July is our busiest month at the Catholic Writers Guild as we prepare for our biggest event of the year, our annual live conference. It’s not to late to join the fun. Register here.
Our committees are functioning well. As for committee needs, we are looking for a Public Relations Chair to help our Blog and Facebook volunteers to promote our conferences, retreat, CALA and SOA. If you love social media, this could be your chance to jump into the wonderful world of Catholic Writers Guild volunteers.
Here’s what our committee chairs report:
Blog: Kathryn Cunningham and Dennis McGeehan have openings for guest posts.
CALA (Catholic Arts and Letters Award): Carol Ann Chybowski reports that one important requirement of a CALA entry is that the book must have the CWG Seal of Approval before it is eligible for CALA. This is true even when the book has an imprimatur. The SOA is a validation of editorial integrity in a way that an imprimatur is not.
Catholic Book News: Dawn Witzke reports, “The June issue of CBN went out on the 22nd. August CBN will feature Blood of the Lamb Catholic Bible Study by Beth Leonard and I Forgive You: Love We Can Hear, Ask For and Give by Nicole Lataif.
CWCL: Ann Lewis and Ellen Gable Hrkach – The Catholic Writers Conference – Live! will be held July 22-24 in Somerset, New Jersey. Speakers, workshops, even pitch sessions and one of the greatest exhibit floors for Catholics ever!
The Conference schedule is packed with speakers, panel discussions and workshops. Alan Napleton, president of the Catholic Marketing Network (CMN), has offered to give us a complimentary flyer in the handouts each CMN attendee will receive indicating that we will be holding a book sale Friday morning at the CWG booth. Bloggers, this press release is available to promote our conference.
Presenters include Pat Gohn, Ann Lewis, Ellen Gable Hrkach, Tony Kolenc, Gary Zimak, Margaret Realy, Erin McCole Cupp, Barbara Szyszkiewicz, Regina Doman, John Desjarlais, Declan Finn (John Konecsni), Arthur Powers, Heidi Saxton, Karen Kelly Boyce, Karina Fabian, Claudia Volkman, Jonathan Ryan, Michelle Buckman, Donna Marie Cooper O’Boyle, Lisa Mladinich, Michael Russell, Matthew Bowman, Joe Wetterling, Nancy Ward and Rebecca Hamilton.
Facebook- Karina Fabian reports this network is active every day and brings members and resources together. On Facebook Karina promotes CWCL, retreat, SoA, Book News, CWG membership, CWG chat, CWG blog. We still need a PR chair to help promote these.
Membership: Maureen Smith reports things are going well. We have 23 new members compared to nine last month. Invoices are being created for 80 members and will be emailed in July.
Retreat: Ann Lewis and Margaret Rose Realy encourage all of us start planning now! “Your Word is my Delight,” 10-25-29, 2015, at St. Francis Retreat Center, 703 E. Main Street, DeWitt, Michigan 48820. Register online here.
SOA: Erin McCole Cupp – After another exciting quarter, the Seal of Approval Committee is pleased to award the SOA to the following works:
- Stay with Me by Carolyn Astfalk
- St. Magnus: the Last Viking by Susan Peek
- Counting on Faith by Maurice Prater
- Faith and Life Planner by Ruth Richardson
- A Catholic Gardener’s Spiritual Almanac by Margaret Rose Realy
- Catholic Philosopher Chick Comes on Strong by Rebecca Weiss and Regina Doman
- The Well by Stephanie Landsem
Congratulations to these authors for this achievement!
Volunteer Committee: Nicole Lataif reports that all of the current volunteer positions are filled, with the exception of the position of Publicity Chair.
Zenit – Dennis P. McGeehan, “Recommendations are being received for Zenit.com from the members, I will forward them to Zenit by the due date.
CWG Non-Fiction Critique Group has one opening. Contact Nancy Ward or Connie Rossini.
For other concerns and suggestions about our fabulous committees, contact Nancy Ward, Coordinator of Committees.
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.