The Empty Chair

At every awards dinner there is a table for sponsors. Somewhere outside, somebody is loading the last crate, answering the last call or checking an animal that cannot wait until morning.

We are looking for that person and the small, independent crews beside them. Show us the work. Show us the obstacle. Then show us the direct, practical way a reader can help.

If you know a group we should investigate, send its name, general location and a public source we can verify. Ask a private person before nominating them. Keep children's identities, home addresses and sensitive wildlife locations out of it.

We will check the facts before we tell the story. We cannot promise coverage or funding. The empty chair is for the person who was too busy doing the work to come to the dinner.

I’ll leave you today with a line from Mary Oliver:

“Attention is the beginning of devotion.”