How Cody Journal Came to Be

Recently, a few people have asked me how I came up with the idea of Cody Calendar. In a nutshell, it grew by listening to the community and taking the steps that made sense for the business. So, grab a beverage, sit back, get comfortable, and let me share the history of Cody Journal with you.

An Idea that Wouldn’t Let Go

Around 2018 or so, I kept hearing comments in the community about how frustrating it was to read in the paper about events that had already happened that people would have attended had they known. That resonated with me as I knew the town had needed a strong community calendar for decades. But it’s truly a job to make that happen.

I wasn’t sure if this idea was mine or if it made more sense for someone else, so I ran it by the Chamber. I remembered when their event calendar was incredibly helpful many decades ago and wondered if they might want to take this on. But the idea was turned down.

Next, in 2019, there was a push to get a 5-year development plan together for Cody. I tossed out the idea again; this time, it resonated with everyone who heard it. It gained support, and meetings began to make it a reality. Unfortunately, all those plans were abandoned with the arrival of the covid mess.

The idea didn’t let go but instead increased its insistence on happening. The strength of this town lies in community, which relies on people gathering and getting to know each other. By 2021, it was clear that people in the community needed to meet more often. That’s when I realized that no matter how often I tried to give the idea away, it apparently was mine to take on.

Beginnings

So, in early 2021, I began to map out the steps to create Cody Calendar and opened up the website on April 1 – April Fool’s Day – why not? Being on a shoestring budget, it had to be a very soft launch. In addition, I needed this time to test myself and ensure I could do this over the long haul. As it turns out, I adore this work and helping others get their message out. And I love the opportunity to promote everyone who takes the time and energy to organize an event. That’s why events are free to have added to the online calendar. You’re already putting in the work to keep the community strong.

In the Cody area, people get their information in a variety of ways. Reaching the entire community was essential to the success of this business. That means finding ways for you to find information online, in print, on social media, and by email.

As the community began to discover Cody Calendar, there were many requests to create a printed version. It costs quite a bit to print. But thanks to the support and help from Goodyear Printing, the weekly flyers started. I knew taking this step would push the business’s financial success further out, but it was such a strong request that it needed to happen.

From there, I listened to your valuable feedback, which guided me to the logical next steps. You stopped me to chat and asked for details about events, so the next step was to add articles. The Journal became a part of Cody Calendar, and I knew those would need to be swapped. We’ve completed that rebranding, and the events calendar is now part of Cody Journal. With that swap, we also added a presence on Facebook thanks to a collaborative effort with Missy Burns Creative.

Looking Forward

You continue to give fabulous feedback, and we hear you. Sometime in the following months, I hope to be able to let those who wish to manage their own events do so. Look for a better online submission form to come. The Journal is now open to community contributors who want to share stories and news about their businesses, groups, and more. It is truly a community effort.

Once that is well established, we will look to other great suggestions you’ve made. Our goal is to provide Cody with what it needs to remain the strong community it is. With a small team in place, we are working as fast as we can and as slow as we must to bring this work forward.

Question for You

How would you like to see Cody Journal/Calendar develop? I’m always open to your feedback and suggestions! Just send an email.

This article is proudly sponsored by Cody Calendar advertisers