For my first post as the new Chairman of Committees here’s the latest progress and needs report from our hard working committee chairs. Keep these men and women in your prayers as you enjoy the benefits of CWG they help make possible. We can’t thank them enough!
Blog: Jennifer Fitz reports they are holding steady. Good job, Jen!
CALA (Catholic Arts and Letters Award): Michelle Buckman and Ellen Gable Hrkach report that CALA Awards will skip a year before the next award in 2016. MeanwhileMichelle plans to contact several universities before the semester is out to see if they can interestcampus writing club members in joining CWG and to let them know about the CALA. The goal for 2015 is to make announcements in Catholic publications about the CALA as well.
Catholic Book News: Ellen Gable Hrkach is looking for someone to facilitate this committee. Are you the bookworm to grab this great opportunity?
CWCO (Catholic Writers Conference Online): Laura Lowder and Karina Fabian searched for software for webinar software to replace the outdated chat room format and to add sound. Webinar technology has become much easier for presenters and attendees. Attendees can attend via phone or VoIP, and presenters can create more polished presentations and talk through their lectures instead of posting printed material. Their search has been narrowed down to two finalists for further testing. The results determine the timing of the Catholic Writers Conference Online.
Educational Committee: Dennis McGeehan needs someone to help him facilitate this important committee. Any takers?
Facebook: Karina Fabian reports, “Thanks to member feedback, we’ve expanded the daily topics and have put some stricter rules to cut down on people over-posting about their blogs, home businesses or book sales. It caused a lull in posts at first, but people are start other related conversations now.
Public Relations: This committee is looking for a chairperson.
Retreat: (Seasonal) Ann Margaret Lewis and Margaret Realy report that Ken Ogorek will be speaking at the retreat. He’s Director of Catechesis in Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The Catholic Writers Retreat will be held Oct. 25-29, 2015, at the St. Francis Retreat Center.
Seal of Approval: Sarah Reinhard and her committee are gearing up for a new year. Interested in evaluating for the committee? All you need to do is commit to reading at least oncebook per quarter. Training provided by Ellen Gable Hrkach.
Zenit: Dennis P. McGeehan has an opening to help select CWG posts to submit to Zenit. Could that be you?
Contact these Committee Chairs and give them a shout-out for their diligence during 2014. Let’s look for ways to support them as they labor behind the scenes to keep the wheels on the CWG bus rolling into 2015.
Keep the Chairs in your Prayers!
Nancy Ward
Nancy Ward, convert, journalist, author, and speaker, writes from Texas about Catholicism, conversion and Christian community at NancyHCWard.com, JOYAlive.net, and other websites and magazines. Through her Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story workshops, retreats and DVD, she shares her conversion story in Catholic parishes and at conferences, equipping others to share their stories. She contributed to the award-winning The Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion, facilitates two Catholic Writers Guild critique groups, serves on the Guild’s Board, and speaks at national writers conferences.
Deacon Patrick, Sarah’s email address did not print on the last comment but it is Sarah@snoringscholar.com.
Done. Thank you!
Thank you, Deacon Patrick, for your willingness to help Sarah and her Seal of Approval Committee with the important mission of selecting the books of our members that are true to the Magisterium of the Church. It takes a lot of readers to do this and the more we have, the more books we are able to review and this helps to market every CWG author. I also appreciate your reminder to use email links for the Committee Chairs. I forwarded your comment to Sarah, but you can contact her at as they begin a new round in January.
Thank you all! I want to volunteer for the Seal of Approval, and you amy increase volunteerism by providing links to emails rather than us needing to hunt them down.