Instead of the cliché list of what I’m thankful for personally as many columnists offer, I want to offer an updated selection of reasons I’m thankful for from my professional life in 2009



I’M THANKFUL FOR

• all of The Tribune employees that consistently give their best every day. I don’t tell them enough how often they are complimented in the community.

• the Floyd County workers of the U.S. Postal Service for their part in our conversion this past September to postal delivery Tuesday through Saturday. The management, staff and carriers have eased this major transition for a 150-year-old business and our customers.

• all the carriers of The Tribune, but especially those that place a priority on excellent service and loyalty. This year we radically changed our delivery process but many stayed on to work with us in other ways.

• those of you that are long-time subscribers. We will do better to reward your loyalty.

• those of you that are new subscribers giving us a chance to show you that we provide news, sports and opinions you won’t find anywhere else. It seems the true value of community newspapers is starting to show as financially challenged readers are forcing to make choices about where to find their news. While the major metro across the river continues to struggle our readership is growing.

• all of our classified and display advertisers. With the additions of two new niche magazines in the past year we are increasing their numbers.

• those of you that spend money with our advertisers and local businesses. Supporting locally based firms is an not just filling your need, it also fills the need of others in your community.

• those of you exhibiting patience and believing each of us here works hard to serve you, but sometimes we make mistakes or fall short. Thanks for giving us a chance to make things right. As I stated in one of our weekly Cheers & Jeers earlier this year, we can take the heat and welcome all reader feedback but don’t do it anonymously. It shows a lack of respect.

• all of the community members sharing a common vision of what New Albany can be and are willing to work as a team to get there.

• for our growing number of online fans. Newsandtribune.com is doing great and attracting 10,000 different people each weekday, as well as some new local advertisers. Our daily headlines alerts is nearing 1,000 registrants and our Facebook fans are close to 700. We make every attempt to distinguish these online editions from the printed product so it’s heartening to see growth while the daily printed paper continues to grow in readers as well.

• for all the readers and advertisers of our locally produced Floyd County Current magazine. It’s all about the best of life in Southern Indiana with familiar local faces discussing health, food, homes and more.

• for all the supporters of our most successful project of 2009 — Southern Indiana Business Source. This quarterly magazine featuring some of the great stories of entrepreneurs in the region alongside advice from local experts has surpassed my expectations and become a must read for many.

• our new locally based Opinions page columnists such as Matthew Nash, Roger Baylor, Amy Gesenhues and Ed Clere. Each of them has started contributing weekly pieces since last year. We may not all agree with them, but they place themselves out in the open in order to spur discussion and thought about local issues.

• being able to publish Carol Dawson’s Extra Milers column (first Saturday of the month) that features regular people making big differences locally.

Finally, I’m thankful for you reading this. Happy Thanksgiving!

Steve Kozarovich is publisher of The Tribune. He can be reached via e-mail at Steve.Kozarovich@ newsandtribune. com or via mail at 303 Scribner Drive, New Albany, IN 47150.