We’ve all been around long enough to have developed skills for dealing with change. It’s a necessary part of life. And luckily, we Kansans are known for our resilience. It will come in handy as we cope with the changes and uncertainty in today’s world.
We at The Active Age are equally affected and concerned. Will our federal funding — a small but important part of our revenue — be eliminated? Will our advertisers be affected? Will the price of production, mailing and overhead continue to increase? Will our donors realize that we need them now more than ever?
We are a nonprofit organization, so we are not trying to maximize profits, but we do need to break even or a little better to keep operating.
Today, there is great debate about how international trade should be conducted, but everybody agrees that supporting local businesses and organizations is good for the community. The Active Age is based in Wichita, printed in Valley Center and distributed throughout Butler, Harvey and Sedgwick counties. The vast majority of our stories are about people, events and issues in this area. Most of our advertisers are local businesses.
Recently, we have had to take a close look at our situation. One thing is certain: We can’t do it without you. Support comes in two ways. First, please patronize our advertisers. And, when you do, let them know that The Active Age is where you learned about them. In tough times, we lose advertisers who cannot justify buying ads if they don’t see results, and who can fault them?
Secondly, we need your support in the form of the plain old American greenback. Our donations are not up to last year’s level, and we are naturally concerned by the trend. Maybe you’ve thought, “Gee, I should send them a check,” but just haven’t gotten around to it. Now, my friends, would be the perfect time.
Patti Sullivan is a member of The Active Age’s volunteer board of directors. She can be reached at pmsullivan121@gmail.com.
