June 16, 2000

Writing about The Oregonian

Here are some of my posts about the Oregonian:

Watchers of media release forbidden words March 30, 2010

Oregonian now Stickel-less Jan. 6, 2010


New editor at the Oregonian Dec. 7, 2009


Oregonian editor: Not enough taking buyout; 70 must go Nov. 5, 2009


One year later: Journalist to lobbyist Nov. 3, 2009


Anderson named publisher at Oregonian Oct. 26, 2009


Four Advance publications get printing awards Oct. 19,2009

Oregonian editor tells newsroom new arrangments, new journalists needed Oct. 9, 2009

Oregonian public radio station focuses on future of journalism Oct 9, 2009

Oregonian employees weighing new buyout offer Sept. 28, 2009

Always more to say: Following up on Stickel Sept. 19, 2009

Oregonian employee sues, says Advance Publications wrong to deny buyout Sept. 18, 2009

Two more publishers leaving Advance Publications Sept. 16, 2009

Oregonian's breast cancer series finalist with wired in online news contest Aug. 31, 2009

Blogger: Advertising wraps front page of Oregonian Aug. 16, 2009

Advance opinions: Open eyes, dignified hats, virtual running Aug. 13, 2009

Is Google cartoon correct? Aug. 12, 2009

Talking about Advance from Oregon to New Jersey - pain, envy, honors Aug. 6, 2009

Wikipedia for journalists and other advice coming at Digital Media Camp July 28,2009

Month brings new price for Oregonian July 2, 2009

Advance editors weigh in on fate of newspapers April 27, 2009

Why May for Advance pension changes and other musings March 24, 2009

Oregonian blogger: Enjoy weekend March 21, 2009

Blogger unhappy with shrinking Oregonian March 13, 2009
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June 11, 2000

I am a Girl Scout

I blog about Girl Scouts
I bleed green - that's what it says on my Facebook profile. It is because I graduated from Michigan State University - its school colors are green and white.

But mostly I bleed green because I am a Girl Scout.

I became a Girl Scout in the fourth grade, two years later then I wanted to because there was no room for me in the Brownie Girl Scout troop at my school.

Once in, I stayed. I'm now as a lifetime member who facilitates, blogs and operates WAGGGS-L, an email list that predates the Yahoo groups and most other online Girl Scout resources.

I even earned the highest award - First Class - before graduating from high school. Then, I was part of the Detroit Metro Girl Scout Council.

While attending Michigan State University and studying journalism, I helped with a Girl Scout troop in the hometown of a roommate. That troop was in Fair Winds Girl Scout Council.

After college, I moved to the city where I helped with that troop. But, I didn't hook back up with the Girl Scouts right away.

Daughter joins

When my daughter was old enough, I volunteered first as a parent, then co-leader, then leader, advisor, and trainer. There were a few neighborhood/service unit positions in there somewhere too.

Fair Winds Girl Scout Council, now part of Girl Scouts South East Michigan gave me the Thanks Award for creating the first online presence - first as a gopher site, then on the World Wide Web. That was back in the mid 1990s.

Even after my daughter graduated from high school and Girl Scouts, I stayed on.


'Career' higlights

I was a council delegate at the 48th National Girl Scout Convention.

Our council even paid for me and three girl Girl Scouts (also delegates) to go a day early so we could tour Kansas City before the business of the convention. We also went to a WAGGGS-L gathering at a Girl Scout camp.

Convention Talk

I was thrilled when I got to start Convention Talk, a discussion board for the national Girl Scouts organzation in October 2008.

But that's nothing compared to what I gained by being a part of the StoryWeavers and Conversations That Matter initiative at the 2008 Girl Scout convention, even though I left Indianapolis before the opening ceremony.

As a longtime journalist, I know the importance of story, openness, and community.

I always knew I wanted to return to a Girl Scout convention. I decided to treat myself to the 51st convention during my first year as a bought-out journalist. I planned to go as a visitor, but in July 2008 I saw a plea for volunteers for the StoryWeaving project.

For the next three months, the national Girl Scout convention was my main focus in life I learned about Open Space, Appreciative Inquiry, wikis, and a whole lot more as part of the planning committee. Oh, and how could I forget texting.
51st girl scout convention patch

As a mother, I know that what my daughter learned in and as a result of Girl Scouts is why she is alive today.

I am who I am because of Girl Scouts. I want other girls to discover, connect and take action in Girl Scouts too.

Find me online:

My Girl Scout Twittering is done as mcwgs

There is a FriendFeed group, Girl-Scouts.
Learn about WAGGGS=L
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Writing about AnnArbor.com, Ann Arbor News

AnnArbor.com is the new news company that will replace The Ann Arbor News, one of the newspapers owned by the Newhouse family through its purchase of the Booth Newspapers in Michigan in the 1970s.

Here are some posts where I mention the new site:


AnnArbor.com on itself:

Ann Arbor News covers the change

The Ann Arbor News has covered the launch of the new site. Here are links to some of those stories:

PaperTiger No More

Jim Carty, a former sportswriter for the Ann Arbor News, interviewed Dearing and shared other news about AnnArbor.com in his blog Paper Tiger No More.
Free From Editors

What other links should I add here? Leave your suggestions in a comment or email me


I wiped out the contents of this post on Sept. 30, 2009, and reverted to an earlier version.
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Writing about Twitter

I've been on Twitter as @mcwflint since August 2007 and been writing about my experiences ever since. Here are some of the posts:
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Writing about Girl Scouts

As a lifetime Girl Scout, I often mention Girl Scouts while blogging. Here are some posts that are mainly about Girl Scouts in Inside Out:
2013



2009

2008


I also wrote quite a few posts on Convention Talk on the national Girl Scout site. Some link to stories and posts written by others.


Find me online:

I am a Girl Scout

My Girl Scout Twittering is done as mcwgs

There a FriendFeed group, Girl-Scouts, where I pull in mentions of Girl Scouts on Twitter and blogs.
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Posts about Jim Hopkins or the Gannett Blog

Jim Hopkins started the Gannett Blog on Sept. 11, 2007, after ending his 20-year career through a buyout.

Here are some posts where I talk about his blog:
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Posts mentioning Jim Carty or Paper Tiger No More

Jim Carty is a long-time journalist who left the field to become a lawyer. He's in law school now but frequently blogs in Paper Tiger No More. His former job with the Ann Arbor News and connections with Advance Publications people often leads to post about the media in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Here are some of my posts where I mention Jim or his blog:
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Daughter's cancer

On Oct. 30, 2008, my daughter learned she had breast cancer. She was 24, living 575 miles from home and just promoted to general manager of a pizza place.

Within weeks of diagnosis, my husband and I encouraged my daughter and her boyfriend to leave their jobs in Tennessee and move in with us. That would let her concentrate on battling late stage three cancer.

We were sure he would quickly find a job, not knowing how much further Michigan's economy would sink. We were grateful for support of family and friends. We were grateful I could become a first time, stay-at-home mom as I had just accepted a buyout from the news organization where I worked for almost 30 years.

My father died of cancer the day my daughter's care plan was finalized. Six months later, a niece was diagnosed with cancer, caught in a very early stage and her treatment is done. A good friend has started her cancer fight. Make that two friends. Both now in the countdown to five  years cancer free.

Until my daughter's diagnosis, I was like many who did not realize how many twenty-somethings face cancer. Resources like the Young Survival Coalition, with a Detroit-area chapter, the Everything Changes book and blog and Mothers Supporting Daughters with Breast Cancer help. So have the Girl Scouts.

Girl Scouts is why my daughter's cancer was found. She was a Junior Girl Scout when her troop went to the health fair and learned to feel for breast lumps on fake breasts they got to take home. They were told to perform checks monthly.

My daughter listened and in July 2008 she discovered a lump in her left breast.

Doctor knows best

Her doctor sent her home with vitamins and the advice to watch it. She watched it grow as she grew more tired. She figured the fatigue came from the pressures of learning her new job as general manager of a pizza store.

In October, the doctor reluctantly sent her for an ultrasound as he did not see the value of a mammogram for a woman her age. Within hours of the ultrasound, my daughter underwent a needle biopsy "just to be safe."

Five days later, her doctor reluctantly delivered the news no one is prepared to hear: "You have cancer." Later, we would learn it was at least late stage three.

No need for mom

My daughter called me while I was helping girls learn to edit video in preparation for the 51st national Girl Scout convention.

She's a lifelong Girl Scout who earned the highest honor, the Gold Award, and been a convention delegate. She knew how excited I was to be a part of the Storyweaving project and the discovery of what is essential to the success of the Girl Scout movement by the members, for the members, through the members.

My daughter said I should stay through the convention, then drive to her place in time for her first appointment with a breast cancer specialist. The doctor who delayed the diagnosis for four months pulled hard to get her into the specialist so quickly.

I had honored her first wish, not being there for the biopsy report. This time, I listened to my heart and left the next morning, driving miles to get to her place on Juliette Low's birthday. Juliette Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, the woman who died of breast cancer.

She writes, I write

She blogs over on myspace as CrazyKatFaygo. She said I could share the address.


Here are some of my posts about her cancer journey:

October 2008
November 2008

December 2008


January 2009
February 2009 March 2009


April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009

March 2010
August 2010

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Writing about the Cleveland Plain Dealer

It's hard to write about Advance Publications without also writing about The Cleveland Plain Dealer in neighboring Ohio.

The Cleveland, Ohio, newspaper can trace its roots to 1842. In 1967, The Cleveland Plain Dealer was purchased by Newhouse Publications for $54.2 million.

Here are some of the posts where I talk about the Advance Publication news organization:
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Writing about The Grand Rapids Press

The Grand Rapids Press is the largest Michigan newspaper in the Advance Publications umbrella.

Here are some posts about the Grand Rapids Press:
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Writing about The Birmingham News

Here are some of my posts about The Birmingham News, an Advance Publications newspaper in Alabama:

Two more publishers leaving Advance Publications Sept. 16, 2009

Moving is today's theme at Advance Publications' Alabama properties Aug. 29, 2009

Advance Publications grabbing headlines today Aug. 17, 2009

Talking about Advance from Oregon to New Jersey - pain, envy, honors Aug. 6, 2009

Publisher blasts 'Birmingham Noose' July 14, 2009

Birmingham weekly says daily making cuts June 4, 2009

Birmingham News cuts salaries June3, 2009
 Advance execs share outlook on TV
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