6-2-13

WSW Annual Meeting took place Saturday, June 1.

Each June, we hold what is from an organizational standpoint our most important meeting of the year. It’s our annual meeting, and we’ll be voting on our officers and board of directors for the coming year. This is the slate for your consideration on Saturday:

For election to serve one year:
Sam Barbee – President
Robin Chalkley – Vice President for Communications
Nilla Childs – Secretary
Christy Vance – Vice President for Programs

(We are currently seeking a Treasurer and Vice President for Member Services)

Board members for election to serve 3-year terms:
Susannah Cecil, Director
Anne Civitano, Director
Nathan Ross Freeman, Director
Nancy Jewell, Director
Steve Mitchell, Director
Susan Williamson, Director

Continuing on the Board with existing terms, not up for election:
Dan Coulter, Director (2014)
Eileen Donovan, Director (2015)
Dan O’Sullivan, Director (2014)

We also get the pleasure of hearing the winners of our 2013 anthology contest read the selections that wowed our judges. (That’s Robert Vorsteg above reading his winning poem at last year’s annual meeting.) And speaking of winners…

Congratulations to the winners of our 2013 anthology contest!

This is the third year for our anthology, and we had more entries and tougher competition than ever. Congratulations to the winners!:

Poetry:
3rd Place – Not Yet, Cheryl Davis
2nd Place – Fissure, Peter Venable
1st Place – Waves, Barbara Mellin
Hon. Mention: Farmhouse By The River, David Hill; Silent Partner, Ed Robson

Fiction (short story):
3rd Place – Destiny, Sheila Englehart
2nd Place – Preston Manor, Ray Morrison
1st Place – The Homestead, Susan Williamson

Flash Fiction:
3rd Place – The Advantage of Being Married to a Know It All, Ray Morrison
2nd Place – The Mate, Susan Williamson
1st Place – Lost, Ray Morrison

Creative Nonfiction/Essay/Memoir:
3rd Place – The First Name In My Gradebook, Barbara Mellin
2nd Place – Ironing Board, Barbara Mellin
1st Place – The Embrace, Barbara Buskirk
Hon. Mention – Migrating Penguins, Susan Williamson

Governor’s School Foundation sponsors Poetry in Plain Sight in June. Come to 4 Poems & A Party on Saturday!

We’re pleased that the Governor’s School Foundation is sponsoring this popular initiative in honor of the late Rodney Holman, who helped formulate the idea to place poetry in public places. Rodney served on the boards of both the Governor’s School and WSW. One of his poems is being featured this month; the other poets being recognized are Rosalyn Marhatta, Brenda Wilson, and WSW member Helen Losse.

In addition to participating in Poetry in Plain Sight in June, the Foundation is also sponsoring a celebration in honor of Rodney this summer at both the Salem College and Meredith College campuses of the Governor’s School of North Carolina. The curriculum for the English students at the historic enrichment school will incorporate some of Rodney’s selected works, and highlight the Poetry in Plain Sight concept for the almost 600 students in attendance.

Writing with Anne

(WSW Board Member Anne Civitano has long been curating all sorts of writing tips, websites, and ideas. In this new feature, Anne shares some of her “finds” with us.)

We’ve all read the book or seen the movie where a character suddenly does something out of character. “Wait – what?” We say to ourselves. Maybe the character had to behave that way to move the plot along, but we don’t buy it and it jolts us out of the story.

This is an interesting post about how to use surprises and uncharacteristic moments believably, and make them work for your story.

Regarding repetition: it cuts both ways, so use it with care.

These 7 tips are fairly basic, common sense, but we all need these reminders.

Memorial Day will have passed by the time you read this, but it is still possible to contribute books to our troops.

Writing opportunity of the week.

INTERFAITH WINSTON-SALEM SEEKS SHORT ARTICLES OR ESSAYS ON THE SUBJECT OF COMPASSION.

Interfaith Winston-Salem is building an identity for Winston-Salem as a City of Compassion. They would like the city to be known as “the city of the arts, innovation & compassion.” Their movement is called Compassionate Winston-Salem.

They invite you to help create awareness of the importance of compassion in Winston-Salem by submitting short articles or essays on compassion (approximately 500 words). These may be about a compassionate act or acts you have observed, or your thoughts on compassion. Send to Jerry McLeese at jmcleese1@yahoo.com . He will schedule posting of articles and let you know when yours appears. You will receive a credit line at the bottom of the post. Photos may also be submitted.