Hopefully this is the last time readers will hear from me in awhile.
This is a difficult essay to write, and I pen this with a tinge of sadness of what might have been, but also feel the exhilaration of a possible new beginning. Careful readers of the column have probably seen this coming for some time.
I have come to the conclusion that the economics of The Amish Cook simply don't work. They never really did. The market dictates that newspapers pay on average $3-$5 a week for the column, and it doesn't take a mathematician to figure out how difficult that can make things. The Amish Cook is the "little column that could." It's defied the odds for years in an age of media consolidation, shrinking newspapers, chopped media budgets and the onslaught of the Internet. I cannot believe The Amish Cook column is actually still around almost 19 years after it began, but it is because of the readers, because of you.
For most of my adult life, I've felt like the performer at the circus spinning plates atop a giant pole, praying that they wouldn't one day come crashing down. The Amish Cook column is not a matter of national security or world peace. Some even consider it a rather frivolous feature. I know your daily newspaper would survive fine without it. Still, and I know I'm biased, I think the column has a place in today's world, offering up weekly helpings of simplicity, sincerity, family and faith. I've tried things like cookbook orders and my latest attempt to keep the column going was to offer a "mini-concert" by the Eicher family for readers to listen to. I thank everyone who called in or logged on and enjoyed it and we're very grateful, but it gave Lovina a little more publicity than she prefers and did little for the long-term survival of the column.
Like a record needle stuck on the same song, I keep telling Lovina that some day things will get better. Some white knight will gallop in and keep the column secure forever: an advertiser or some corporate chieftan. But what if that knight never comes? In actuality, I think the column's white knight has been here all along the readers.
In an attempt to build a long-term future for The Amish Cook, we are trying something new. See below for more.
THE AMISH COOK FRIEND CLUB
First of all, under this arrangement the column will continue weekly just like always, but instead of relying on unpredictable cookbook orders and other projects, we will formalize and make official what has always been the case reader support When I suggested the idea of a "fan club" to Lovina, she said she preferred the term "friend", "fan" sounded too much like a celebrity to her. And we do consider readers to be friends.
In fact, the reason for this "friend club" is to allow Lovina to stay out of the spotlight, to not be a celebrity. With reader support, this column can go back to its bread and butter basics and Lovina can live quietly full of family and faith and still share it with us each week. In an effort to keep the column free of "commercial clutter", these "membership drives" will only appear certain times of year. This membership drive will continue through April 30. Since we are testing this "friend club" concept first in Faulkner County, we're eager to see how readers respond. Anyone who joins the club today will get $5 off their membership.
There are several levels of support to Lovina that you can offer to the column within the official Amish Cook Friends Club:
BASIC ONE-YEAR MEMBERSHIP $10; signed "I'm A Friend of The Amish Cook" certificate autographed by Lovina.
ONE-YEAR SILVER $25; autographed certificate, signed color photo of the Eicher's horse and buggy or meal-time scene. Free access to any paid products at amishcookonline.com
ONE YEAR GOLD $50; all of the above, plus a quarterly newsletter, "The Amish Cook Extra", with family favorite recipes, color photos of Lovina's home, stories, and Amish information
EDITOR'S CIRCLE $75; All of the above, plus a happy birthday greeting to one loved per year either in Lovina's column or a card sent to the person's home, discounts and other special surprises.
Memberships can be sent to: Oasis Newsfeatures, P.O. Box 2144, Middletown, Ohio 45042. Allow two to four weeks for delivery of certificates. Readers can also join by calling 1-877-571-4112.
