Well so much for keeping up on life. I have barely managed a blog a week lately. Part of that has been vacation schedules.
I managed a quick little getaway last weekend to hook up with the folks in Las Vegas. It was a belated celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. We had a great time.
It was pretty special when they checked into their hotel room to find a beautiful boquet of flowers congratulating them on 50 years, from none other than Don Shelby. They were thrilled. I thought it was pretty cool he remembered their names when he told me to wish them his best as I left work the night before my trip. But then he goes and does that.
It’s a testament to the family atmosphere we have here at WCCO. Don is kind of the patriarch, but not because of his age. He’s just a natural leader, and makes an effort to make folks feel like family when they come to WCCO. He even makes their family feel like family.
So you can imagine how we’re all feeling this week as we lose some of our WCCO relatives this week. A painful restructuring is happening at T.V. Stations across the country and WCCO is no exception. I don’t know what conversations led up to the announcements of this week, but I do know there were many. And no one is enjoying the losses we’re enduring, particularly the folks leaving.
You all know John Reger and Paul Douglas. Many of you have written me to let me know how much you will miss them. I will too. And I will miss the behind the scene folks who are leaving as well. They join tens of thousands who are finding out the only certain thing in life is change…whether we plan it or not. Particularly in this economy.
I wish I had some positive way to spin this, but it’s just sad. There’s been some turmoil in the family, but I can tell you this: The relationships you see on air, are real, and do continue when the cameras are off. And they will continue even when we’re not seeing each other every day.
I hope you get a chance to enjoy a little sunshine, and that next week our conversations are dominated by the wonderful spring weather!!
All the best,
jt
