Looking Forward: Opportunities and Challenges

You never know when or where opportunity will present itself.

For me, after nearly two years of struggling alongside countless other Americans in these difficult times, opportunity has presented itself.

The opportunity is to return to full time journalism. I have accepted a job offer to join the Zimmer Radio Group as the Director of the Zimmer News Network. I will be joining two of central Missouri’s most experienced and accomplished radio journalists, Shelley Tucker and John Marsh, in my new role.

Shelley is the News Director of KSSZ in Columbia and John is the News Director of KWOS in Jefferson City. In all, the Zimmer Radio Group has nine stations in the region. I will likely be working on the air of most or all nine stations and will be working to build a leading “new media” (online & social media) news product as well.

This means I and my children will be moving to Columbia.

For almost two years, I have pieced together part-time and contract work to get by. While hundreds of thousands of Americans have it worse than me, this has been a trying time for my family in terms of finances. I have felt the effects of the recession in a very real way. While I am working as hard as I ever have, I have been making a fraction of what I used to make – again, just like countless others in our nation right now.

The reality is that I am out of economic options and need the full-time employment. The blessing is that the job offered is in the media and is with an outstanding company. I am looking forward to my new role and the challenges ahead.

For those in the Kansas City area, you will still be able to hear me each weekday as I will continue to provide the news for KLJC-FM (Calvary 88.5). I will continue to anchor newscasts at the top of the hours at 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00 am and at 3:00, 4:00 and 5:00 pm.

Along with this opportunity, though, comes difficulty. To move ahead I and my children must give up many things and that is not easy.

I first moved to Grandview in 1995. I have lived here three times longer than anywhere else in my life. Grandview is home. Uprooting will be difficult because, among other reasons, I am leaving a great community. While I will be back to visit, I will miss the people of Grandview.

From the dedicated professionals at City Hall to my neighbors in Ward Three to my friends at my favorite coffee shop – the Hard Bean Café on Main Street – all will be missed (and not just because of the coffee).

My children are leaving the only school they have ever known – Blue Ridge Christian School in Kansas City. This is, literally, a lifetime of friends and memories for them. Blue Ridge is a fantastic school that has been good to Austin, Amber and me in ways that can only be described as the true model of Christian kindness and compassion.

In addition to providing an excellent education, the faculty, staff and administrators of Blue Ridge Christian School live what they teach their students. The positive effect this school has had on Austin and Amber is immeasurable.

Along the same lines, and probably the hardest thing to move away from is our church: Southland Baptist Church in Belton.

This is the most caring, helpful and sincere group of people I have ever known. Many people of faith casually throw around the term “church family” in reference to those who happen to be sitting around them on Sunday and Wednesday.

The truth is, the people of Southland Baptist Church have become our church family. Not because we happen to drive to the same place for worship services but because of the encouragement, help and fellowship we provide to one another as well as the accountability we expect from one another. I fear that I will not be able to replace Pastor Gary Berry, his family, youth leader Daniel Lopez and the volunteer teachers of this amazing church.

Second only to the task of spreading the Gospel, the Southland Baptist Church family is dedicated to helping and serving people.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving my community in appointed and elected office. This has been a rewarding, educational and enjoyable experience.

Grandview is struggling but has a bright future. I am confident that great things and developments are in store for the City. I hope my time on the Transportation Committee, the Planning Commission, the Water District Board of Directors and the Board of Aldermen have, in some small way, helped my community.

When I ran for the Board of Aldermen, my intent was long-term. My hope was to be effective enough to earn three or four terms on the Board. I have truly come to enjoy the work of being in office (even after the last Board meeting which lasted until 1:30 in the morning).

I will miss Tuesday night meetings that center on making Grandview a better place to live. My fellow Aldermen and our Mayor are an example of what is right in local government in this nation. Many communities would be jealous of Grandview if they understood the quality of the people who lead the community.

Returning to journalism means I will be leaving political activism. I take journalistic ethics seriously and will not be crossing that line between “reporter” and “activist”.  I had a decision to make with this career change, I have made it and am not looking back.

I will not be attending any political events other than to report on them. I will not be involved in or otherwise aiding any campaigns. I will not be writing any political opinion essays.

Over the years, I have made my political views known through the campaigns on which I have worked and through my writing. I have a personal point of view just like everyone else. Because I have been public with my viewpoint, I have to be more diligent in proving that I will be fair to everyone and everything I cover as a journalist.

I respect that some may not think that going from political activist to credible journalist is possible. It has been done before and I encourage readers and listeners to challenge me if you feel I am not being fair to an interview subject or on any specific topic.

Of course, this move is about more than embracing economic opportunity and a career change. I am changing “home” and will be establishing roots in a new, yet familiar, place. In reality, I am leaving home to go home.

My father’s side of my family is from Columbia. To this day, I have relatives there. In the past, I have lived in Columbia. I know the city, like the city and look forward to enjoying living there once again. Columbia is a dynamic community that has far more to offer than most other cities its size.

Because of the colleges and the University of Missouri, Columbia offers arts, educational and cultural opportunities and a diversity of people that will enrich the lives of my children. The fact that the Mizzou Tigers happen to be in town is a bonus for me and Austin in particular – since we are big Tiger fans.

The location of my new opportunity is another blessing. I am not starting over the way many people must in this economy. I am moving to a familiar place to work in a familiar field with professionals I have worked with already.

As I write this, I am still rushing to finalize arrangements on a new home and am working to get my children’s next school picked and the paperwork completed.

I ask for your prayers for my children in particular. Moving is never easy on a child and this move is hard on them. This will be Austin and Amber’s first real move. We’ve lived in a few different homes over the years but all thus far have been within five miles of each other. For the first time, they are leaving the familiar places, things and people with which they have grown up.

Fortunately, moving today is not like it was when I was a child. Between cell phones, text messages, instant message chatting and Facebook, Austin and Amber will stay in touch with their friends. They do not have to leave anyone behind – they just have to expand their circles of friends when we get to Columbia.

In fact, if you haven’t already, connect with me on Facebook and/or Twitter.

Technology has made the world smaller and I appreciate that it will allow us to more easily stay connected to good friends. I do not view this move as losing any friend anywhere. I value you all too much and look forward to staying in touch as the next phase of Austin’s, Amber’s and my life unfolds in Columbia.

In other words, I’m not saying “good bye”. I’m just saying “see you later”.