUT KNOWING IT. AND FOLKS, JUST TO WARN YOU, THERE ARE TWEETS ABOUT OUR TOWN THAT ARE VERY UNATTRACTIVE BY THEIR HONEST OPINIONS. OPINIONS ABOUT LOCAL BUSINESSES. SOME GOOD. SOME SHOCKING. AND THEY'RE NOT BEING CENSORED, SO AS FAR AS COVERING-UP STUFF IN THE FUTURE, THIS FORUM IS OFFERING A SMACK-DOWN FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO KEEP THINGS UNDER WRAPS. STATUS QUO IS IMPOSSIBLE, AS IT ONCE WAS, AND WE ARE FINDING LOCAL TWEETS VERY REVEALING INDEED. OF COURSE, WE CAN SUFFER THE SAME UNCENSORED REVIEWS, AND WE'LL TAKE THEM ON THE CHIN.....AS WE HAVE NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, WE HAVE HAD TWEETS MADE FROM, AND ABOUT OUR STORE, IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO ACCESS, TO CHECK ON OUR CUSTOMER APPROVAL. IT HAS ACTUALLY MADE US A MORE RESPONSIVE BUSINESS, KNOWING THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT MAKES IT TO AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE. FUDGING THE TRUTH MEANS NOTHING. THOSE WHO TWEET ABOUT US, ARE THE ONES CALLING THE SHOTS. WE RESPECT THAT. IF WE DO SOMETHING WRONG, OR FAIL TO GIVE THEM THE SERVICE THEY DESERVE, THEY CAN RIGHTLY BASH US ABOUT ONLINE. IT USED TO BE CONFINED TO A LITTLE GRUMBLING ONCE OUT THE DOOR. NOW ITS GLOBAL IN SECONDS, AS ARE PICTURES OF OUR BUSINESS. FOR US, IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR SHIFT IN ADVERTISING, AND WE DON'T WANT UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS LEAVING OUR SHOP. SO BEING TRANSPARENT HAS ITS ADVANTAGES. ECONOMICALLY SO, FOR US. BUT IT HAS ADVANTAGES FAR BEYOND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.
IT'S A NEW ERA. INSTEAD OF AN INVESTIGATIVE PRESS, WE HAVE TWITTER. WHAT WOULD MARSHALL MCLUHAN THINK OF THIS "MEDIUM AS THE MESSAGE?"
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