Help!
The Islander needs your support today.
By TONYA L. POUTRY, Owner/Publisher
It is no secret that just about every business is suffering financially due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic gripping Vermont, the nation and the world.
Now The Islander must turn to you – our faithful readers – for a shot in the arm.
Today we are creating a completely all-volunteer group -- “The Friends of The Islander” -- and are seeking financial donations to try to ensure your newspaper newspaper continues for years to come.
By making a donation to “The Friends of The Islander” you also are showing you appreciate the past work by your free community newspaper.
The Islander, since 1974, has depended on advertising from businesses for financial support. Much of that advertising has dried up temporarily during this unprecedented economic downturn.
It was that regular advertising through the years that allowed the Champlain Islands to be informed every week about the most important town, school and planning news, vital police, fire and rescue stories, timely arts and entertainment information.
The Islander also has provided fantastic photography, interesting features, necessary details about fish, wildlife, recreation and other local sports. The Islander has provided locals a chance to write letters to the editor to praise somebody, to endorse a candidate, or just to get something off their chest.
We have published obituaries of friends and neighbors, library updates and programs, helped readers bid and barter, and sponsored blood drives and community events such as the Champlain Islands Christmas parade, Concerts in the Vineyard and GreatIce! to name a few.
All of this has been free for 46 years. More than 2,350 weekly issues that your family and co-workers have shared.
One of the greatest comments we often hear is that The Islander serves as a unifier for the islands because the newspaper has full saturation in the local towns. We want to remain a free newspaper that you can pick up at your favorite location.
Yes, The Islander is there each week for everybody to pick up and read. We are told the newspaper often remains the whole week on your coffee tables and around your home. What is important in your town is important to those in nearby towns.
There is no other way to get news and information out to everybody in the Champlain Islands. No other media outlet cares about the Champlain Islands we are often told. That’s why everybody has been turning to The Islander for our COVID-19 coverage with frequent updates on our website; our new email subscription, “Islander in Your Inbox” and the gentle reminders of the beauty of our area with our “Only in the Islands” photos by Rob Swanson online and in print.
We appreciate all your love. We will not give up!
While other daily and weekly newspapers serving Vermont started similar fund-raising efforts early on, The Islander postponed as long as it could in the hopes COVID-19 would diminish and the economy would rebound quickly.
Maybe that was overly wishful thinking during this unmatched challenge in our lifetime.
The Islander undertook some private belt tightening that we opted at the time not to publicly share when other newspapers were announcing their cutbacks. The Islander has undergone layoffs (with the hope to re-hire valuable team members). We imposed pay cuts and reduced hours. We reduced other expenses. All these steps were taken while trying to increase weekly revenue and working hard to provide the most complete coverage for the Islands during this uncertain time. The Islands have had representation at every press conference held by Gov. Phil Scott, asking your questions and following up on your concerns. We've gone from a weekly publication to a daily news provider - with you are reader in mind. We will not give up.
We were fortunate during this bleak time that several local businesses who understand the importance of a community newspaper stepped up to purchase supportive advertisements. Unfortunately, we need more support.
As Gov. Phil Scott allows some businesses slowly to restart, we look forward to resuming service to our advertisers and having their businesses in full operation. Until that time, we are all on a different playing field.
Meanwhile if you believe in the mission of The Islander serving our community and want the newspaper here in the future, now is the time we need you. Please consider a donation today. Again, we will not give up!
From all of us at The Islander, thank you.
The Islander needs your support today.
By TONYA L. POUTRY, Owner/Publisher
It is no secret that just about every business is suffering financially due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic gripping Vermont, the nation and the world.
Now The Islander must turn to you – our faithful readers – for a shot in the arm.
Today we are creating a completely all-volunteer group -- “The Friends of The Islander” -- and are seeking financial donations to try to ensure your newspaper newspaper continues for years to come.
By making a donation to “The Friends of The Islander” you also are showing you appreciate the past work by your free community newspaper.
The Islander, since 1974, has depended on advertising from businesses for financial support. Much of that advertising has dried up temporarily during this unprecedented economic downturn.
It was that regular advertising through the years that allowed the Champlain Islands to be informed every week about the most important town, school and planning news, vital police, fire and rescue stories, timely arts and entertainment information.
The Islander also has provided fantastic photography, interesting features, necessary details about fish, wildlife, recreation and other local sports. The Islander has provided locals a chance to write letters to the editor to praise somebody, to endorse a candidate, or just to get something off their chest.
We have published obituaries of friends and neighbors, library updates and programs, helped readers bid and barter, and sponsored blood drives and community events such as the Champlain Islands Christmas parade, Concerts in the Vineyard and GreatIce! to name a few.
All of this has been free for 46 years. More than 2,350 weekly issues that your family and co-workers have shared.
One of the greatest comments we often hear is that The Islander serves as a unifier for the islands because the newspaper has full saturation in the local towns. We want to remain a free newspaper that you can pick up at your favorite location.
Yes, The Islander is there each week for everybody to pick up and read. We are told the newspaper often remains the whole week on your coffee tables and around your home. What is important in your town is important to those in nearby towns.
There is no other way to get news and information out to everybody in the Champlain Islands. No other media outlet cares about the Champlain Islands we are often told. That’s why everybody has been turning to The Islander for our COVID-19 coverage with frequent updates on our website; our new email subscription, “Islander in Your Inbox” and the gentle reminders of the beauty of our area with our “Only in the Islands” photos by Rob Swanson online and in print.
We appreciate all your love. We will not give up!
While other daily and weekly newspapers serving Vermont started similar fund-raising efforts early on, The Islander postponed as long as it could in the hopes COVID-19 would diminish and the economy would rebound quickly.
Maybe that was overly wishful thinking during this unmatched challenge in our lifetime.
The Islander undertook some private belt tightening that we opted at the time not to publicly share when other newspapers were announcing their cutbacks. The Islander has undergone layoffs (with the hope to re-hire valuable team members). We imposed pay cuts and reduced hours. We reduced other expenses. All these steps were taken while trying to increase weekly revenue and working hard to provide the most complete coverage for the Islands during this uncertain time. The Islands have had representation at every press conference held by Gov. Phil Scott, asking your questions and following up on your concerns. We've gone from a weekly publication to a daily news provider - with you are reader in mind. We will not give up.
We were fortunate during this bleak time that several local businesses who understand the importance of a community newspaper stepped up to purchase supportive advertisements. Unfortunately, we need more support.
As Gov. Phil Scott allows some businesses slowly to restart, we look forward to resuming service to our advertisers and having their businesses in full operation. Until that time, we are all on a different playing field.
Meanwhile if you believe in the mission of The Islander serving our community and want the newspaper here in the future, now is the time we need you. Please consider a donation today. Again, we will not give up!
From all of us at The Islander, thank you.