Bruce is a native of New Jersey and began his journalism career while still in high school.  His first real job was with the Evening News in Salem, Massachusetts, where he spent a term as a student intern working as an assistant to the City Editor.  He came to Connecticut some 20 years ago, settled in the Farmington Valley and among other assignments became City Editor of the Bristol Press in the 1990s  -  which makes a real connection with me because it is the daily newspaper my family published for three generations from the beginning of the 20^th Century to the mid- 1980s.  From the Press, Bruce took his journalistic skills to another well-known enterprise in Bristol, ESPN, where he served for 17 years in various editing roles.  In 2018, after leaving ESPN, Bruce turned his attention to the Farmington Valley and founded TODAY magazine – with a focus on the towns of Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby and Simsbury.  

Guest speaker Bruce Deckard discussed his background in journalism, including roles at ESPN and local papers. He shared the story of launching Today Magazine, a community-focused publication covering the Farmington Valley. Deckard highlighted the magazine's recent success, winning numerous awards from the Society of Professional Journalists.  The magazine recently garnered 15 first-place awards for excellence in community journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).  

The group discussed potential ways to collaborate with Today Magazine, such as event listings and feature coverage. Deckard encouraged members to share story ideas and get involved with the magazine.

In closing, Deckard expressed appreciation for the Rotary club's energy and spirit, noting it was a privilege to address this group.