This morning I’d like to update you on several initiatives the board has taken in order to improve communication among CWG members — many have noticed we’ve been struggling with this.

We have a proposal on the table to update our website.  You may recall that we were on the verge of beta-testing when our web developer went into the ICU this past spring.  We’ve had another patron come forward with an offer to take on the remainder of the overhaul.  We’ll keep you posted as we have updates.

Meanwhile, two new ways to connect:

1. A new, private, members-only Facebook group.  This is an addition to our public Facebook page.  It will be a private forum for members to ask questions and share news.  If you are a dues-paying member of the CWG, send a request to join at the Facebook group, or e-mail Karina Fabian, coordinator @ catholicwritersguild.com .   Great location for short chit-chatty conversations with lots of back and forth, as well as links of interest and quick questions.

2. A new, private, members-only yahoo e-mail list.  A better choice for longer announcements, and for reaching members who don’t have Facebook.  For those who don’t want to receive e-mails every day, there’s a function in Yahoo Groups that allows you to choose “web only” aka “no emails”.  Karina will be adding members over the next two weeks (there’s a limit of 100 new members per day), using our membership database to get your e-mail information.

The forums on our webpage are still up, and you can use those too, but cross-post so people find your discussion.  Forums are ideal for longer, more involved discussions among a small number of people.  Debates, for example, are perfect for the forums.  Since the forums lack a good notification system, the best way to start a forum discussion would be to open the topic in the forums, and then post to the other venues letting folks know it’s there.  Another way: If you get into a rousing discussion on the e-mail or Facebook group, and realize it’s getting quite involved, announce, “Let’s take this to the forums,” and those who wish to do so can follow.

And of course, this blog’s combox and the public Facebook page are open for anyone who wants to connect with the CWG that way.

Cool CWG Items

Catholic Writers Guild Mousepad

Look, a mouse pad!  Our Secretary, Dave Law, has heard your plea for CWG merchandise, and has gotten us started at http://www.zazzle.com/cwgmarket/gifts.  What other cool CWG treasures would you like to see?  T-shirts? Mugs? Speak your mind.

Volunteer opportunity: If you are a skilled graphic designer and would like to help with the creation of more and groovier CWG-themed items, speak up!  E-mail Dave, secretary @ catholicwritersguild.com , to volunteer your services.

Get Involved with the CWG

What is the best way to make the most of your membership in the CWG? Volunteering.

I’m not kidding about this.  Volunteering helps you meet other members, meet other publishing professionals, and builds your skills and resume.  On the horizon we have a few major opportunities opening up, and some less-imposing ones as well:

Membership Coordinator Mike Hays has handled this job for several years, and needs to step down at the end of 2013.  What you do: Keep track of who’s who in the CWG.  You need to be good at record keeping, know how to use a Google Spreadsheet (or be willing to learn), and be at least a little bit friendly, since you get to welcome new members, and shake down old ones for more dues.  (Joking, joking!  But yes, you send out renewal notices.)  If you’re interested in volunteering, e-mail the officers: officers @ catholicwritersguild.com .

Officer Elections 2013  Elections are held in November.  The elected positions are President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Committee Coordinator. You can read about each office in the bylaws.  If you are interested in running, or would like to nominate someone, e-mail me (Jennifer) at  vicepresident @ catholicwritersguild.com .

Over the coming weeks, we’ll each share in turn what our job entails, and how much work is involved.  The pay is zero, but you do get a warm fuzzy feeling every time folks write to tell you what they think of your performance.  Put your name in the hat now, before you know better!

Forums Facilitator  Easy job for those who like to chat on the internet.  We could use a handful of volunteers to be hosts on our forums and on our new private Facebook and Yahoo groups.  What the job entails: Keep an eye out for lonely posts and unanswered questions, to make sure no one gets lost in the black hole. I’d suggest each volunteer pick a single venue to specialize in, so that no one person gets overwhelmed.  Great for friendly people who like to connect.  Excellent spot for a newer member who wants to meet people and learn more about how the CWG works.

CWG / SOA Bookstore We have a little Amazon bookstore containing members’ SOA’d (and imprimatur’d) books.  We need someone to keep our storefront updated and organized.  What’s involved: 1. Learn to use Amazon’s store front software.  2. Four times a year, load the newly-approved SOA books into the store.  Good job for someone who is good at computer stuff and clerical work, and can volunteer for a batch project once a quarter.  If that sounds like you, e-mail me (Jennifer) at blog @ catholicwritersguild.com .

Local & Regional Catholic Writers Groups Directory See this list right here?  Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to keep the local groups list updated.  Folks will e-mail you with information about newly-forming groups, and updates from established groups.  Skills required: Ability to update a WordPress blog page.  To volunteer, e-mail me (Jennifer) at blog @ catholicwritersguild.com .

Retreat!

More information is coming from Ellen, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t put in a plug for our October retreat.  Promises to be a beautiful event.  The retreat is open to the public, you do not need to be a member of the CWG to participate.  Great spot for those who live in the upper Midwest to get away for a few days of refreshment and dedicated writing time.  See more info here.

Money.  It wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t ask for money.

The CWG doesn’t do any slick fundraising.  We’ve got the lowest dues on the block, we run an all-volunteer outfit, and we freely welcome those who just want to attend our public internet-based events, but can’t commit to full membership.  We also offer scholarships to members who can’t afford dues, but who are willing to work for us behind the scenes instead.

How do we keep going?

1. We spend money very, very frugally.

2. We’re blessed with a number of professionals who donate their services at no charge.

3. We’ve received a handful of generous grants from benefactors — including a few unsolicited surprises — that have made the difference over the years.

We are exceedingly grateful.  As year-end approaches, if you are looking for a good cause to support, please consider donating to our Local Affiliates Legal Fund.  We need to raise $3000 for a one-time IRS filing fee, in order for our local affiliates to be granted 501(c)3 exemption status under our umbrella.  This is not $3k per group. It’s $3k for a single filing that will allow all our affiliates, present and future, to be covered under our umbrella.

What it means to you? Your local Catholic writers group will then be able to fundraise for your local projects and presentations, and the donations to your local group will be tax deductible.

CWG member, novelist, and lawyer Tony Kolenc, who is from the North Florida CWG affiliate, is doing all our legal work for this at no charge.  If you would like to contribute to our fund for the IRS filing fee, you can send your donation via paypal (follow the link and click the “donate” button) or via check: CWG Treasurer, PO Box 39326, Indianapolis, IN 46239.  For questions about how this all works, e-mail Ann Lewis, treasurer @ catholicwritersguild.com .

Thanks so much for your generosity!

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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.

7 Replies to “Better Communication for CWG Members”

  1. Don, we do not plan to increase dues unless absolutely necessary. Right now, we’re hoping for some generosity from members and maybe some fundraising ideas to get us through a couple of financial hurdles: the exemption fee of $3K and a website rebuild.

    Would like to let folks know the Facebook group is off to a roaring start! We’ve already had some fun events, lots of questions, and people offering to share their blogs or social media for promotion. Come join the fun!

    Many of our dues-paying members have already gotten an invite for the group–this is for the Yahoo group, not the Guild. It’s really important you sign up for this group, so that we can contact everyone better.

    1. Hi Karina,

      There’s the black hat!

      Indeed, the Facebook group has boomed. Information sharing and relationship expansions advance exponentially.

      I’ll call today.

      God bless,

      Don

  2. Thank you all for your hard work. Merch suggestion: It just doesn’t seem right to not have a CWG coffee cup. The FAITH Catholic mugs from CMN are awesome, and the good Lord knows I don’t need another coffee cup… oh, wait! I do need another insulated travel cup! That way I can spill coffee from that onto my CWG bag instead of spilling it from a Tupperware cup.

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