Here’s what’s buzzing in the CWG committees, a great place to learn, serve and network:
BLOG: Kathryn Cunningham and Dennis McGeehan are our new co-chairs for the CWG Blog, taking over for Jennifer Fitz who served us so well. They report that they have a new editorial team of six to support the 12 writers creating regular features for the blog. The new team includes Carolyn Astfalk, Kathryn Cunningham, Barb Szyszkiewicz, Nancy Ward, Joe Wetterling and Mary Woods. Members are welcome to add guest posts on the writing life, writing tips, inspirations for writers or book reviews. Ideas for new features are welcome. Kathryn encourages everyone to “Send your articles or thoughts to Kathryn Cunningham. The Blog has some great information and valuable tips for aspiring writers. Thanks to all for their hard work. Tell your friends about the Blog!”
CALA: We need a chairperson for this committee, which presents our prestigious Catholic Arts and Letters Awards for fiction books in several categories.
CBN: (Catholic Book News) Ellen Gable Hrkach reports, “We have a new chairperson in training: Dawn Witzke. I will be training her over the next few weeks to take over with the May issue!”
CWG Newsletter: Our new chair Barb Szyszkiewicz sent the newsletter out the first week of March to CWG members. Like it? Comments, please.
CWCL: Ann Lewis and Ellen Hrkach are working on speakers. Registration is open on our website!
CWCO: No online conference this year because we are working on new webinar software for our upcoming new and improved website. Pray we have the conference next year.
Educational Outreach Committee: Dennis McGeehan is working to fulfill requests by companies who need writers for special projects. He posts writing opportunities on our private Facebook page. A project has been proposed to develop a comprehensive list of titles written by CWG members that would be made available via a webpage to CCD and RCIA programs. The intent is to offer additional reading resources to CCD and RCIA participants that would teach/highlight the Catholic Faith in an enriching and interesting way and afford a market for our CWG authors. If you can assist Dennis in this project, contact him.
Facebook: Karina Fabian is expanding the daily participation links with some fun things. Ideas welcome. She would love to get another volunteer to help with memberships and the book blast, so let her know if you would like one of these fun jobs. The social media posts – FB group, CWG page and conference page, plus CWG Twitter – are once again going on regularly. She’s alternating between Guild news and promoting Guild books, adding CWCL advertising this month.
Membership: Ellen Gable Hrkach is busy updating the membership list. Contact her with any questions or concerns about our dues or if you would like to assist this committee.
Public Relations: Stuart Sexton needs a co-chair. Contact Stuart if interested in putting your PR skills to work for CWG.
Retreat: Ann Margaret Lewis and Margaret Realy have booked Sam Rocha and Ken O’Gorek are our speakers for the retreat this fall, “Your Word is my Delight,” October 25-29 2015.
SOA: New chair Erin McCole Cupp has Laura Nelson on board as forms coordinator. Laura replaces Erin, who takes over for Sarah Reinhard, who served as our chair so faithfully for years. We’re underway with SOA. We’re on track for awarding by the March 31 deadline.
Zenit Committee: Dennis McGeehan has two helpers on the CWG Zenit Blog committee: Michael Seagriff and Jeannie Ewing. The recommendations for February were submitted to Kathleen Naab on 2/3/2015. Her choice can be viewed under Zenit/Columns/Arts & Culture.
Any questions? Contact Coordinator of Committees Nancy Ward.
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.