Be a consumer, not a customer...

I stopped in the store the other day for some simple shopping.  Beer, peanuts and some Beef Jerky.  Maybe not the finest in culinary selections, but it was an easy trip to the store.

            Customer in, customer out.

            It’s a great model.  For groceries, shoes, luggage and generally most consumer goods and some services.

            But what would happen if it was customer in, consumer out.  What if customers became discriminating consumers?  Things could change depending on what was being consumed.

            One area where things have changed is in journalism.  Breaking news – journalism is not dead.  The delivery system by which we get our news has and as we become more technology savvy, so too has our ability to become strong news consumers.  Ask someone where they get their news from and you’ll find that all-too-often, they’ll say the internet, or Twitter or Facebook.

            They have no idea as to what the source is.  They are, in many ways, becoming more of a news customer than news consumer.  They know the site, but not the source.

            Large media organizations typically try to present stories that are, as they say in the world of news literacy, Viable, Independent and Accountable.  They focus on watchdog journalism and try (nothing is perfect) to present independent and non biased reporting.

            According to the Center for News Literacy at Stony Brook University, an organization that I am now associated with and have attended in-depth seminars at, news literacy, in general terms is “the ability to use critical thinking skills to judge the reliability and credibility of news reports, whether they come via print, television or the Internet.”  The goal?  To have educated news consumers who have the knowledge to engage in civic actions – whether it’s facilitating change in the community or voting in an election.  The late Daniel Patrick Moynihan was known for saying “everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.”  Or, as they used to say in the glory days of the old Chicago City news Bureau, “You say your mother loves you...check it out.”

            It makes sense.  But what if there was a media organization that treated its readers like customers?  Let’s say they just put information out there for the sake of putting out there without a trained, responsible editor to ensure its independence.  Sounds crazy, no?

            But in our little village of Buffalo Grove (with apologies to Sholem Aleichem) that has, and continues to happen.

            On Wednesday, Hale Global, the fine folks who bought AOL Patch from AOL, decided they could be a viable news organization without news personnel, so they laid off (there is other terminology that can be used..) hundreds of staff members who doggedly worked to cover one or two communities to give Patch the hyper-local coverage from which AOL had hoped to earn money.  Lots of it.

            Among the victims was Cristel Mohrman who covered Buffalo Grove for 3 ½ years.  Patch, which probably felt one community was just too easy, also tossed Lake Forest at Cristel as well.  Cristel was everywhere she could be covering events, taking photos and even video.  But that was not good enough for the folks at corporate.

            Silly girl.  You were treating our customers as news consumers.  That doesn’t make money.  Just get ‘em in and like sheep to the slaughter, we’ll record the hits to the page and make money.

            So now what?  Patch will be turned into a collection of PR releases, mommy blogs and public service announcements.  The folks at Hale Global probably think that the news consumers in Big Animal Grove won’t know the difference.  Independent reporting? Nah. Takes too long.  Bias free information?  Nah, too expensive.  Accountable news gathering?  You kidding? That cost money.

            So once again the news consumer comes up short.  Or as they say at the elevator company, they get the shaft.  And don’t think it’s limited to Patch.  Pioneer, which once had local offices, beat reporters, now slices and dices its editorial staff members so much the Popeil family would be jealous.  They too have focused more on quantity as opposed to quality.  To bastardize the New York Times slogan, it’s all the news that fits, we print.  Mommy blog? Sure, we’ll fill a page.  Old news, sure why not?  Seriously, in the Jan. 23 issue of the Countryside was coverage of Kristallnacht – which took place Nov. 9.  The prevailing attitude is that news consumers today are stupid, they’ll take anything, so just treat them like a customer – they’ll never know the difference.

            Yes they will.

            The push for critical thinking skills is allegedly at the heart of the common core curriculum for the nation’s high schools.  Unfortunately, it’s not a quantifiable skill like grammar, math and science.  And if you mention news literacy, many administrators gasp and say “we already have a journalism class.”

            We’re talking critical thinking skills here.  We’re talking about using the media as one conduit to encourage news consumers to use independent and nonbiased material when making decisions related to civic responsibilities.

            Media organizations that remove this opportunity are shirking their responsibility to news consumers, treating them instead like one-size-fits-all customers.

            In a perfect world, media organizations will step back and take stock of what is needed and do the right things to attract, enhance and inform news consumers.

            Let’s hope they don’t try to Patch things up. 

Board may need to rethink upcoming meeting schedule

The schedule for village board meetings is pretty cut and dry.

            The first and third Mondays of the month.

            Period.

            So when Prairie View resident Nora Bethman told the Board it was “ironic" that the Board took action on Weiland Road on Martin Luther King Day, I had to wonder if the cold weather was the result of global warming, or a hole in the ozone layer.

            Bethman said the irony was due to the fact that the Board “discriminated” against Prairie View in relation to the Weiland Road project.

            Actually the Board meeting actually reflected one of Dr. King’s values – freedom.  Even though Bethman contends that the ayes (yes, ayes…) of the Board are against her she needs to take into consideration a couple of things.

            First of all, one of the freedoms Dr. King fought for was equality as guaranteed in the First Amendment.  Bethman had the freedom of speech and she also had the opportunity to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.  Oops. How quickly some people forget.

            And before folks start commenting and emailing me claiming “the Board doesn’t give any one freedom of speech because they limit us to 10 minutes.”

            And your point is? Attend other Board meetings and you’ll find it’s not unusual for attendees to be limited to two or three minutes.   Period.

            And if the Board discriminates, did Bethman notice that she had the same courtesy extended to her as a village resident.  I didn’t think so.

            Just because you may disagree with the Board, does not mean you are the victim of discrimination.

            To her credit, however, Bethman may have raised a flag about upcoming Board meetings as they may interfere with major events that can impact, or do I dare say, discriminate against some people.

            Take for example this Monday’s meeting.  It’s not only Chinese New Year, but also the day the music died.  Yes, it’s the anniversary of the plane crash that killed the Big Bopper, Richie Valens and, of course, Buddy Holly.  Needless to say, the Board will be discriminating against the village’s Chinese population and music lovers.  Bye, bye, Miss American Pie.

            And you can kiss the Feb. 17 meeting good bye because that’s Random Act of Kindness Day, which means kind people would be offended.  It’s also President’s Day, so too many people would be preoccupied honoring the likes of Millard Fillmore and Herbert Hoover.  Happy birthday Abie baby.

            March isn’t much better.  The March 3 meeting coincides with “If Pets Had Thumbs Day” and “National Anthem Day.”  A double whammy here.  You’d discriminate against PETA and you run the risk of discriminating against national anthem singers who might claim the Board is unpatriotic.

            March 17. Is St. Patrick’s Day. Say no more.  There is, however, the possibility that people would want the Board to kiss their Blarney Stones.  As I said, say no more.

            April brings with it a litany of celebrations that conflict with the village’s need to conduct business.  April 7 is the highly popular “No Housework Day”, so meeting then would be a personal insult to domestic cleaners and cleaning service.  April 21 is Dyngus Day.  It’s always the Monday after Easter and is considered to be a “fun” Polish holiday.  You run the risk of discriminating against Dynguses and Polish residents.

            On a serious note, it’s also Patriots Day, the day on which the Boston Marathon is held.   Assuming the Board meets (as it should) it will take time out to remember the victims of Patriots Day 2013.

            Hooray, hooray, the lofty month of May.  The Board’s first meeting is May 5 – Cinco de Mayo. Need I say more?   It’s also Oyster Day, so you’d be keeping oyster lovers at bay.  Observant Jews, however, will likely flock the Board meeting.

            The May 19 meeting coincides with Boy’s Club Day.  There’s humor in there, but probably best left untapped.

            The June meeting will also prove to have some challenges.  June 2 is National Bubba Day.  That’s Bubba, not bubbie.  Chances are the Board would be riddled with ridicule for alienating the bubbas of the world, which result in an increase in the blare of country music emanating from pickup trucks.  The June 16 meeting is up against Fresh Veggie Day that may make PETA happy, but will discriminate against the Vegans of the world who may feel left out because they’ll be sowing their seeds.

            July typically has only one meeting, so the governing fathers and mothers will need to choose carefully.  July 7 is Chocolate Day.  There’s a chance the village will anger chocolate lovers with and without nuts.  July 21 is national Junk Food Day, so the Board will no doubt interfere with the vast number of consumers of chips, pretzels, Slim Jims and various grocery store check-out line delietcables.

            August, which may also yield one meeting, will pose problems as well.  August 4 is U.S. Coast Guard Day, so the village will, no doubt, tick off the present and past Coast Guard members.  Come Aug. 18, the village may be out of rhyme because that’s Bad Poetry Day.  Village officials may not know it, but they’ll annoy the village’s poets.

            Come September, the Board’s first meeting, which will likely be Sept. 8, will conflict with National Date Nut Bread day, impacting the village bakers, let alone nuts.  Sept. 22 coincides with Elephant Appreciation Day.  PETA, as well as some Republicans, might be offended if the Board meets that day.

            The Board’s first October meeting is Oct. 6 which is Mad Hatter Day.  It could be a time for the Board to take into consideration this gem from Alice in Wonderland. ““The Mad Hatter: Have I gone Mad? To which Alice replies: I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are.”  No further comment.

            Oct. is 20 is brandied fruit day, which is totally boring and does not lend itself to a sarcastic remark.  However, the Board could pay homage to many of the people who come to Board meeting by celebrating the big event of Oct. 21 – Babbling Day. 

            November is not without its conflicts.  Nov. 3 is Housewife’s Day, so traditional stay-at-home moms may feel discriminated against.  The Nov. 17 meeting could be a challenge since it is national “Take a Hike Day”, which could result in some suggestive rebuttal.

                        And finally, there’s December.  The Board first meeting coincides with World Aids Awareness Day, which like Patriot’s Day, does not lend itself to anything really funny – but a need to lose sight of its importance.

                        The last Board meeting of the year, if all goes as planned, will be Dec. 15 – Bill of Rights Day which recognizes the first 10 amendments to the constitution – which includes the First Amendment that guarantees freedom of speech, religion, press, petition and assembly.  This is a perfect lead-in to the January meetings, the second of which will be likely be on Martin Luther King Day.  That’s when Americans get the chance to reflect on Dr. King’s message of freedom for all Americans.

            Not just for those who have an axe to grind.

Retro retail ahead?

It has only been just shy of two weeks since Father Time sauntered out the door and the New Years baby that was 2014 crawled in the door.

               But much to my surprise, the banging on the keyboard and the incessant worrying was in high gear. Perennial candidate and worrier Chicken Little was hard at work.

               However, there was a twist this time.  Little has said repeatedly that he is worried about state number of vacancies in the village’s retail space, and rather than have him keep on clucking and expect the village to fill the spot, I told him to come up with some plans.

               He did.

               “I tell you, these plans can put Buffalo Grove on the map,” he said.  I’m thinking, not again.

               “Yep.  I’ve decided to the village needs a theme to develop a unique retail climate” he said. 

               Dare I ask?  The theme is?

               “Buffalo Grove, where we keep the past alive….”

               I’m lost.

               “So here’s my plan,” Little said, “we find ways to resurrect some of the famous names from days gone by the fill some of the vacancies.”

               Such as?

               “Can you see the former Dominick’s at Lake-Cook and Arlington Heights roads open as a Venture, Turnstyle, Wieboldt’s, Goldblatt’s or E.J. Korvette store?”

               Ah, not really, I said, but what about the rest of the strip center?

               “Easy”, he said.  “How about a Robert Hall, Steinberg-Baum or The Fair.”

               I am thinking a Col. Sanders or Chick-fil-a. 

               “Not funny,” he said.

               I asked C.L. if he had any ideas for the vacant car dealerships along Dundee Road.

               “You bet I do – all with the same theme.”

               I knew I’d regret this.

               “I’m thinking we could have Nickey Chevorlet, home of the backwards K or maybe Z Frank -- or -- better yet – how about Burt Weinman, your TV Ford man? 

               Any other bright ideas, I asked.

               “Well, now that you asked, I have one other idea for the Dominick’s at Lake-Cook and Arlington Heights road just in case my first plan doesn’t work.

               And that is?

               “A center with a Village Hall flair.”

               I asked him how he intended to do that.

               “Well, the old Dominick’s store could be a Gentleman’s Club.”

               With a Village Hall flair?

               “Just in name,” Little said.  “I was thinking about calling it the Dancing Dais, or Executive Session”.

               I asked him if he was serious.

               “Well, sure.  If we want to give it flair for the village’s finances a friend of mine gave me a great idea for a name.”

               And that is?

               “Bare Assets.”

               But what about the rest of the center?

               “Piece of cake,” Little said.  “I’m thinking of a coffee shop with a village twist.”

               Really?

               “Yep, and it would also have a retro theme.”

               How so?

               “Well, I may not have a name, but the barista would be former village manager Bill Brimm.”

               Well at least we know the coffee would be made with good water.  But, I asked how it would be retro.

               ‘The slogan, man, the slogan,” Little said.

               Which is?

               “Fill it to the rim with Brimm.” 

Have fun in the snow...and do a public service as well

Shovel  a 4-foot path around a fire hydrant and, if possible sweep the snow off to aid visibility

Kids getting on your nerves?

               Why not have them go out and play in the more than 12-inches of snow – and do a public service as well?

               As part of its “Pluggie’s Pals” program, the Buffalo Grove Fire Department encourages kids – and all residents as well – to shovel a 4-foot path around fire hydrants near their home.  Most hydrants have a metal flag on them, so they should be easy to spot. 
            While the fire department has a list of each hydrant and can easily find their location, when the hydrants are covered in snow it could take valuable time in an emergency to uncover  them.  Also, if you have a snow plow service, ask it not to pile snow on a fire hydrant.

               If you cannot locate hydrant near your residence, call the Fire Department at 847-537-0995. Do not call 9-1-1, as that is for emergencies only.

               Information about the “Pluggie’s Pals” program is at Pluggie's Pal.