by Deverick Martin When I snapped the photograph gracing our final cover of 1999, I was at 11,000 feet, looking south toward the highest mountain in North America. When I first took off, I watched as the human-made features of my terrestrial world grew smaller, and I felt like I was soaring with the eagles. Later, as I approached "the great one" and took this photo, I felt like a tiny, insignificant fly buzzing around an enormous elephant. I also felt deep gratitude for the experience. All three perceptions were true, and all are parts of "the big picture."
This issue marks the completion of my first three years as publisher of The New Times. As I look back, this has been a period of many changes for me: I embarked on my first adventure as a business owner, in a field in which I had (and still have) much to learn. I started off with all of the excitement of someone heading to a new destination, yet it is easy to feel insignificant if I compare myself with the many gifted people with whom I come into contact at The New Times.
I can also choose to feel blessed to be in the place that I am and to have the big-picture view that my role as publisher can offer. I have been more challenged than I expected, yet I like the growth that being challenged brings. I have been surprised by how much time and work it takes to produce The New Times each month, but at the same time I am energized by the continually emerging opportunities and challenges.
Nearly everyone with whom I talk reports significant changes in their lives, and here at The New Times is no exception. Arlene Arnold resigned last month to travel, to teach, and to work on a new book of her own. Her love of books and the work of The New Times called her to develop and expand our "In Review" section. Her idea for the "New and Noteworthy" advertising section, and the hard work she put in to make it happen, created the financial energy to bring full color to The New Times at the end of 1998. I will miss having her loving and lively energy here on a regular basis, although she plans to continue to contribute articles on a frequent basis.
As one door closes, another opens, and I am happy to announce that Pam Horbett has joined The New Times. As a graphic artist, she was responsible for the new look we introduced last June. She is creative, well organized, and a true delight to work with. In her new role at The New Times, she will be working with authors, publishers, and bookstores to continue to make our popular "In Review" section a trusted resource for cutting-edge books, music, tools, and more. Welcome, Pam!
Its easy to get swept up in the day-to-day details of my job here, but when I see my picture of Denali and remember to look at the big picture, I know that everything is just as it should be.
The Big Picture