| Dear friend,
Please listen to "An Arizona Christmas" then come back and read this message. I want you to relax, take your time and enjoy the program. But most of all I want to wish you and your loved ones the best of the holiday season.
Click here to go to"An Arizona Christmas"
THEY SAID WE COULDN'T DO THIS PROGRAM, BUT WE DID
Almost everyone in the media I told about the concept of our show said it couldn't be done. They said you wouldn't have enough material, people wouldn't let me interview them and on and on. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has been with us, and so has cartoonist Bil Keane and Governor Jane Hull and Governor Janet Napolitano and our newest Governor Jan Brewer. I would say we have done all right!
A LABOR OF LOVE
Our program has now been on the web for five years. It has been a labor of love. I have personally done about 1000 interviews. All of our shows with the interviews and our regular cast of guests is still posted here on our web site. Check out the over 500 hours of our programming by clicking here. I think you will like what our labor of love has produced.
"THE WAY OF LIFE CALLED ARIZONA"
The concept of our show is about all of us that are living, working and enjoying Arizona. It really is a lifestyle. We call it "The Way of Life Called Arizona". Just listen for all of the "nuggets" of information we have dusted throughout our shows. I promise you will find out new things and hear stories and people you won't find anywhere else.
ALL LISTENING IS FREE!
Every minute of the Arizona Almanac that has been on our web site has been free. We have never required a sign up or charged a pay-per-listen or monthly fee. We have advertisers on our site and on our program, but all of our content is free and will stay that way.
IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES...
To borrow the first part of the famous quote from Charles Dickens, "It was the best of times...". We have really enjoyed the five years we have produced our show. That is a long time and a lot of work. My son Alex and I have done all of the interviewing and editing work on the show. We have certainly had help, most notably from Kathy Collins and Susan Bitter Smith. Our cast of regulars have been there for us as well.
IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES...
Continuing the quote from Dickens, "...it was the worst of times...". The whole time I have done the show I have worked full time and then some. We had our coffee shop for three of the last five years and I have continued to work as full time meteorologist at KTAR. However, in May of 2008 we had to close our shop due to two burglaries in two weeks and an armed robbery of a neighboring store during that same period. We had to close because we were afraid someone would get hurt. We still miss our store and our customers.
THEY CALL IT A RECESSION
They call it a recession when your neighbor loses his or her job but a depression when you lose your job. My "depression" has arrived. After almost 27 years at KTAR my job was over at the end of 2008.
SURPRISED? SHOCKED? DEPRESSED?
Was I surprised to lose my job? You bet. I have never been fired or laid off in 40 years of working. Was I shocked? Nope. Broadcasting has been in trouble for several years due to increased competition in the industry. The current recession has just simply made them tighten their belts. Survival in hard times is part of doing business. Am I depressed? No way. My family and I are healthy. I have a ton of skills and looking forward to new opportunities in 2009. My coaching and consulting business is one example.
IS THE SHOW OVER?
I honestly don't know if the Arizona Almanac will continue. I have to decide soon. The web site is up for renewal early this year. I would love the show and the web site to continue. I still have more ideas for future development. Either way, in the short term I have to focus on my future opportunities and providing for my family.
WHAT WILL I DO WITHOUT YOUR HELP?
Faith is very strong in our family. We will survive and thrive in due time. After the past year we have had though, things are tough right now. I would love to keep the web site going and keep making special programs like "An Arizona Christmas". With some financial help, I can keep paying the monthly web site fees and keep paying my son Alex to edit the program and work on the web site.
DON"T GO THERE
I know times are tough for many of us. I would never ask for financial help to keep this program and web site going if I didn't need it. If, and only if, you think you can help us financially or by becoming an advertiser on our web site click here to help us. Please don't feel obligated, only help us if you can.
We want to thank you for visiting the Arizona Almanac and listening to "An Arizona Christmas".
Have a safe, healthy and prosperous new year,
The Arizona Almanac
P.S. Advertisers will be surprised how little it costs to have 25,000 people see your message.
Click here to help us
Ed Phillips, The Arizona Almanac
10645 N. Tatum Blvd.
Suite 200, PMB 240
Phoenix, AZ 85028
ed@azalmanac.com
Office 480-367-0289 |
