A beautiful award-winning Orchid would be the most fitting of all gifts as Alley Communications bids farewell to Cathy Strobel-Ayres’ service as an Alley Communications Board member for more than two decades! Orchids represent the anniversary of 49 years – the number of years the alley newspaper will have been in publication as of 2024.
Cathy’s leadership and everyday participation (steady advice, taking notes, pulling together meeting agendas, supporting paid staff, schlepping stuff to community info fairs, et al) has buoyed the organization as it begins its 49th year of publishing the alley.
She is a sterling example of a farm-girl who did well in the big city as she brought her awareness of the need to keep connected – learned growing up in a rural area at a time without cell phones and only a “party-line” hard wired phone. Before retiring a few years ago, Cathy spent time working at the Minnesota State Legislature, the Minnesota AIDS Project, and the University of Minnesota School of Medicine.
Newspapers large and small are her go-to place every day to keep up on the news and stay connected to her communities. Thank you, thank you, Cathy for choosing the alley newspaper to practice your dedication and leadership on the importance of staying connected through community journalism. To read more about Cathy, check out the December 1, 2022 issue of Lavender Magazine: lavendermagazine.com/our-lives/family-friends/a-day-in-the-life-cathy-strobel-ayers
