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January 8, 1999/ 20 Tevet 5759, Vol. 51, No. 15
It really is A Family Thing
MICHELLE ACKERMAN
Staff Writer
If it doesn't give you goosebumps, you're not reading the right magazine.
That's the idea behind A Family Thing magazine, a local publication whose mission statement reads: "Our stories aim to bring a smile to your heart, tears to your eyes, and goosebumps to your soul. We seek to enlighten and empower."
The brainchild of Lynn Rose, the free publication, which debuted last September, already has more than 40,000 readers.
Offering sections for children and seniors, "Fabulous Finds", financial news, recipes, tips for fun, a travel section and much more, A Family Thing was originally created because of Rose's desire to be there for (what else) her family.
"I have three kids (Jessica, 11; Jaclyn, 9; and Zachary, 4) and I wanted to be home for them at 3 (p.m.)," she explains.
Feeling unfulfilled by the part-time counseling work she was doing, Rose, who has a master's degree in social work, looked for a way to mix her entrepreneurial spirit with her social-work background.
"(The magazine) met a need for my personal life ... and professionally, it filled that void as well. I saw a trend going back to family values. Everyone wants family - divorce isn't in anymore; separation isn't in anymore; family is in; working on the family is in.
"The response (from readers has been) that people are very, very ready for this magazine, a magazine ... they can just read and feel good about themselves, their children, their families. They don't want to be preached to anymore."
One particular message left on Rose's answering machine by a reader has added someone Rose calls "my new grandmother" to her personal family.
"She left a message on my answering machine saying 'Even if you never call back, I just had to say how touched I was by your magazine.' "
Rose did meet Faye Hein, and of that meeting she says, "It was meant to be. She was meant to be in my life. And she got it. She got what the magazine was all about. ... I'm trying to change one family at a time. If one family per issue gets it, I'll be happy. I want people to find traditions in their family and create memories - to put down their work, shut off their televisions and spend time with their family."
Though the publication has several regular contributors, much of the content is actually sent in by readers.
"This magazine is for all people who want to write, people who want to be a part of something. As long as it's not offensive in any way, I'll print it," she asserts.
And not only is the content up for grabs, so is the cover. Rose explains that she leaves the cover open for a picture of anyone who has a heartwarming story to tell.
"This is just a fun magazine. It's just for everyone to have a good time with. It's not Parenting 101, but a light, funny magazine."
In the Valley, the magazine can be picked up at more than 60 locations - from gyms, to synagogues and churches, to coffee shops and doctor's offices. Rose anticipates expanding the magazine to other states in the future. And Rose's husband, Craig, is designing a magazine Web site, due to be finished at the end of February. The address is www.afamilything.com.
"The big picture, the whole goal, is to do a very nice thing, a heartwarming thing that my kids would be proud of (and) to have something to pass down to my kids," she says.
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