Publisher’s message: publishing Chelsea Update is no different than dog training

The Chelsea Rotary Club asked me to speak to them this week about Chelsea Update – a topic about which I’m pretty passionate and rather well versed.

In addition, Buzz and I will be “performing” rally obedience later this month at Silver Maples of Chelsea. I’m rather excited about this invitation, too. Buzz and I have worked very hard to master all these different obedience moves.

Two seemingly opposite spectrum’s of my life will be on display for Chelsea folks this month, and I’m honored to be asked to provide a glimpse into two successful aspects of my life.

And although the two – publishing Chelsea Update and training Buzz for rally obedience – seem as though they are worlds apart, there a number of similarities.  

My years in the news business span decades – back to 1975 with different publications before Chelsea Update; my years training dogs also go back to the 1990’s and have included many different types of dogs.

Here are a few more similarities. Chelsea Update is a little more than 5 years old; Buzz turned 5 years old on March 1.

There’s years of building trust, support and solid partnerships involved in accurately reporting the news. Each day, I work very hard to nurture and maintain these relationships. In turn, the people, organizations and businesses of Chelsea continue to read Chelsea Update and show their support of my efforts.

Building trust is a daily and long-term effort that can be taken away in the blink of an eye by using the wrong words or making bad story choices. I think very carefully about the stories I publish and the words I chose in those headlines. These decisions are mine and mine alone.

When it comes to Buzz, he’s developed a personal trust in me that is important to his needs and that include never putting him in a situation where he might get scared or hurt.

Both publishing and dog training use words. What you read on Chelsea Update in English, you understand in English. Provided I’ve used the correct words to convey a story, you read it and you believe it. Or at least I hope you do. I’ve always been of the mindset that I’d rather be a day late reporting a story and correct, then to break a story and be wrong.

Buzz doesn’t speak English. I don’t speak dog. So, getting him to understand the message of my words takes a few more steps. I say the word, show him the behavior, and give him a treat when he figures out what I’m trying to get him to do.

I must show him what these words are supposed to mean … to him.

In both instances, I always try to say and to do the right thing, whether it’s for readers of Chelsea Update or for Buzz.

Just as I couldn’t be successful in the show ring without my partner, Buzz, your trust and support mean everything to me. I could not publish Chelsea Update without all of you.

With all that said, I can’t thank everyone enough. And if you’d like to donate to my efforts, please send a check in any amount made out to Chelsea Update or donate through Paypal on the site. These donations are not tax-deductible.

If you’d like to take out an ad, that information can be found on the web site as well.

And last but not least, I’d like to thank the following people who have recently donated to Chelsea Update, I can’t begin to thank you enough.

• Dorothy Greer
• Edward and Joan Driscoll
• Jim and Mary Randolph
• Brent McCumons
• Lynn Booth
• John Budinger
• Jenn Ridley
• Sharewords
• Kathy Carter
• Chelsea Lions Club

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