The Save the Eccentric Citizens Committee has attracted local, state, national and international attention. TIME MagazineÕs Detroit blog at http://Detroit.blogs.time.com/, WXYZ-TV, Columbia Journalism Review, UK Guardian., ABC News ran a feature on the Eccentric and how the community has banded together to save the newspaper. Look for the video on hometownlife.com

SAVE THE ECCENTRIC Continues to Build Momentum. Thanks to supporters!

We have reached an important milestone in our community's effort to save the Birmingham Eccentric. We have surpassed 2,500 new subscriptions! This is simply amazing and fantastic. When the Save the Eccentric Committee was formed in late May, all we had was a vision and a goal. Today we are making that goal a reality with a terrific partnership between residents of the communities covered by the paper, community and business leaders, and the staff and management at the Eccentric.

While Congress conducts a hearing on the future of newspapers and other publications continue to close around the country, we as a community have been stepping up to the plate and taking action. It is a wonderful feeling of empowerment and community pride that we are helping to insure the future of the Eccentric.

We still need everyone's help and involvement. We need another 1,500 - 2,000 new subscriptions to put the effort on solid footing. We need assistance in getting more subscribers, and we need more involvement as a community from the five B's (Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Township) and Franklin to provide the paper with information on community events and issues for coverage. Student volunteers are also encouraged to participate in developing content for the paper. For those that are looking for fundraising opportunities, the Eccentric has put together a great package which will help your group and the community at the same time, so please inquire if you are interested. We also need more local advertising from businesses in the community, and the Eccentric team is responding with innovative, cost effective packages and marketing support tailored to individual business needs. Please e-mail me at davembloom@yahoo.com or call the Eccentric at 866-887-2737 with questions or to participate.

Our efforts and success are not going unnoticed either. ABC News ran our story in a late night broadcast in September, and our story was even covered by the Guardian Newspaper in the England, comparing the effort to the movie "It's a Wonderful Life." Time Magazine's Detroit Blog will also be writing about our story.

We are engaged in this project because local newspapers like the Birmingham Eccentric chronicle our history, connect us, and keep us informed about our community. They also play a critical role in protecting and fostering the democracy which makes our communities and country great.

Most of all, a local newspaper celebrates our local milestones, from anniversaries to Little League championships. Together, these reasons make it vital to save our historic and relevant newspaper.

Sincerely,
David Bloom
Birmingham Resident, Chair
Citizens to Save the Eccentric Committee

Citizens to Save the Eccentric Committee Members:

Daniel Beyer, Birmingham Resident
Dorothy Conrad, Birmingham Resident
Jay Cravens, City Manager, Bloomfield Hills
Dan Devine, Bloomfield Township Treasurer
Betsy Erikson, Director, Communications and Community Relations, Bloomfield Hills Schools
Sonya Friedman, Ph.D. Psychologist, Birmingham
Steven Gaynor, Ph.D., Superintendent, Bloomfield Hills Schools
Kathy Hagaman , Village Clerk/Administrator, Bingham Farms
John Heiney, Executive Director, Birmingham Principal Shopping District
Pat Hardy, City Commissioner, Bloomfield Hills
Tracy Katz, Birmingham resident
Logan Katz, student, Derby Middle School, Birmingham resident
Dave Kellett, Mayor, City of Bloomfield Hills
David F. Larson, Ph.D., Superintendent, Birmingham Public Schools
Dave Leckie, Village President, Bingham Farms
Tom Markus, City Manager, Birmingham
David Payne, Bloomfield Township Supervisor
David Potts, Oakland County Commissioner
Stuart Sherman, Mayor, City of Birmingham
Linda Solomon, Photojournalist, Bloomfield Hills Resident
David Young, Birmingham Resident
Carrie Zarotney, President, Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber