McCarthy

Nancy and family

Please accept my heartfelt sympathy for the loss of Jim. My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.

Thirty years ago I was put on the spot to do a live broadcast about a flood on the Nashwaak. Had no experience with that, but did my bit. Afterwards, Jim sat with me and pointed out the two things that I got right and had friendly advice for next time on some things to improve. I asked, it there an actual play book for how to do this, and he smiled and said not really. I asked, could we make one? He said sure, here’s five things you should probably do each time.... he spoke and I wrote down what he said. We wrote a checklist and procedure for this, which he reviewed, edited and improved.

Thereafter we used his advice as a method for every crisis and emergency situation and information session that we did. His method never failed us. It was brilliant, in that it put the audiences need for information first.

Twenty years later, I hosted a conference in Vancouver, and one of the presenters was a notable Canadian expert and trainer in crisis communications. I sat in on his presentation. His checklist was identical to the one Jim gave me off the cuff, twenty years earlier. Jim’s influence in this business spread far and wide. A true leader, professional and innovator.

A great man. To this day I feel that any professional success that I had was in large part to his teaching and support. Was very fortunate and proud to know him. He will always be with me, and I hope with you.