Hey everyone, time for the once-in-a-5th-Friday column from your vice president. Here’s what’s on my radar at the CWG for the quarter ahead:

Keep going with the local groups.  We’ve got the start of a local-groups directory up and running here.  If your group is missing, or you have info to add, let me know.  [Blog @ CatholicWritersGuild.com] The listing is for any group of faithful-to-the-magisterium Catholic writers.  You do not have to a CWG affiliate in order to be listed.

Connecting you with your local bookstore.  We’ve had a number of members send in their contact info for speaking engagements.  My project for this summer is to put together a little directory that Catholic bookstores and parishes can use to track down good local or regional Catholic writers for their special events.

–> Just learned today that we’ve been invited to speak at the Store Education Day at the Catholic Marketing Network’s trade show.  I can’t wait to share all the ways the Catholic Writers Guild can support local Catholic bookstores.

The website re-design is still in process.  I was hoping for a June 1st launch, but you know how that goes.  I’m not the force behind that project, but it’s important to me, because as soon as we’re off and running with the new site, I want to revamp our member communications.  In the meantime, thank you to the many members who stepped forward to get involved and volunteer with the CWG despite our technical glitches.

So.  New York City?  Yes?  I know, I know, technically our upcoming conference is in New Jersey, but my kids are itching for a road trip to see the legendary city.  I’m planning to do the tourist thing with them on Monday, then get to work the rest of the week.  Check out the Conference Schedule of CWG talks here.  Tuesday is set-up, and then the public events run Wednesday morning through Friday noon.

If you like to shop for Catholic merchandise, the CMN trade show floor is the largest collection of Catholic goods in North America.  Probably in the world, if I had to place a bet.  And yes, discounted for the show.

Did I mention I’m the mother of a teenager? I’ve been promoted recently.  What that means to you:  You can’t whine or scowl too much for me.  The Catholic Writers Guild is an all-volunteer organization, run with a very Chestertonian attitude towards amateur* pursuits.  When you see a problem, I want to hear about it.  Yes, the solution will often involve me asking you whether you can help. (See: “Mother of a Teenager,” above.)

No healthy organization can run without those two ingredients: Open acknowledgement that we’re humans, and thus prone to error, AND complete willingness to consider proposals for solutions, and take action as a team.  At the CWG we’ve got that.  Just ask anyone who’s been put to work over the past six months.  I absolutely love that the way I ended up managing this blog was to pipe up one day with, “We oughtta have a blog,” and bam!, Ann Lewis handed me a domain and said, “Let there be a blog, it’s yours.”

That’s the CWG.  We get things done by seeing a need and jumping on it.  If you see a need, speak up.  You are very much wanted.

 

*The word “amateur” means: We do it because we love it.  Some of us write for pay, others write for the sheer joy it.  All of us are amateurs — lovers of our craft — in the classic meaning of the word.

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Jennifer Fitz is the author of The How-to Book of Evangelization: Everything You Need to Know But No One Ever Taught You from Our Sunday Visitor and Classroom Management for Catechists from Liguori Publications. She writes about all things evangelization and discipleship at jenniferfitz.substack.com. For updates on where else to find her, visit JenniferFitz.com.

By Catholic Writers Conference Live, CWG member benefits, CWG News and Announcements4 Comments on CWG Update: Growing, Connecting, Improving

4 Replies to “CWG Update: Growing, Connecting, Improving”

  2. Jen,

    Somerset, NJ is not that far from NYC. Replace the idea of a “road trip” with a well considered commute. You could stay in Somerset, commute by train into Penn Station or Grand Central, use public transport or taxis to get almost anywhere, leaving your car safe and sound at the hotel in Somerset or at the commuter train station. The last thing I’d ever do is willingly take a car into Manhattan. I’ve done it involuntarily and still have nightmares.

    Some of the MJ-NYC Guild members could give you directions to facilitate your use of the commuter train and “subway.” I find NYC rapid transit far more complicated and crowded relative to DC and Boston, although I used to take it to and from my HS in the shadow of the Chrysler Building back in the times when a subway fare jumped from 5 to 10 cents. The other subway commuters can be helpful if you need directions. Look, I’m a former subway user and I’m being nice.

    We found that some taxi drivers wanted only airport fares. Don’t tell them where you want to go until you and yours are safely in the cab. There are also livery cars looking for fares. They’re more expensive than taxis, but nicer. If the tribe is with you, this could be a good option.

    Let Guild folks know where you want to go in “The City.” I’m sure they can help. If you want tickets to a show, game or event, you will have to plan ahead. If you want to go to Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty, that’s a good chance to take in a harbor cruise. A round trip to Staten Island will do the same thing.This is preferable to flowing up Fifth Avenue with thousands of pedestrians all around you. Manhattan is hot and uncomfortable in the summer. The cement side walks and buildings soak up the heat and bake you. The air quality leaves much to be desired.

    Hope you have fun in NYC.

    God Bless,

    Don

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