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Newsletter Publisher Keeps Keystone Alert

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By STEPHEN HAMMILL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 19, 2007

KEYSTONE - A real estate agent by trade, Debra Benoit finds time when she can to try her hand at another profession: publisher.
Benoit is in charge of the Keystone Connection, a monthly newsletter printed by the Keystone Civic Association.

She first joined the KCA as a business member. "I have a tendency to volunteer a lot when I probably shouldn't," she said with a laugh.
Benoit works out of her home office in Tampa Palms, where she moved from Odessa two years ago. She retained her membership and position in the KCA after the move.

July marked the return of the newsletter after a one-year absence. "We replaced it with a mailing postcard, but as soon as we stopped the newsletter, membership dropped," she said.

Now membership is on the rise again, at about 250 members. Only paid members receive the newsletter. Yearly membership costs $15 for families, $10 for seniors and singles and $25 for businesses.

"It's just a great way to communicate with the neighborhood," she said.

Paid advertisers sign up for a three-month cycle. "We actually have a waiting list for ads now," Benoit said. "We mostly just look to cover the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter. We're nonprofit."

She's at work on this month's issue. The process begins with e-mail. Colleagues and fellow KCA board members contact Benoit about different news items affecting Keystone-Odessa.

"Right now the Dibbs borrow pit is a big issue up here," she said. "We want to be sure that our membership knows what's going on with that."

Developer Stephen Dibbs wants to remove about 305 acres from the Keystone-Odessa Community Plan. The KCA, in efforts to preserve the area's rural character, has battled repeatedly with Dibbs over the years.

"We're going to state Keystone is supporting not having this pit," Benoit said.

Issues of growth and development are on the minds of Keystone residents. It's one of the reasons Benoit decided to get involved. "This is one of the last rural areas so close to a city," she said. "And it's nice that they want to preserve that."

Not all subjects are controversial. The annual music festival, formerly the jazz festival, will dominate the pages in the coming year.

The KCA encourages contributions from residents about anything affecting the community. Hillsborough County Community Resource Deputy Charity Arthur supplies neighborhood-specific crime-fighting tips and statistics.
Benoit writes a real estate market watch. She also is preparing a daylight-savings article to remind residents to adjust lawn sprinkler timers.

Each issue includes minutes from the prior month's KCA general meetings.
Benoit uses an inexpensive software program for layout. The goal is to publish the newsletter before each general membership meeting, held the last Thursday of each month.

Frances Barksdale handles the mailing. Lately, she has been helped by the staff of Fifth Third Bank's newest branch at 17751 Gunn Highway.

"Fifth Third have been wonderful business partners," Benoit said. "They let us use a room to fold the newsletters; even the tellers lend a hand."

For information or to submit items for the Keystone Connection, call (813) 484-4052.

Reporter Stephen Hammill can be reached at (813) 865-1523 or shammill@tampatrib.com.

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