Well, it’s the end of an era…and the beginning of a new one.
For more than 20 years, The Compass newsletter has been a vital part of Cameron Station, celebrating the people and events in our community and helping residents maintain their bearings in our neighborhood and city through the news and information it communicates in an upbeat, positive way.
The Compass was created in 2000 by seven homeowners anxious to contribute to the growing sense of community that was happening in Cameron Station. It was the brainchild of Leigh Darcy, first Editor-in-Chief. The staff wrote the articles, Leigh did the layout and dealt with the printer, and in the very early days they all got together to fold and stamp and get the publication in the mail. Talk about dedication!
Founding members of the Newsletter Subcommittee in 2000
The newsletter began as a monthly printed publication delivered to every residence. The first issue, published in June 2000, was a dozen pages. As the community grew, so did The Compass, and future issues ranged from 20 to 28 pages. Producing a monthly publication became an overwhelming task even for such a dedicated committee; so a few years later it changed to bi-monthly, supplemented by a monthly “Community Update” to provide more timely information to residents.
Over the years, the format and delivery of The Compass continued to adapt.
The hard-working Newsletter Subcommittee volunteers decided they needed a summer vacation, so the delivery schedule changed to five issues per year. As folks began spending more time on their computers, an electronic version was added to the printed one; eventually that became the default method of delivery, sent by email to every household, although any resident could request a printed copy, and many die-hards did. The weekly email blast took the place of the community updates.
Now it is time for another change.
Members of ComCom and the Subcommittee at the 2010 Holiday PartyThe new year marks the shift of The Compass from a traditional newsletter to a dynamic blog hosted on the Cameron Station website and readily shared through social media channels. The transition is designed to bring greater immediacy and flexibility to the content and enhance communication within our community. Residents will no longer receive bi-monthly issues, but can expect real-time articles delivered directly through the blog. Event articles can be written immediately after an event, and restaurant reviews can be shared shortly after dining experiences. And, with the ability to publish articles more frequently throughout the year, The Compass can spotlight even more of the diverse voices within our community.
There are also plans for a special "Year-in-Review" issue. This year-end compilation will feature the most significant events, interesting stories and memorable moments that have shaped our community over the past year. This issue will be made available through email and in print, ensuring that everyone in the community can access it.
While the format of the newsletter is evolving, rest assured that the soul of The Compass will not change. Our mission remains to celebrate everything wonderful about Cameron Station. The ultimate goal is to reach a broader audience and showcase the beauty of our neighborhood not only to residents, but also to those considering joining our vibrant community.
Members of ComCom and the Subcommittee at the 2023 Holiday PartyThe Compass continues to be led by a small but dedicated group of volunteers with a deep appreciation for the sense of community that Cameron Station offers. If you are excited about this transition and would like to work with a great group of neighbors, please consider joining the Newsletter Subcommittee! As the former editor (2002-2011) and the current editor of The Compass, we both can honestly say volunteering our time to the subcommittee and to you, our Cameron Station neighbors, is an extremely enjoyable and satisfying experience, and we would love to have you join us.
If you have any questions, or want to get involved, please reach out to us through the Communications Committee at communications@cameronstation.org.
###
Pat Sugrue is an original owner, moving to Cameron Station with her husband Tom in the fall of 1999. She was a member of the first Compass Crew, and later served as Editor-in-Chief for nine years. Pat’s professional career was in advertising – 30+ years in ad agencies in every department except art (no talent at all!); but her favorite position was copywriter, which she felt made a good fit for The Compass. She warns that she is here to stay, regardless of the format!
Emma Watson has been a Cameron Station homeowner since 2022 and is the current Editor of The Compass. She is a University of California Santa Cruz graduate (Go, Banana Slugs!) and a Notre Dame fan (Go, Irish!) who hails from Los Angeles, California. When she’s not walking around the neighborhood with her husband and their dog, Duke, she is trying to lift heavy things at the gym or exploring nearby restaurants. She currently serves as editor of The Compass.
Follow