Paper Delivery

Tracy and I delivered papers in Norfolk and Columbus today. It was a beautiful day to be out and about and fun to show Tracy where the NFT is delivered. I'm going to the Women's Leadership Institute School for Writers in Seward in May (check it out at http://blog.cuw.edu/wli/resources/wli-resources/wli-schools/may-2011-schools-at-concordia-university-nebraska/), and Tracy and Lori will be delivering papers that week.

It was a busy day but very satisfying to get all the deliveries made. I pray that the articles in the paper will bless readers!

Delivery Day

I finished deliveries in Norfolk today, and also got papers mailed to subscribers and sponsors.

I’ve mentioned before how much I enjoy delivery day, and today was no exception! I met several people I hadn’t met before, and heard from others how much they enjoy reading the paper. It was also very gratifying to see that in several locations, most of the papers had been taken!

Would you like to be a sponsor and offer free issues of the Nebraska Family Times in your place of business? A sponsorship is only $10/month for 10 copies of the paper. Many businesses report that customers come in every month to pick up a copy of the paper and do business at that location! You can also have the papers mailed to you and distribute them to friends, co-workers, or people in your congregation. It’s a great way to spread positive news, and inspire, encourage, and motivate people in their Christian walk.

For more information, e-mail me at shelly@shellyburke.net or call (402) 993-2467 or (402) 750-3496.

Paper Delivery and Mailing

Today was paper delivery and mailing day, in Norfolk. Lori and I were able to do it together again, after several months of conflicting plans. Rain was falling when I picked Lori up at her house, and as we made the first few deliveries, but after we took a break at the Norfolk Coffee Company, the skies cleared. It was nice to see Lori and have the day to talk.

Enjoy the paper! If you receive your issue at your church, doctor’s office, or other business, thank them for sponsoring the paper so you can enjoy it!

Delivering the Paper

Today Lori and I delivered the paper to sponsors in Norfolk. It’s always fun to deliver the paper and talk with customers at the various businesses. (If your business is interested in sponsoring the paper—providing complimentary copies it for your customers or patrons to read—contact the NFT at shelly@shellyburke.net or call (402) 750-3496. New sponsors and advertisers receive a 25% discount!)

Lori has two children in high school (Ryan will graduate next month). Ryan, Cody (my son), Rachel (Lori’s daughter), and Morgan (my daughter) are stair-step in age—Ryan’s a senior, down to Morgan who is a freshman(woman). It’s so nice to have several hours to talk with Lori about our kids and families; even though our conversations are interrupted frequently when we get out to take papers into a business, we seem to be able to pick up our conversations almost mid-sentence when we’re together in the vehicle again.

I’ve found that as my kids enter the teen-age years, the worries don’t decrease, they just change. Even if Lori and I don’t come up with any solutions to our current “kid issues,” it’s good to talk about them and share ideas about why kids do the things they do, and ideas for getting them to do something different!

Thanks for a nice day, Lori!

February Issue of the Nebraska Family Times

The February issue of the Nebraska Family Times comes out this week!

Lori and I picked it up on Tuesday and made the Norfolk deliveries that day. It was nice to have someone along for deliveries, and not have to park and turn off and lock the vehicle at each location. It was a cold day, too, so we took turns going out into the cold to make the deliveries.

Lori packed and mailed the "big" boxes of papers today, and I mailed the bulk mailings in Norfolk this afternoon. Tomorrow I'll make the Columbus deliveries--it's supposed to be a really nice day so I'll enjoy being out.

I'm very excited about this issue of the paper. I've added a new "room"--The Playroom. These pages were previously filled with a list of sponsors. Instead of just listing sponsors, I'll be spotlighting a sponsor (or several) every month. The Playroom also contains book reviews, recipes, and other fun information and ideas.

This issue of the paper also includes the questionnaire that was in the last issue. I don't always remember to fill out and send things in the first time I see them, so thought wanted to include it again in case anyone else procrastinates like I do. Please fill out and return the questionnaire--the information will help me to fill the paper with news and information that is valuable to you!

Paper Delivery Lady/Paper Mailing Lady

Today was delivery and paper mailing day!

The papers are mailed via bulk mail, so I have to put the individual papers in rubber-banded groups in zip-code order. Thankfully, the computer prints out the labels in that order, so I just have to remember to start a new "group" when the third number of the zip code changes (papers are put into groups in which the first three numbers of the zip code are identical).

Before I took the addressed papers to the BMU (Bulk Mailing Unit)--which is a different building than the "regular" post office--I delivered papers around Norfolk. It's always fun to visit the different businesses and churches, and say "hello" to the people there.

Today one of my first deliveries was at the Downtown Coffee Company in Norfolk. I'm not a coffee drinker, but wanted something hot to drink. The employees are always friendly, so helped me choose something hot and caffeinated. I had a "dark" chai tea--chai tea with a shot of expresso. It was yummy, warmed me up, and kept me going all day!

The first time I did the deliveries in Norfolk it took me about 4 hours. This time, it took me just a little over two hours, and that was with having to backtrack twice. I'm sure it will continue to get easier as I do it more. Hopefully my friend and Newspaper Assistant Lori will be able to come and help in the future. It takes as long to park the car and turn it off as it does to actually take the paper in. If two of us go, one can wait in the car, close to the door, and that will cut down on time needed.

At first I was apprehensive about getting the bulk mail papers ready to go. I envisioned a government person scrutinizing every single paper, telling me that if a label was on crooked or one paper was out of zip code order I'd have to take them all home and start over! The man who works there has been extremely nice, and helpful, and it just takes a few minutes to get that part of paper delivery done with.

It is very satisfying to get papers delivered and on their way to their destination. I pray that something in the paper will touch the heart of, or meet a need of, every person who reads the paper. After I was done with deliveries and the mailing, I had a few minutes to go to the mall--yea!

Wondering . . . "How will it Look?"

The Jan. issue of the Nebraska Family Times was printed today, and I'll pick up about 14 boxes of papers tomorrow. This is the 4th issue I've done as publisher, although I've had input each month from Vyckie.

Getting my first look at the new issue always gives me a thrill . . . and I'm always just a bit nervous waiting for that look. I always wonder, "How did it come out?" "Did I miss a major typo?" "What if no one likes the articles?" I put together each issue with the readers in mind--my goal is to include articles that are thought-provoking, educational, inspirational, encouraging . . . or just provide a light moment in the reader's day.

I look forward to hearing from you, whether it's with praise (I hope!) or criticism (which I will learn from). Please contact me any time at shelly@shellyburke.net, (402) 993-2467, or Shelly Burke, 42887 G. G. Road, Genoa, NE, 68640.