I've put all the farewell notes on one post

And the link is in the "links" list on the right. If anybody else wants to send me a note or to post one in comments, the invitation remains open. I will, of course, add any new ones to that other post.

Here's a new one that was posted in comments that I'll pull out here:

Though the ax has fallen on my head this go-round, too, i will always be glad for having had the opportunity to be a part of The Dallas Morning News.

And while it may sound like patting myself on the back, I can truly look back and know that while I felt lucky to be there, I also worked hard to stay. While I may not have walked away with any big journalism awards in my box, I could walk away knowing i did a good job.

In my time there I led the Metro coverage of the first Breeder's Cup race ever in the Southwest, I was the first to report on Farmers Branch's efforts to make illegal immigrants unwelcome there - a story that would put them in the national spotlight - and continued to top every other media outlet in the country in following that story over the next two years, and my reporting on a mayor's lies about her background derailed her bid for re-election.
Not bad for a small-town girl with no degree, lol.

I am proud to have been a part of what was long considered one of the best papers in the country, and to have known each and every one of you.

Today, i remain heartbroken to have been let go after 13 years with the company. I also am at a loss to explain it. Coming in from the old suburban newspapers I know my salary never reached those of many of my colleagues. So the didn't save much by letting me go.

But it is what it is, and it was time to move on.

I with all of you who remain the best of luck. i really don't expect newspapers to be around much longer, and that's the saddest part of all.

To those of you who were laid off, this time or previous times, I hope you find happiness and fulfillment and stability, whereever the road takes you.

Stephanie Sandoval

Job fairs in the near future

A reader sends this in:

Link to complete list of upcoming job fairs:
http://www.cityofirving.org/library/jobfairs.html


Tuesday, April 14
Cities of Carrollton and Farmers Branch Job Fair, 2 to 6 p.m., Addison Convention Center, 15650 Addison Road, Addison, TX 75001, (972) 573-3533
University of Phoenix Career Fair, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Omni Dallas Hotel at Park West, 1590 LBJ Freeway at Luna Road, Dallas, TX 75234, (214) 675-3059

Wednesday, April 15
Grand Prairie WorkForce Solutions Greater Dallas Job Fair, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 801 W. Freeway St., Suite 500, Grand Prairie, TX 75051, (972) 264-5881
Spring Career Fair, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mountain View College, 4849 W. Illinois Ave., Dallas, TX 75211, (214) 860-8553


Additional Job Openings:
Dallas County Community College District
Openings for teaching and non-teaching. The pay is good. I'm happy to provide my name for applicants. They ask for people you know who work in the district. Appplication is online and timed so have your materials ready.
http://www.dcccd.edu/Business+Community/Jobs/DCCCD+Job+Openings/

Collin County Community College District
Also an online application. Have your materials ready.

https://jobs.ccccd.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1239472779857

UPDATE: Check the comments for more job ops. If you have more jobs, this is a good post to use. Add to the comments.

Help with resumes

A reader writes:

I was wondering if you could get word out on the blog that Assistant News Editor Michael Apuan and I willing to help anyone who might need a resume designed …

We’ve been helping some folks with this already — we have the graphics equipment at home to handle almost any project. We’ll tailor your work history to fit your needs; it won’t be a templated resume that will get lost in a heap of others.

We both work night shifts, so this would mean we’d be available during the day to have discussions on what would work best for you.

We lost a hell of a lot of great colleagues this week across multiple departments. If we can help anyone with this or anything else, please don’t hesitate fire one of us an e-mail at jschnick@dallasnews.com or mapuan@dallasnews.com.

Thanks …

Jeff Schnick
Assistant Business Editor

Enough with the dark

When I started this blog I chose the dark template because that seemed appropriate and somber and respectful. Now that the cuts have happened, I think that it is more respectful to those who have left and those who remain to change the look. For all of us, we need to figure out how to get on with things. This is not to make light of the terrible event we have all gone through. The content will not change.

The truth is, I found the white-on-black hard on my eyes. Since I'm the owner, this is a place I can make a change without calling a meeting or assembling a focus group or getting six sets of signatures. Unlike where I work and still draw a paycheck.

Enough with the dark.

Good people want to help

I have heard that previous SPJ events have been useful.

SPJ WANTS TO HELP

The Fort Worth SPJ pro chapter wants to help. We've put on several "how to survive a layoff" programs for folks from the DMN and Star-Telegram over the last several years, featuring things like financial advice on 401K rollovers. This time we're thinking about organizing a freelancers' "summit" -- probably a half-day program on a Saturday. To do that, we want to hear from you -- what advice or help do you need most? How to handle the finances? Find clients? Negotiate prices? Build a website? Learn new skills? What else?
Please write back and let me know. We will try to build a program around what we hear from you.

Thanks

Gayle Reaves
(SPJ-Fort Worth board member and editor, Fort Worth Weekly)
gayle.reaves@fwweekly.com

Health insurance advice?

I'm not endorsing but a reader writes:

Hi! I am a fellow DMN employee, but I also own a health insurance agency. Undoubtedly those who are affected are going to have concerns and questions about their options, including COBRA subsidy eligibility. Our advice is free and confidential and we would be happy to help anyone who needs answers. Please feel free to direct anyone my way if they would like to speak to someone. And thank you for providing the blog for all of us! It is nice to see everyone coming together to help each other.

Best regards,


Amanda (Carruth) Wray
Tailor Made Insurance
4618 Cedar Springs Road
Suite A
Dallas, TX 75219

214-437-1410 cell
214-558-7908 office

amandawray@me.com
www.tminsure.com

A reminder about the rules

Don't put a name in a comment unless it's yours or it's someone who has posted their own name. I just had to kill an otherwise fine comment because it mentioned someone who sent me a note asking that the name not be there. Let's be extra kind to those who have lost jobs.

Any more people want to leave a farewell note?

If so, I'll put this post on top this morning so you can post a comment here.

---------------------

As many of you know, I have a hard time saying goodbye. I am usually one of the last ones to leave a party and my “goodbyes” tend to turn into 20-minute long conversations. Perhaps, this is why it’s taken me a couple of days to collect my thoughts and say farewell to so many wonderful friends and colleagues, who are like family to me.

This week, after 12 and a half years in newspapers, I lost my job. People often asked me why I remained in newspapers or if I’d come up with a Plan B yet. My answer was always that I still believed in newspapers and still loved telling stories. I wanted to be part of the solution to keep newspapers alive – even if it meant that content would ultimately be entirely online.

Reading The Dallas Morning News and my hometown newspaper, the Waxahachie Daily Light, was a tradition, a habit in my family. My father, an immigrant from Mexico who spoke no English when he arrived, was curious about this country that everyone called the land of opportunity. He wanted to fit in like everyone else. He struggled with the language, but because of newspapers he learned new words. He would often point out words and ask me about their meaning. When I got older, he’d often ask if I’d read what Dallas or Waxahachie city officials had done or what a particular sports columnist thought about the Cowboys or Rangers.

When I returned to Texas in 2002, after spending more than six years in Florida, my parents were beyond thrilled. They would finally get to see and read their little girl’s stories. My mom sometimes knew where a story of mine ran before I did, because she’d seen the paper first that day.

My parents don’t have much formal education, don’t speak English that well and don’t have much money. But this they value: the importance of newspapers. I hope that my friends and colleagues who are left behind will remember there are many like my parents who still have a thirst for knowledge – regardless of their background.

On Tuesday, when I walked out of the DMN building, the moment seemed surreal. But I have no regrets. I am fortunate to have worked with so many talented people from whom I learned so much. It is truly an honor. I will miss you guys, but I won’t forget all of the valuable things you’ve taught me.

Keep up the great work!

Stella M. Chávez
starchavez@aol.com

KERA announces layoffs but says it will be beefing up local content

A reader points out this news release from KERA:

KERA REALLOCATES STAFF RESOURCES

DALLAS/FORT WORTH - KERA announced today that the equivalent of four-and-one-half positions have been eliminated so that resources can be reallocated to other areas within the organization. The positions affected are in volunteer services, data management, education programs and television production.

“We regret that these layoffs were necessary,” said Mary Anne Alhadeff, President & CEO, “but the station is on a course to increase news and public affairs reporting and advance online services consistent with the station’s mission and the needs and interests of our audiences. This reallocation of resources allows the station to maintain its budget and have the resources available for content expansion.”

In the coming months, KERA will implement plans to significantly expand its local radio news and public affairs coverage on KERA 90.1 FM and increase online content and resources.

When it does that expanding, maybe it will need new staff?

Job possibility

A reader writes:

Just got the following from one of my high school friends, Libby McIver. Doesn’t seem like the best fit, but what does? Also, does anyone know whether the Census Bureau is still hiring?

Hi all,

My company is hiring now for a new team dedicated to servicing the Black Card clients.

If you know anyone who has a strong customer service, call center, travel, hotel background, and they are looking for work, they should go to www.vipdesk.com apply. You work from HOME.