By Kevin VanGundy

My daughter, Olivia, is a bright, perky eighth grader at Bookcliff Middle School. As I was driving her to school one morning, I asked her how it felt to be at the top of the school’s social ladder.

“Good, but boring,” she said.

“Well, don’t get too comfortable,” I responded. “Next year, you’ll move on to high school where you get to start from the bottom again. How does that make you feel?”

“Excited, but nervous,” she replied.

After high school, she’ll start college as a freshman and finish as a senior. Then it’s off to work, where she’ll start near the bottom and finish at the top. And so it goes. Or does it? Have you stopped progressing? Are you at the top with nowhere else to go? Perhaps you’re playing it safe in the middle? This new year, I encourage you to start something at the bottom, again.

Talk about starting at the bottom

I remember when Susan Capps called me about 10 years ago asking for advice on starting a trade show of sorts for seniors called BeaconFest. At the time, I was running a small event promotions company, as one of my too numerous entrepreneurial endeavors.

As publisher of the BEACON Senior Newspaper, Susan was involved from the bottom beginnings of the annual senior fair, which was held at Mesa Mall. But like Frodo’s ring, as the show grew bigger, better and neared the top, some of the members of the founding fellowship felt the need to cut the others out. Soon, Susan found herself on the outside looking in. She decided to start at the bottom, again.

Fast forward 10 years. BeaconFest, which she started at the bottom, is now at the top, being the number one senior fair in the state. Well, actually, there is another group in Denver that claims to be number one. Their show had about 1,800 people in attendance last year. Grand Junction’s BeaconFest had about 2,400 people come through the door. But the Denver folks say that their 1,800 people paid an admission to go to their show at the Denver Convention Center. BeaconFest, now held at Two Rivers Convention Center, is free to the public. So, had their show been free it probably would have been better attended. Say what?

Honestly, it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, the BEACON Senior Newspaper is going to put on the best “boomer” and “senior” fair that we possibly can, and you and your friends are invited to come have fun… for free!

How much should you give?

I know that in many circles, there is a “rule of thumb” that one should tithe 10 percent of their income. That’s a crock of crap. The correct answer to, “How much should I give?” is always, “more.” In March’s BEACON Senior Newspaper, we will present you with a number of ways that you can give to some very worthy local charities.

Our annual “Create a Legacy” insert is about how to use your time and money effectively in supporting what is important to you. I guarantee that you won’t be taking it with you. Please, if you know of a worthy cause, let us know about them. It’s important to us because it’s important to you.

As always, you can reach us by calling 243-8829, emailing us at Beacon@PendantPublishing.com, or by writing to:

BEACON Senior Newspaper, P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502.