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Old city managers are probably not supposed to feel giddy about anything. I think we are expected to project an image of stoic responsibility, along with a touch of omniscience and detachment. Anyone who has ever read these blogs already knows that I shattered that illusion a long time ago. I am proudly giddy about our new library, and I know it’s a
My professional career began as a Navy journalist with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the early 1970s. The job probably sounds more impressive than it really was. I had a number of responsibilities that included writing press releases, speaking to high school audiences about NATO, and supporting a briefing team that made presentations throughout the U.S. and Europe. Most of my time was dedicated to the briefing team.
I received an e-mail message from a colleague on the East Coast earlier this week that concluded with the words, “People are scared.” I believe she was referring to the current economic situation and the uncertainty we all face regarding jobs and financial security. Few of us are immune from concerns about the economy, and even fewer can escape the media’s new fascination with grim financial statistics. I know the concerns are legitimate, but I’m also convinced we can’t let fear dictate our
I received a news release this morning from our Parks & Recreation Department advertising a Baby Signs program at the Oregon Language Center February 23. I noticed that the program cost $55, but I had no idea what Baby Signs meant or why someone would be willing to pay $55 to find out about it. My first instinct was to contact Debbi in P&R and ask about the program. Instead, I googled Baby Signs and instantly found a complete explanation. My