The Month in Review - March 2024
March was another great month for our effort!
Civic Capacity Continues to Grow Thanks to Our Readers!
As much as I might be the one producing and creating this publication, this is certainly by no means a “one man show”. There are scores of folks that have invested time, money, suggestions, and perhaps most importantly, encouragement, into this endeavor.
Civic Capacity is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
One of the activities I want to undertake in this newsletter is to take time to look back at the growth of this project and bring forward new ways you can help support this effort.
If there is one thing I have learned about growing this newsletter, it is that this project is filling an unmet need; good, honest and quality analysis of the events that are shaping our local civic life. The growth of this project has exceeded expectations, and while that growth is good — getting new people in the conversation isn’t a bad thing — it does mean we are all looking at this project from a different perspective.
One of these different perspectives is that we have all learned about this newsletter at different times, so whether this is your first time interacting with Civic Capacity, or your 100th, we are going to take a look back at the month and go over some great ways you can interact with this effort.
In his book, Good to Great, Jim Collins talks about how organizations often through hard work and discipline achieve the “flywheel effect”. Through painstaking hard work, things start to become easier and the tangible results are clearer to see. Is this project at the point where the “flywheel effect” is starting to be seen? It certainly feels that way. This publication is certainly growing and expanding each and every day.
Last month, Civic Capacity had 24 separate editions go out, which just does to show how busy March was. The EPA announced funding for a superfund cleanup here in town, there was a primary election, we talked about how parking ticket revenues are dropping, and it seemed like every day there was something about the IOOF/Old Miami County Courthouse building. I am also aware that I am probably giving short shrift to our readers outside of Troy — we are trying to build something county-wide and there have been happenings elsewhere — but finding the time has been a challenge.
With that, if you live elsewhere in Miami County and have interest in being a contributor to this project, drop me an email. Let’s have a talk, and maybe there is something mutually beneficial that can come from working together.
Despite the headwinds, our community is growing. Our free subscriber list grew by an astounding 128%, over 1,300 people are now receiving this newsletter when a new edition drops. Those generous individuals who make a financial contribution to our effort grew by 25% — since January 1st our paid subscriber base has grown by 51%! If you have not become a paid subscriber to our effort, please consider it. With your paid subscription, you have access to all back issues of our newsletter.
Our publication also had 33,273 separate views throughout the month, another strong month. That means in March, we had over 1,000 views of our work which means more and more individuals are finding value in this project and that is heartwarming! Thank you!
Our Most Popular Post from March
Our most read post from last month was our breaking news story about the city’s $20,000 legal counsel asking the judge to have the THPA stop work on the renovation of the IOOF/Old Miami Courthouse and requiring the THPA to demolish the building. This story broke on March 12th and over 2,340 views of this edition have taken place.
Have Your Say!
If you have a contribution you want to make to Civic Capacity, please let us know! Whether it is a guest editorial, a letter to the editor or a column you wish to contribute, we would be happy to publish your ideas and your insights.
Unlike traditional media sources, you aren’t limited to word counts, nor will your ideas be stuck behind a paywall. We believe in the free exchange of ideas and welcome your contributions. Send your ideas to: william.lutz17@gmail.com
Sponsorship Packages Available for Civic Capacity
Looking at the readership of Civic Capacity, it is clear that we are creating a community of loyal readers that are becoming more engaged with their community; over the past month we have averaged over 1,000 readers a day to our newsletter. If you own or are part of a small business and would like to become a sponsor of Civic Capacity, we have developed a month-long sponsorship package. If you are interested, please email me at william.lutz17@gmail.com and we can get the conversation started.
Help Grow Our Publication!
One of the best ways you can help grow our publication and our community of civic minded and aware individuals is to share our work with your friends and neighbors!
Thanks for reading!
March was an amazingly successful month for the Civic Capacity Newsletter, and I am grateful for all of your support! If you ever have any comments or questions, please feel free to drop me a note at william.lutz17@gmail.com.