Charlotte Observer to outsource some ad design

The Charlotte Observer said Wednesday it will cut 25 of 41 jobs in its ad design group as it sends the work abroad, joining other large companies using foreign outsourcing to trim costs.

The newspaper has been testing outsourcing options for the work since last summer and chose Affinity Express, an Illinois company with facilities in the Philippines and India.

Employees, who have known layoffs were coming, received official notice Wednesday. They can apply for the 16 remaining jobs as artists, designers and "traffic coordinators" working with their overseas counterparts to complete ads, said Observer Publisher Ann Caulkins. Some people also may take positions elsewhere at the paper, which has about 1,000 workers.

Caulkins called the job-cutting discussions "brutal."

"It's a hard conversation to have," she said.

Click on the headline to read the full story by Stella M. Hopkins in the Charlotte Observer.

Editor can order reporters to shoot photos

The Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader may now require reporters to take photos, and may create five new salaried reporter jobs without overtime, under a Newspaper Guild contract approved late Tuesday, according to the union

Joe Strupp reported in Editor & Publisher that the five-year agreement, unanimously approved by union members, also includes new layoff procedures that require the paper to cover half of health benefits for 60 days following a layoff and give one month's notice before jobs are cut.

"While this is far from an ideal compromise, this is a compromise that we can live with," Lexington Newspaper Guild president Brandon Ortiz said in a statement. He said only about half of the union's members voted in the election. The union represents about 100 newsroom employees.

Ortiz said the requirement that reporters be willing to shoot photos was not opposed by the guild, but he said the union "came up with language to make sure they are not disciplined if they take a bad photo."

Publisher Timothy Kelly called the change "a natural progression."

The contract, which was forged after negotiations with a federal mediator on Jan. 19, is retroactive to January 1, 2007, and will expire December 31, 2011.

The major sticking points in negotiations, which had been ongoing for more than a year, were company proposals to reduce paid time-off and cut health insurance for part-time workers. Under the contract, part-time health insurance benefits will be protected until Jan. 1, 2010. After that date, the Herald-Leader may eliminate part-time health insurance with 90 days notice.

Paid time-off also will remain unchanged until Jan. 1, 2010. At that time, the Herald-Leader or the Guild may renegotiate the benefits. The company would have to reach agreement with the Guild or bargain to legal impasse to implement changes.

Click on the headline to read Stroup's article.

BJ Retirees blog helps kin find each other

I discovered another value to Harry's blog when Lionel Speranza of Cayuga Lake, NY (they spell and pronounce it differently than we do with Cuyahoga Falls), my late wife Monia's second cousin once removed, emailed me. We've never met. We didn't know about each other although Lionel lived near Beckley till 1950, when he was 10 years old and the family moved to Rochester, NY.

But Lionel, 68, in doing his genealogy research, came across Monia's obituary that I wrote in the Beacon Journal after her Feb. 4, 2004, death. When he figured out that Monia's maternal grandmother was a sibling of his paternal grandfather, Lionel wound up on the BJ Retirees blog. That's where he got my email address from the BJ Retirees email list, which Harry continually updates.

Lionel emailed me. I emailed back. We have connecting kin in our genealogy reports, and probably will be able to fill in each other's blanks. In part because the BJ Retirees blog is a valuable source of information, beyond just the posts.

Coincidentally, when Paula and I toured New York state last July, we had lunch at the Montage Restaurant, which has a great view of Cayuga Lake, one of the Finger Lakes. And enjoyed Watkins Glen State Park, near Lionel's residence.

Thanks, Harry, for providing your lists.

JSK piled up doctorates

Another item from the July, 1969 issue of Tower Topics

2 MORE DEGREES
GIVE JSK SIX

Editor John S, Knight received two honorary doctor of laws degrees this year -- from tile University of Michigan and Oberlin College.

This makes six doctor of laws degrees he's received since 1945, when Akron U awarded the first. Others have come from Northwestern (1947), Kent State (1958) and Ohio State (1961).

In each instance, JSK was cited fur his achievements in journalism, which, if listed, would take up all the space allotted to Tower Topics.

What to do with the BJ: A story from 1969

A few posts below someone asked what changes we would like to see in the Beacon Journal operations. Here’s a report from volume 2, issue No. 4 of Tower Topics from July 1969. It’s a report which notes that the late Bill Schlemmer, then managing editor, was studying just that. Also in that issue is a lead article by Mickey Porter about plans for the BJ Jamboree at Myers Lake Park. Well there are no more Jamborees, no more Meyers Lake Park, no Beacon Magazine, no more afternoon newspapers. But here’s the story:

Managing Editor Bill Schlemmer has been TDY'd [ a 1960s expression for temporary duty] to the general manager's office for the next few months to research the feasibility of making changes in the Beacon Journal's current method of operation.

Among things Schlemmer is studying is the possibility of converting the Saturday paper to a morning publication like Sunday. Among considerations is how many subscribers are off on Saturday, like Sunday, and would an a. m. edition better serve the reader and advertiser· during a leisure period.

Another subject under study is our edition structure. We now have eight editions Seven star for Northern Summit County including Copley and Tallmadge; Six star for Barberton, Norton and Portage Lakes; Five star for Medina County; Four star for Stark and Wayne counties; Three star for Portage counties; Two star the Cuyahoga Falls area; One star for Akron and Night Final for late street sales.

SCHLEMMER IS trying to determine whether we can adequately cover this broad area under our present setup, taking into account reader acceptability, mechanics and logistics.

"The idea is that we have to stay abreast of our readers' desires and needs," said GM Sam McKeel, "and make sure we are able to continue to grow and expand in the areas we serve."

At this time it is not known whether there will be fewer or more editions. "We're just taking a good internal look and we hope to set up goals for the future," said Schlemmer. He is also taking an analytical look at Parade Magazine and its value . . . whether to discontinue it and beef up Beacon Magazine.

He also is looking at the advertising and circulation operations, particularly at the 30,000 readers who subscribe only on Sunday.

Mac Tully leaves Kansas City Star

Mac Tully, publisher of the Kansas City Star since 2004, is leaving to take a job with Denver-based MediaNews Group, which owns and runs 57 daily newspapers in 12 states.

Mark Zieman, editor of The Star since 1997, was named interim publisher.

Bob Weil, vice president of operations for the Star’s owner, McClatchy Co., said the newspaper chain had started a search for a new publisher. Zieman is among those being considered, Weil said.

Tully, whose newspaper career began in the Star’s advertising department in 1978, became publisher of the newspaper Jan. 1, 2005. Before that he was a top executive with Knight Ridder Inc., then the owner of the Star.

Before that, he served for three and a half years as president and publisher of the Bradenton Herald in Florida. He was publisher of the Arlington Star-Telegram in Texas, an edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, before moving to Florida.

Tully announced his impending departure at a gathering of Star employees shortly after 11 this morning. He praised McClatchy as one of the best newspaper companies in the country. Tully said he was leaving because MediaNews had offered him an opportunity “too difficult to say no to.”

Helen Louise Cullison as moderator in 1962

There could not be another Helen Louise Cullison. That had to be retired copy editor Art Cullisojn’s wife in the five-column photo in today’s Beacon Journal illustrating a story by Mark Price in his regular series called This Place, This Time Local History.

Helen Louise looked absolutely grand in the center of the photo as 4th ward moderator of Akron’s First Neighborhood Forum on January 31, 1962. She was a past president of the League of Women Voters.

WAKR-TV aired the live TV program called Neighborhood Forum. Once a month a moderator led a panel discussion on a key topic before a studio audience from Ward 4. Public meetings were held simultaneoulsy in the city’s other nine wards for residents to view and disuss the telecast on Channel 49. M. O’Neil Co. And Rimer Schoool PTA provided portable TV sets with rabbit ears.

Others on the panel were Levi L. Smith, director of the Institute for Civic Education at the University of Akron; Mayor Edward O. Erickson, Panul Belcher, chairman of the mayor’s financial task force and Neal Heintz, city finance director.

The photo here, scanned from newsprint, does not compare with the amazingly good photo which appeared on the front of D1.

Blogger Note: I could not believe that I could not recall this moment in history until I realized it took place just three years before I started working at the Beacon Journal in 1965.

Here is contact information for Cullison
Ardent L. Cullison
3000 Riggs Ave.
Erlanger, KY 41018
Tel: 859-342-4018
alcullison@insightbb.com

Click on the headline to read the full story done as usual in Mark Price’s excellent craftsmanship style.

Here are Tower Topics issues on hand

There is enough copy to last forever and I am still trying to get organized so we don't get any repeats of pieces already used. . There are 25 issues of Tower Topics alone and many more of the successor Sidebar. Does anyone have an earlier Tower Topics issue or one not listed here? A list of Sidebar dates will be posted later.

Here's what we have:

Tower Topics

July 1969 Porter on Jamboree at Meyers Lake (duplicate copy) red headlines
Mar 1970 BJ is 15th in news in U.S. Sidewalk pipes renewed
May 1970 Rube Falloon bowling ball head
April/May 1971 (Photo of old news guys used) Horner Freedom award VonRhein used.
May/June 1971 Ed Lattimer retiring.
Dec 1972 Seasons Greetng.
Feb 1973 Kezziah photos used.
Nov/Dec 1974 City/State Desk merger, Coliseum photo used
Jan/Feb 1978 Murray Powers on Bill Murty; John Kidder tribute
Apr/May 1978 BJ wins typo title by Maxine Revay; zoned editions
Jan/Fe b 1977 Crazy photos used
Jan/Feb 1980 New employes: Dale Allen; Line boss Kathy Fraze; Jacksons feature, Earlicia Dickinson.
May/Jun 1980 Dave Pagnard, grads
Sep/Oct 1980 Transportation.
Mar/April 1981 Management Coffee Breaks.
Jul/Aiug 1981 Walt Neal hats (duplicate)
Sep/Oct 1981 Ken Nichols issue
Jan Feb 1982 Boerner, Grna, Walls, Pell (Haferd, Kirkesy, Capretta, Osmar
Mar/Apr 1982 New employees Jodon, Beeds, Marchione, Vantassel.
May/Jun 1982 BJ becomes historic site used. Murray Powers death noted.
Ju/Aug 1982 BJ intern on business side.
Christmas 1982 (undated)
May/Jun 1983 Pollu Paffilas JSK award (duplicate)
Undated 1983 probably.

Happy Birthday to Howard Wood

Blogger Note: When we try to sort through old employee magazines for a photo or information on a retiree it is often a difficult chore. When we posted a story this morning about Howard Wood marking his 87th birthday we did not even try to locate anything and just listed him as a a retired maintenance department employee. He was much more than that, we learned, when we were just sorting through old publications and came upon his retirement story in an old Tower Topics. This photo, much clearer than the reproduction in today’s Beacon Journal, was printed with the story. The issue is undated but it must have been a 1983 issue. The headline said “Goodbye Howard.” We hope, if he happens to see this, that it will be sort of a birthday gift.

Here’s the article:

Goodbye Howard

February 28th is a milestone in the life of Howard Wood. After more than 36 years of electrical experience, Howard hangs up the tools of his trade and joins the millions of senior citizens in the gOlden years of retirement.

Born in Goodyear Hts. in 1921, much of his youth was spent in Arizona and Texas. Howard's father was a test car driver for Goodyear which necessitated a somewhat nomadic life. In 1940, Howard graduated from Green Township High and in 1942 he enlisted in the Navy. His tour of duty included five major battles in the Asiatic and Pacific areas and he was a member of the Philippine liberation forces.

Discharged in 1945, he enrolled in the first veterans training program of electricians in the Akron area. After completing the course he accepted a position with Loomis Electric Company and was the company"s oldest employee in terms of tenure. In the early 1950's, Howard started working at the newly constructed addition of the Beacon Journal and in 1964 was farmed out to the Beacon Journal on a regular weekly basis.


Today, in nooks and crannies, corridors and conference rooms, from the computer banks to the pressroom, traces of Howard's work can be found. Working out of the maintenance department, trouble shooting, repairing and installing new electrical circuits, he became somewhat of a permanent fixture.
Management, as well as employees at Loomis Electric and the Beacon Journal have one phrase to describe Howard, "He's a real nice guy." Howard is a gentle man, slow to anger, quiet (in a mouse like manner) and proficient. Always working on some project. Willing to assist if you have a problem. A saint, you say? No, Howard is a practical joker. He won't admit it, he won't deny it. Shrugging his shoulders, he will walk away, leaving one with the feeling that he is too nice a guy to play pranks. He loves it that way and snickers to himself as he fades into surroundinCl scenery.
As retirees, Howard and his wife, Pauline, plan to garden, travel and babysit. Gardening will be a seasonal project. Travel will play a major role in their future. Howard likes to drive the back roads and enjoy the scenery of rural living, that one can't see on an interstate route.

Gardening and travel may take a back seat to babysitting. Howard and Pauline have three children. A son, Tom of Chardon, the father of a boy and girl. A daughter, Linda of Cuyahoga Falls and the mother of three sons. Barbara of Copley, the mother of a boy and girl. In his role as a babysitter, Howard plans to pamper and spoil his grandchildren. When they become restless, cranky or sleepy, he will take them home to their parents.

Will Rogers once stated" I never met a man I didn't like." Of Howard Wood, one would be compelled to say, "There's a man you have to to like."

Howard Wood marks 87th birthday

Thee was a birthday greeting for Howard Wood on page E7 of the premier section of the Beacon Journal on Sunday. Wood worked in the maintenance department. Here is the notice:

Howard Wood will have his 87th birthday on January 27, 2008. He is retired from Loomis Electric and the Akron Beacon Journal.

He cherishes the memory of his wife, Pauline Wood who passed in 2004. He is a resident at Rockynol Towers.

His children are Tom and Lin Wood of Chardon, Ohio, Linda Beckwith of Fairlawn and Barb Wilmoth of Norton. He has seven grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.

He also mourns the loss of his son-in-law, Christian Wilmoth in 2004.

We love you Dad and wish you

Note: There was a line of type missing at the end and and photo was too poor to reproduce here.

[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Sunday, January 27, 2008, pacge E7, col. 6]

A letter from Beth Thomas Hertz

The following letter by former Beacon Journal staffer Beth Thomas Hertz appeared in Voice of the People on page A8 of Friday’s Beacon Journal. Beth and spouse, David, are both former BJ employees.

Women's advances are
no defense of abortion

As I read the Jan. 17 commentary by the American Civil Liberties Union’s Christine Link ("Roe v. Wade: Thirty-five years on.”) a quote by Mother Teresa entered my mind: ''It·js a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you live as you wish.”

I have heard many justifications for abortion, but the concept of killing unborn children to advance women's socioeconomic status equal to that of men is among the most heartless.

Link stated that access to abortion and contraception is the primary reason women are now seen in greater numbers than ever in classrooms, boardrooms and legislatures.

While I agree that contraception has done a great deal to empower women, abortion is an entirely different matter. Being able to flush a life away purely because you really want that next promotion is the ultimate in narcissism.

Furthermore, if equality between genders is truly the issue when considering abortion, where is a man's right to avoid the lifelong economic impact of an unplanned pregnancy? Eighteen years of court-ordered child support payments await many of them.

Instead of seeing abortion as a means to help women be equal in the modern work force, a far more humane, compassionate strategy would be to advocate for better maternity leave, more part-time and flexible-hour jobs. that include benefits, and better access to affordable child care.

Beth Thomas Hertz
Copley Township

How about some info ethics?

How about a little “info ethics” in addition to “bio ehtics” and all the others.?

That was basically the message of Pope Benedict XVI on the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists.

"In view of their meteoric technological evolution, the media have acquired extraordinary potential, while raising new and hitherto unimaginable questions and problems," the Pope writes. Commenting on the increasing power of the mass media, he notes that the communications revolution has helped to increase world literacy, speed the flow of information, and sometimes strengthen democracy and international understanding.

However, the media can also be exploited, the Pope warned, in the interest of "subjecting humanity to agendas dictated by the dominant interests of the day." That danger is heightened, he said, "when communication is used for ideological purposes or for the aggressive advertising of consumer products."

Equally dangerous, the Pontiff continues, is the use of the media to "legitimize or impose distorted models of personal, family or social life." He added that the means of social communication can be corrupted by users who are prone to "vulgarity and violence, and to overstep the mark."

The distortions that occur through the means of modern communications technology, the Pope continued, are particularly dangerous because the media "claim not simply to represent reality, but to determine it."

In light of this extraordinary power and influence, the Pope suggested the development of a new field of special moral analysis, covering the proper use of modern information technology. He observed: "Many people now think there is a need, in this sphere, for 'info-ethics,' just as we have bioethics in the field of medicine and in scientific research linked to life."

(Today is fhe feast day of St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), patron of the Catholic Press, who was known as the “Gentleman Saint.” He wrote the Introduction to the Devout Life and A Treatise on the Love of God)

Sun-Times staffers get pink slips...by phone

Chicago Sun-Times newsroom staff members were being notified of layoffs by phone Wednesday night, part of parent Sun-Times Media Group's effort to cut $50 million in operating costs in a bid to return to profitability.

Sun-Times Media, which owns the Sun-Times and dozens of area publications, is making reductions at all its area publications and in all its departments, including advertising.

Layoffs began earlier this month in the editorial department of the Sun-Times with the exit of seven non-union reporters and editors and at least eight union reporters, editors and other staff age 55 and older accepting buyouts.

Click on the headline to read the story by Phil Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune media columnist

Don't shoot the messengers

Don’t shoot the messengers, says Alan D. Mutter, writer of a blog called Reflections of a Newsosaur.

Chris Harte [a former BJ publisher] and Brian Tierney aren’t enemies of newspapers., Nutter writes. “They are just messengers reporting the danger the industry will face if it doesn’t adjust its economics to the new realities of the marketplace.

"Sniping at them won’t change the message. So, hold your fire and listen closely to what they have to say:

"Newspapers like the Philadelphia Inquirer and Minneapolis Star Tribune are getting dangerously close to defaulting on their debt – a development that would require far more draconian layoffs and expense reductions than anyone has imagined to date.

"Worst case, and no one is saying the worst case is upon us, some newspapers could go out of business. Then, where would be?

"In the interests of saving as many jobs and as much quality journalism as possible, it’s time for journalists – and their colleagues in the sales, production, circulation and other departments – to stop whining about the glories of yesteryear and start thinking of creative ways to make or save more money.

"The deteriorating economics of the industry were underscored for the third day in a row this week when publisher Brian Tierney told union representatives of the two Philadelphia dailies that their company will face “a dire situation” by summer if it he cannot cut operating costs by 10%, according to a Newspaper Guild press release.

"The Philadelphia meeting was reported the day after Chris Harte, the publisher of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, issued a strikingly similar warning to his staff.

"Two days earlier, editor Jim O’Shea departed the Los Angeles Times after excoriating the evidently modest reductions in the $120 million newsroom budget that had been requested by his publisher, David Hiller.

"The Strib’s operating profits fell by 50% in one year’s time to approximately $41 million in 2007. As recently as 2002, profits would have been more than triple that amount, according to knowledgeable sources, who asked not to be identified.

"Chris declined to comment on these calculations, saying the newspaper does not publicly discuss its finances.

"Based on what I estimate to be the structure of the financing that enabled the Strib to be bought from McClatchy in late 2006, I would put the annual interest on the debt at about $33 million.

"If I am right, this would have left the Strib a scant $8 million last year to cover the costs of everything from website initiatives and new video cameras to replacement vehicles and updated pressroom equipment.

"While the interest costs would remain essentially the same in 2008, weaker sales or higher costs could quickly erode the $8 million cushion. If the company could not fully pay its interest payments, it would default on its loans and the bankers would step in to restructure the business as rapidly and pitilessly as possible.

"In the worst case, Chris and his partners at Avista could lose some or all of the $125 million that I estimate they invested in the newspaper.

"Like Chris and Avista, Brian Tierney (plus his investors) and Tribune’s Sam Zell have put hundreds of millions of their own dollars at risk to try to save a few newspapers at the most perilous time in the history of the industry.

"Who among us would have been willing to do that?"

Click on the headline to go to Nutter’s blog..

Note: Alan D. Mutter began his career as a newspaper columnist and editor in Chicago, starting at the Chicago Daily News and later rising to City Editor of the Chicago Sun-Times. In 1984, he became the No. 2 editor of the San Francisco Chronicle. He left the newspaper business in 1988 to join InterMedia Partners, a start-up company that within five years became one of the 12 largest cable-TV companies in the U.S.

Tierney to Unions: “We Must Cut Costs by 10 Percent”

Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News chief Brian Tierney held a meeting this morning with representatives of all the unions at which publisher Brian Tierney described a grim financial picture for Philadelphia Newspapers. Citing the struggling economy and PN problems meeting debt requirements, Tierney predicted “a dire situation” by summer or fall if the company cannot find ways to cut costs by 10 percent.

Company executives intend to meet one-on-one with each union to discuss ways in which savings might be achieved.

They did not say what would happen if savings targets are not met, but made references to outsourcing jobs overseas. Tierney said he is determined to not lose investors’ money.

The Guild’s representatives at the one-hour session were PN Unit Chair Diane Mastrull and Local Representative Bill Ross.

Sadly, Tierney was especially harsh about our advertising sales staff, saying its union affiliation hampers him from getting the results the company needs. He threatened job cuts if the Guild prevails in arbitrations over what it contends were unjust firings of five advertising reps. In essence, the company is asking the Guild to violate the law by refusing to represent its members. Quite simply, the Guild will not oblige.

The Guild news release said, “We will, however, as we have been doing, work with the company to attempt to find ways the Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com can thrive and be a leader in an industry that needs creativity—not finger-pointing—to guide it through these difficult times.

“We urge all members with any ideas for building revenue or cutting expenses to communicate them to Guild officers or to voices@local-10.com. We will then prepare a comprehensive response to the company’s request for help.

Click on the headline to read the full story at philamag.com

My back-door pension cut for 2007

My prescription costs for 2007 under the Aetna Medicare Part D foisted upon us by the Canadian Beacon guy:

$1,887.79

My prescription costs for 2006 under the United Health Care plan when Knight-Ridder owned the Beacon:

$109

The back-door pension cut, which is what the prescription coverage changes amount to since we have to pay the extra costs out of our BJ pension that pales when compared with our Social Security checks:

$1,778.79

And that's for 11 months of Aetna coverage. In 2008, you can add more than 8% to our back-door pension cuts. And I'm taking the same drugs that I did in 2006.

Fortunately, so far, the Canadian is paying our Part D prescription premiums. THAT would be the other shoe that might drop. Which would add at least another $800 to the back-door pension cut.

I know there are those out there paying more, mostly former BJ management types and/or people who took buyouts or those who retired after 1996, when I did. But those who retired by the time I did had a Guild contract and retirement-day letters that said that this wouldn't happen. So much for keeping your word.

Coming Together is falling apart

It had to happen on Martin Luther King Day. Coming Together is falling apart.

See our comment in "Short Takes" on the web site.

L.A. Times editor fired

Los Angeles Times editor James O'Shea has been fired just 14 months after assuming the post, over a budgetary dispute with publisher David Hiller. "The dispute arose from Hiller's desire to cut the newsroom's expense budget during the heated presidential campaign, a time when such expenses usually spike," writes Richard Perez-Pena in the New York Times. O'Shea was Chicago Tribune managing editor before joining the Times in November 2006 as executive vice president and editor. Hiller was named publisher a month earlier. He had held the same position at the Chicago paper. The Wall Street Journal was first to report O'Shea's dismissal.

The removal of the editor, James E. O’Shea, by the publisher, David D. Hiller, mirrors the odd spectacle of a little more than a year ago, when the previous publisher, Jeffrey M. Johnson, was fired for refusing to eliminate newsroom jobs as directed by the paper’s owner, the Tribune Company. In each case, a longtime Tribune executive was expected to rein in costs at the paper, but instead sided with the newsroom and lost his job for it.

The removal of the editor, James E. O’Shea, by the publisher, David D. Hiller, mirrors the odd spectacle of a little more than a year ago, when the previous publisher, Jeffrey M. Johnson, was fired for refusing to eliminate newsroom jobs as directed by the paper’s owner, the Tribune Company. In each case, a longtime Tribune executive was expected to rein in costs at the paper, but instead sided with the newsroom and lost his job for it.



Click on the headline to read the New York Times piece by Richard Perez-Pena

Tire Town Chapter to honor Maxine Revay

Tire Town Chapter, International Association of Administrative Professionals® (IAAP) will salute member, Maxine Revay, as the 2008 Outstanding Chapter Member at the Tuesday, January 22, meeting.

Maxine Revay was a charter member of Tire Town Chapter, National Secretaries Association (NSA) when it formed on August 27, 1946. She was chosen for this honor in recognition of her long-standing membership and mentoring of her peers over the last 61 years.

Maxine served as Chapter President in 1972 and has participated on numerous committees. Always a poised and excellent speaker, Maxine is an ambassador of her profession inspiring others to do their best and serving as a role model for executive assistants.

Maxine Revay was a former executive assistant at the Akron Beacon Journal for 22 years retiring in December 1987. Former Publisher, John McMillion was quoted via email saying, “Maxine and I met in the spring of 1986… Maxine accepted this change with grace, understanding and humor. She and I quickly developed a good working relationship and she was invaluable to me in that time of transition. Like Lou Grant once told Mary Tyler Moore, "You got spunk". And Maxine had spunk…”

The chapter will present a plaque commemorating this event and present Maxine with its symbol, a red rose, in honor of this achievement.

Blogger Note: Maxine has been at Pebble Creek assisted living facility at 670 Jarvis Road off Interstate 77 south of Akron since falling in her home November 2. She had no broken bones, but bruises have made it impossible to become fully mobile since then, she said in a phone conversation today. The two photos are from Beacon Journal files.

PD takes look at who needs cell phones

Plain Dealer staffers got a memo from editor Susan Goldberg on Wednesday saying that the PD is spending too much on cell phones for staffers who do not need or use them. Management is going to make a case-by-case study to see who really needs them. Staffers will still get reimbused for necessary calls they make.

Click on the headline to see a copy of the memo sent to Jim Romensko at Poynter Online.