Guideposts Magazine Changes in 2001

For a number of years I subscribed to Guideposts until I learned my parents were subscribers as well. To trim my budget I did not renew my subscription and received a few issues at a time from my family.

One day many months ago I noticed Guideposts in the magazine rack outside the Chaplain’s Office at the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital where my children receive their therapies.

Now this is where I get my monthly issues as well as being a subscriber to the online site at http://www.guideposts.com. Once I have received my email I know to look around the hallways at the Hospital for the latest issue.

Just last week I got the email from Guideposts , previewed the February issue online and found the hard copy at the Hospital a day later. There is a large print available for readers who are visually impaired. When ordering specify if you prefer the regular or large print.

Looking at the 2000 issues you will see on the back cover a quote from the late founder, Norman Vincent Peale under the heading “Positive Thinking, Make it Work For You”. Starting with January 2001 Advertising is now apart of the magazine. The paper quality has changed to a thicker type with additional pages of inspirational stories.

The Caregivers series was introduced in 2000 with stories on an Aids patient, Alzheimer’s and children with disabilities. There have been interviews with Hugh Downs and the Surgeon General. Teachers share lessons from their classrooms, neighbors talk of helping each other and families come together discovering the power of prayer.

The January 2001 issue brought the new Animals and Healing Series along with an interview with Jane Goodall the same month. In August 2000 there was a story on the Veterinarian whose mission is to save the Manatees. February 2001 the profile is on cats as well as the issue profiling Miracles.

Some of the advertisers in the first two issues are as follows:

American Forests
Miracle Ear
Sears Optical
Heifer Project International
Crossings
American Cancer Society

There are numerous post cards inside the magazine for other offers of magazines or books. Guideposts is thicker but the pages are easier to turn . The October 2000 issue contains 59 pages while the February 2001 has 73 pages.

I just read stories about a family that fostered to other children, a woman suffering from mental illness who ended up living on the streets until she came upon a Nun who helped her achieve her dream of becoming a Doctor.

Each issue contains the two pages of contents with the monthly departments. The Editor’s Note is on the next page with Pass it on following. This is a people helping people section consisting of three pages of ideas and thoughts from readers sent in.

After the stories comes the Family Room where you will find a follow up to many of the people profiled in the preceding pages. The last pages of each issue are dedicated to what prayer can do, submitted from readers and a recipe that is good food for the body and soul.

By going to the website at http://www.guideposts.com you can submit a prayer request, scan the discussion boards, pray with others as well as send free e-cards. You will be able to contact customer service and shop the inline store.

The subscription rate for Guideposts currently is $12.97 for one year (12) issues, plus 97 cents for delivery. For Canadian residents the cost is the same plus $2.97 for delivery. If you want to get two years the price is $20.97 plus $1.97 delivery charge. Again in Canada the delivery charge is higher, $5.97 for two years of Guideposts.

The offer to send a manuscript is available by sending a SASE along to Guideposts Editorial Office, 16 East 34 Street, New York, NY 10016. The fax number is (845) 228-2115.

Since 1945 Guideposts has been sharing stories by people of all walks of life, various professions and faiths to millions of people. The latest changes are an indication of how far this publication has come in sharing the joy people find in their lives.