“What you see is what you get,” an expression sometimes used to describe an individual who is without guile, seems quite complimentary. But “what you see is not what you get” just may be the way to describe this magazine. For example, when you pulled the latest edition of Eastman Living out of your mailbox, the first thing you probably noticed was the artfully composed cover, the work of one of our many talented, amateur photographers. Once inside, you saw the regular columns and the special features, the handicraft of our resident wordsmiths, as well as the many photographs that complement the writing, all submitted by other skilled photographers. Then, there were the ads, which are designed to draw our attention to any number of local, essential services. That’s what you saw.
What you didn’t see is a whole lot more:
• The decision by the Eastman Board each year to continue funding this publication, which they consider an asset to the community;
• The quarterly editorial meeting during which a group of volunteers respond to the editor’s suggestions for the next issue and offer some ideas of their own, usually ending with an agreed upon number of features and their authors;
• Eastman’s marketing and communications coordinator, Lorie McClory’s, attention to our paid advertisers, whose continued use of our publication to get their messages out there helps defray much of the cost of this publication;
• The approximately six-week deadline for both writers and photographers that results in articles that need to be edited with respect, and a magazine that needs to be shaped into a whole, complete with a table of contents and an established order;
• The face-to-face meeting with our imaginative graphic designer, Lindsey Tompkins of Kiwi Design, who also works for our publisher, R.C. Brayshaw & Company in Warner, and who is charged with the task of making our magazine look beautiful;
• The careful scrutiny of two consecutive galleys, sent to us by Lindsey after she works her magic, so that we might check for accuracy;
• Our ultimate decision that, yes, the magazine is ready to be printed and our effort to make sure the publishers receive that positive message;
• The communication between the publisher and the Grantham Post Office and our postmaster, Cindy O’Brien, that results in the magazines being sorted into local boxes or sent off to other destinations.
A lot of people take a lot of pride in creating Eastman Living. And shhh…don’t tell anyone: Lindsey says we’re her favorite project. So, enjoy the magazine and make an effort to support our faithful advertisers and our efficient and environmentally responsible publisher. Let us know what works and what doesn’t. We’re trying our hardest to be without guile.
Judy McCarthy
mccarthy.judy at gmail.com
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.