By Hannah Brandt
We are overwhelmed by your generosity during our fundraising drive this spring! Thanks to you we were able to print not only the March edition, but this April issue, as well. We now have enough funds to print the paper for a few months. We will need your ongoing support to continue to bring you the news, information, analysis and opinion pieces you count on. The vast majority of our costs at Community Alliance every month go to printing the newspaper.
I have been fortunate these past few months to speak to several vital Valley organizations. In December, I had the pleasure to speak to the Unitarian Universalist church where we will hold our fundraiser on April 16 from 5-7 PM. In February and March, I spoke to the Fresno Partnership, the Central Labor Council, and at the Reedley Peace Center. I have appreciated getting to know so many dedicated organizers and advocates in the Central Valley after living out of the area until recently.
Many of the people involved with the paper are volunteers. We value all the people who contribute articles, letters to the editor, calendar events, and/or their time distributing papers. We also are grateful to the many businesses who stock the newspaper on site and those organizations who advertise in Community Alliance.
I want to recognize our regular columnists, George Kauffman, Ruth Gadebusch, Tom Frantz, Boston Woodard, and Tiffany Potter who bring their thoughtful reflections on science and the environment, politics, education, mass incarceration, activism and much more to our publication every month.
We continue to improve our website, as well. Our layout designer and webmaster, Joel Perez consistently rolls out new features. Please bear with us as we work to develop our online access. Look out for some fun new options. As with anything else, it takes time to work out the glitches and determine best practices.
Similarly, I appreciate everyone’s patience as I have been learning to do the work of editor. It has been an exciting challenge. As I have mentioned before, I was not a journalism student and never worked at a newspaper before this one. Everything I have done so far I have learned through trial and error and the kindness of those who have been involved with the paper for many years. That includes former editors Mike Rhodes and Ernesto Saavedra.
I want to thank Camille Russell, Bev Fitzpatrick, Pam Whalen, Vic Bedoian, and Dan Yaseen for working so tirelessly on our fundraising and on other endeavors for the newspaper.
I hope we will see you all April 16 for Community Alliance: the Next Generation! Please see our flyer on the back page of this issue for more details.
Thank you to our thoughtful donors in March!
Generous individuals at the Unitarian Universalist Church
Ron Vineyard
Carole Laval
Betsy Temple
Patricia Costello
Peggy Davis
Virginia Milne
Gail Newell
Vie Rhodes
Jan & David Roy
Radley & John Reep
Betty Sempadian
Cindy Calvert
Jefferson Beavers
Jean Hayes
Ann Williamson
Lloyd Carter
Mark Arax
Allen Linscheid
Genie Baranoff
Ann Fadenrecht
Joy Chittick
Mike & Diana Decker
Jeffrey Hallock
Dave Khehbiel
Richard Stone
Betty Kallo
Judith Parker
Bob McCloskey
Linda Tubach
Allen & Debra Westhaven- Church
Pat Sigala
Stephen Barile
Jeni-Ann Kren
Brian& Edie Jessup
Mary Hetherington
Marc Lasher
Chanah Crossman
Spenser Abe
Jack Erickson
Dr. & Mrs. George Kauffman
Joanne Anderson
Don Friesen
Victor Kral
Loretta Kensinger
Karen Humphrey & Ken Clarke
Penny Smith
Dr. K.O. Crosby, DDS
Jeff Eisinger
Kay Pitts
Jane Worsley
Greg & Thulie Fletcher
Mary Ann Quann
Belinda Guerrero
Coke Hallowell
Ed Estes
Jeff Giocalone
Catherine Ratmeyer
Cherylyn Smith
Edith Frederick
Saul Esquivel
Joann McCarthy
George Madrid
Bruce Jewell
Mary Betteschild
Barbara Hormann
Cart Duncan
Alexardros R. Acedo
David Alegere
Myra Coble
Joe A Garcia
Allen Beck
Carolyn Murphy
Walter Shubin
Barbara Thomas
Merrily Davies
Steve Malm
Alfonso C. Hernandez
Sara Hedgpeth-Harris
Howard and Christine Watkins
(Please let us know we left you off the list and we will mention you next month)
