To all our wonderful SCBWI Illinois members -

We thrilled to announce that SCBWI will now accept applications for the role of volunteer Assistant Regional Advisor for the SCBWI Illinois region. We want to encourage those of you who are interested to request an application.

If you are interested in serving as the volunteer Assistant Regional Advisor for SCBWI: Illinois, please email Patricia Wiles, SCBWI’s Director of Regional Team Management, at patriciawiles@scbwi.org to request an application by April 30th and write “ARA Illinois” in the subject line. Along with the application, you’ll receive an application information booklet that describes an ARA’s duties and responsibilities. 

You must be a current premium (paid) member of SCBWI to apply for any Regional Team position; you must reside within the geographic boundaries of the region in order to serve as a member of the Regional Team; and you cannot be an editor, agent, art director, owner of a publishing company, or hold any other type of employment or business ownership that could be considered a conflict of interest.

This is a volunteer (unpaid) role, but it comes with perks and opportunities. Here are some of them:

• ARAs receive free membership in SCBWI during their time of service; after they retire, they receive additional years of free membership based on time served.
• ARAs may be eligible for free or reduced registration for SCBWI’s international conferences, as well as at many regional events everywhere in the world.
• ARAs may be eligible for travel reimbursements for international conferences, and for professional development grants that are available only to Regional Team members. 
• ARAs participate in leadership training and special craft-focused programs that help build confidence as a leader and a creator.
• ARAs also meet industry professionals such as editors, agents, and publicists.

Many Assistant Regional Advisors will tell you that some of the most meaningful rewards are those that are most personal:

• Playing an active role in nurturing your creative community
• Forging connections and even lifelong friendships with other creatives from around the world
• Knowing you are making a difference in a group that is passionate about literacy and enhancing the canon of literature and art for young readers, and
• Belonging to the supportive, enthusiastic Global network of SCBWI's Regional Teams.

Historically, SCBWI’s leadership and membership have not fully reflected the diverse population of children’s book writers to include religious and cultural minorities, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, nationality, socioeconomic differences, disability, language, neuroatypicality, etc. While we value those leaders and members who reflect/have reflected underrepresented groups, we recognize that we can and must do better. We want all of our members to be represented and to feel heard. If you are a member of an underrepresented group, we encourage you to apply.

If you’re not interested in this position but would like to know how to volunteer in other ways, please let me know. We want to hear from you!

Questions? Please write to me (illinois-ra@scbwi.org) or Patricia Wiles, Director of Regional Team Management, at patriciawiles@scbwi.org

Sincerely,

Pamela Morgan & Sheila Path-McMahon

Co-Regional Advisors