PresMsg
President's Message
June, 2018 

This month marks a year since I took on the role of President of our branch. We've done a lot of things this year and there are many people to thank for their contributions.

First, a big shout-out to Audrey Kalman, our VP of Speakers, who has brought a whole range of excellent speakers and topics to our club. Bravo! Audrey is also the moderator for our popular Tuesday morning Shut Up & Write group, and in Bardi's absence, stepped up to coordinate the judging for the Literary Contests at the Fair.

Pratibha Kelapure has kept us on the straight and narrow in her role as club Treasurer as well as managed the website and done a brief stint hosting our Open Mic. Thank you for wearing all those hats, Pratibha.

Jean Morrow is the quiet one in the back who prepares the Agendas and Minutes for our board meetings and records the important stuff. Always sharp, efficient, and on time and we appreciate it.

Tim Flood and Margaret Nalbach took on Membership and Check-in and are the friendly faces who greet you on the way in. They have been introducing new ideas to streamline the renewal process and give new perks to members. See Tim's Membership Renewal article below to find out more.

Bill Baynes, our current Jack London award recipient, works tirelessly on PR to get the word out about our meetings and events. He organized another Barnes & Noble event (coming up June 3rd. See below for information!) to promote our authors and has orchestrated a promotional video for our club to be made during the Fair.

Laurel Anne Hill, another tireless volunteer, spent countless hours working with authors, editing, and putting together our newest Fault Zone anthology: Uplift. She's again picking up the reins of Editor-in-Chief and working on guidelines for the next volume, so stay tuned for information on how to submit. Laurel also puts together the events for the Literary Stage at the Fair and has filled in for Bardi with many Stage activities. Thanks also go to Sue Barizon and Kim Schultz, hardworking Fair assistants.

Jeannine Gerkman delivers the news through our monthly newsletter, the CWC San Francisco Peninsula Writer, and makes us look good. Kudos for getting the newsletter out on the first of the month almost every time. Melanie Shook has been on the newsletter team as proofreader, keeping us to style guidelines and checking our links.

Carole Bumpus gives me a lot of guidance as our Immediate Past President, and serves as our NorCal and State Board Rep (as well as NorCal Chair). She's always there to remind us that we are members of a larger club than we realize and what that brings us. Carole also started up our San Carlos Library writing workshops this year, hosted our New Member Gathering and Critique Group Training, and is our host at the Yacht Club.

Bardi Rosman Koodrin is our San Mateo County Fair Liaison and long-time Member-at-Large. In spite of dealing with serious health issues this year and not being able to make it to meetings, Bardi has been checking in regularly to see that the Literary Stage and Contests go on. We are sending her healing wishes.

Alisha Willis is our Parliamentarian and makes sure we follow the rules. She also headed up the Holiday Party Committee and put on a great party! Thank you to all the volunteers who helped out that day.

Geri Spieler has brought us engaging post-meeting Think Tank presenters all year. Think Tank has grown so popular we keep having to add more tables! Thank you to all our presenters.

Eve Visconti and Geri Spieler have co-chaired our Hospitality team and kept us all in coffee and snacks. A lot of behind the scenes work is required before and after meetings and we thank them and their cheerful helpers: Lucy Ann Murray, Carol Park, Mindy Yang, and anyone I forgot!

Mindy Yang is our incoming Web Manager and has just taken the ropes from Pratibha.

Doug Baird is the friendly photographer recording our meetings in pictures.

Thomas Crockett is our website proofreader.

Elise Miller led Carole Bumpus and me in updating our Branch Bylaws.

Maurine Killough hosted Open Mic the first half of the year with help from Dave Strom, Jeannine Gerkman, and Audrey Kalman.

Bette Houtchens is Member-at-Large and has been instrumental in training our new Membership team.

Thank you, everyone!

As you can see, many hands keep the gears turning. We have more we want to do with the club in the year to come. How would you like to pitch in to make things happen? Look for new roles coming soon.

Lisa Meltzer Penn
President, CWC San Francisco Peninsula Branch pres@sfpeninsulawriters.com
June 2018 Highlights:
  1. President's Message
  2. June 16, 2018 Speaker - James Hanna - Ten Writer Traps to Avoid
  3. 2018-2019 Slate of Candidates 
  4. It's Membership Renewal Season - Tim Flood 

  5. San Mateo County Fair Literary Arts Schedule 
  6. Classified Ads - Volunteer Opportunities

Speaker
Speaker: James Hanna
Subject: Ten Writer Traps to Avoid

Author James Hanna will present ten traps that writers routinely fall into. He will also discuss what works and what doesn't work in book marketing. 

Get ready to take your writing and marketing to the next level by sidestepping these potential snares.

James Hanna has had more than fifty story publications and received three Pushcart nominations. Many of his stories are included in his anthology, A Second Less Capable Head and Other Rogue Stories, recipient of a silver medal from the Independent Press Awards. He is also the author of Call Me Pomeroy, a Readers' Favorite International gold medal winner, and The Siege, bronze medalist in literary fiction from Readers' Favorite International. James is also a former fiction editor of The Sand Hill Review. Find out more at http://www.willwriteforfood.org .

When: Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 10 a.m.
Where: The Sequoia Yacht Club 441 Seaport Ct, Redwood City, CA 94063
2018-2019 Slate of Candidates
CWC SF Peninsula Branch


Following is your slate of candidates who have stepped forward to fill elected branch positions. Members will vote during the June meeting.

 
For Presid ent: L isa Meltzer Penn, our current president, seeks another term. She served as Secretary for three years before becoming President. With an extensive e ditorial background in New York publishing, Lisa is the inaugural editor of the Fault Zone anthology series, and the author of multiple short stories published in the Fault Zone anthologies, Best of Sand Hill Review, and others. Her literary novel in progress has a touch of magical realism and a decidedly lyrical bent. Lisa is a Louise Boggess Award recipient, has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and is the winner of multiple literary prizes at the San Mateo County Fair.
 
For Vice President: Audrey Kalman, our current VP, finds the wonderful speakers we enjoy at our monthly meetings. Audrey writes literary fiction with a dark edge, often about what goes awry when human connection is missing from our lives. She is the author of two novels: What Remains Unsaid (Sand Hill Review Press, 2017) and Dance of Souls (2011). Her short fiction and poetry have appeared in Boundoff, Every Day Fiction, Fault Zone, The Jewish Literary Journal, Mash Stories, Pithead Chapel, Punchnels, The Sand Hill Review, and Sixfold. She edited two editions of the Fault Zone anthology. Audrey is working on another novel.
 
For Secretary: Korie Pelka, seeks to step into the Secretary position. Korie spent over 25 years working with Silicon Valley executives, building and running communication teams. In 2015, she left the Corporate World to travel and discover her own voice through her 3rd Act Gypsy blog,  www.3rdactgypsy.com. With a strong belief that she is never lost, just exploring, she is currently diving into the world of memoir and novel writing. In addition, Korie is a life coach, consultant, and workshop facilitator.
 
For Treasurer: Jean Morrow, our current Secretary, seeks to step into the Treasurer position. Jean is mother, grandmother, entrepreneur, writer and long-time Bay Area resident. She has worked in the corporate environment and with her husband in family-owned businesses.  Having returned to writing after decades in the business world, Jean is now working on her second mystery set in Hawaii. She uses her background in technology and finance in creating characters for her short stories and books.

CWC SF Peninsula Calendar



Upcoming  
Events











Every Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Shut Up & Write
As the name implies, we sit quietly and write. If you'd like to participate, join   Shut Up & Write Silicon Valley on Meetup to RSVP (look for Shut Up & Write/CWC SF Peninsula).

Sunday, June 3, 2018
Barnes & Noble CWC Authors Day
Carole Bumpus, Penelope Cole,
Laurel Anne Hill, Bill Baynes
Audrey Kalman, Elise Miller, and 
Jeannine Gerkman will be participating.
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.



Saturday, June 16, 2018











Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
7:00 to 9:00 p.m
Open Mic
Like two scoops on your favorite ice cream cone,  Open Mic  is going to sweeten your life  double-time  in  June,  once at the  San Carlos Library  the  first Wednesday evening of the month  from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. ( June 6, 2018 ) and again at the  San Mateo County Fair  on Wednesday from  7:00 to 9:00 p.m.(June 13, 2018)

NO OPEN MIC IN JULY.


Saturday, June 16, 2018
Branch Elections
 
Sequoia Yacht Club, 441 Seaport Ct, Redwood City, CA 94063 


Saturday, June 9, 2018 through
Saturday, June 16, 2018
1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo, CA
ASK FOR TICKETS

NO Think Tank this month. 
Instead we are all invited to the Fair after the meeting for an entire afternoon Poetry Festival to celebrate the last day of the Literary Stage. Organized by Poetess Kalamu Chache and her band of poets. Come join the fun. Click here for the  Literary Stage schedule.



Wednesday, June 13, 2018
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. 


There will be no meeting in July.

Next meeting will be Saturday, August 18, 2018.

It's Membership Renewal Season! 
 
Summer is the time for all of us who have been members of CWC to renew our memberships. The renewal deadline is September 30, 2018, but help out the Membership team and take care of it today!  If you miss the deadline and renew later, you will have to pay the new member rate again.
 
Existing Members : Most of us are members of CWC SF/Peninsula only, but some are Dual members who have membership in another CWC branch in addition to our own SF Peninsula branch. Dual members will pay through our branch and the other branch they have joined.  This is the policy set by the CWC Central Board and as branch members we are required to follow their requirements exactly. 

This year we have two options available to our members. You can choose which plan works best for you:
 
1) Combined Fee (NEW): Pay a combined fee upfront that covers both your annual membership dues and meeting fees for the whole year. Regular members pay $125.00; Dual members pay $105.00. Overall you will save money (two meetings free) and have the convenience of one payment.
 
2) Traditional Separate Fees: Pay the annual membership dues now and pay the meeting fees monthly. Regular members pay $45.00 to renew membership; Dual members pay $25.00 to renew. Both groups pay $10.00 for each meeting they attend.
 
New Members and Late Renewals : If you plan to become a member for the first time in July, 2018 or have missed the September renewal deadline, then your cost will include a processing fee. A new member choosing the Combined Fee option pays $145.00. A new member using the Separate Fee option pays $65.00 to join and then $10.00 each meeting.  

Here it is in a chart:


Traditional

Combined

Annual Dues $
Monthly Meeting Fees (annualized) $

New Member
65.00 10.00 (X10=$100) $145
Existing Member 45.00 10.00 (X10=$100) $125
Existing Dual
25.00 10.00 (X10=$100) $105






Annual Dues are to be paid by check or cash only (this applies to both Combined and Traditional plans).  PayPal  is available for monthly meeting fees (T raditional plan only)

If you pay by check, make it out to "CWC SF-Peninsula". Either bring your funds to the next meeting or mail them to CWC SF-Peninsula, P.O. Box 853, Belmont, CA 94002. Thank you.
 
If you have questions, contact Membership Chair, 
Tim Flood at  timcwcpeninsula@gmail.com .

Tim Flood
MEETING WRAP-UP  May 19, 2018

Speaker: Diane Holcomb
Topic: Inside Self-Publishing: The Good, The Bad and How to Do it Right

Former bookseller Diane Holcomb gave a tip-filled presentation called "Inside Self-Publishing: The Good, the Bad, and How to Do it Right." Be sure to check out her  list of recommended books for self-published authors  and get her  free downloadable PDF of self-publishing resources . And don't forget to give feedback on the meeting if you attended by completing  our quick survey. See below.

Meeting Survey
If you'd like to give feedback on this or any other speaker, or give suggestions for future speakers, please fill out our quick survey.

Audrey Kalman   vp@sfpeninsulawriters.com
ThinkTank
No Think Tank this month.


Instead we are all invited to the Fair after the meeting for an entire afternoon Poetry Festival to celebrate the last day of the Literary Stage. Organized by Poetess Kalamu Chache and her band of poets. Come join the fun. For the complete Literary Stage schedule, see below:
2018 SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR: JUNE 9-17



Laurel Anne Hill is in the process of finalizing the Literary Stage programming schedule for 2018. After June 1, she'll announce any additional changes on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/theliterarystage/ ), the CWC SF Peninsula website ( http://cwc-peninsula.org/ ) and her own website ( http://www.laurelannehill.com ). 

A great big  THANK YOU   to all who have volunteered to give a presentation and/or support the work of those on stage. We're hoping that all CWC SF Peninsula members who are available to attend our programs will do so-and ask others to join them. 

See you at the Fair!

Bardi Rosman Koodrin and Laurel Anne Hill
"Writers Helping Writers"
Monthly Member-Led Community Writers Groups

Wednesday, June 13, 2018  7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
 
We meet the third Wednesday to encourage new and experienced writers, hone our teaching skills and maybe even sell some books. Topics vary.

SCLibrary
AUTHOR'S DAY, BARNES AND NOBLE BOOKSTORE
SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2018 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m

Once again CWC SF/Peninsula will be featured at Barnes & Noble at our local Hillsdale Mall. 

Participants include:
  • Carole Bumpus
  • Penelope Cole
  • Jeannine Gerkman
  • Laurel Anne Hill
  • Bill Baynes
  • Audrey Kalman
  • Elise Miller

If you are interested in supporting our authors and our branch, please come as an audience member and/or network with readers and fans and/or share this on your facebook page.
Member News


Darlene Frank invites you to attend her workshop at the San Mateo County Fair:

Writing What Matters in Today's Unsettled World

What-and how-do you write when the world around you is in constant upheaval? How can you make a difference? What are you being called to do that perhaps you never imagined? Do you want to escape, or engage? Come and explore, in discussion and writing exercises, strategies for creating your most powerful art.

Where: Literary Stage, San Mateo County Fair
When: Tuesday, June 12, 2018, from 2-3:30 pm

Darlene Frank is an editor and writing coach who helps writers create their most powerful art.    www.DarleneFrankWriting.com .


The Engine Woman's Light
 wins again!
On May 22, Laurel Anne Hill received news about more awards for her spirits-meet-steampunk novel, The Engine Woman's Light.

The 2018 San Francisco Book Festival has declared The Engine Woman's Light the winner in the Science Fiction Category, and a Runner-up in both the Young Adult and Wild Card Categories.

Additionally, The Engine Woman's Light received the National Indie Excellence Award for Steampunk.

Three cheers for Tory Hartmann and Sand Hill Review Press!

On May 16, Jennifer Devoe (of "Jenny's Real Talk on the Block") interviewed Laurel Anne Hill for a half-hour on LA Talk Radio. Devoe's weekly show airs live every Wednesday from 3 to 4 pm, Pacific Time, and often includes interviews of artists, bands, authors and celebrities. "I had so much fun," Laurel reported. "Jenny and her husband, J J, are great." 

The link to the show's archives:  latalkradio.com/content/jennys-real-talk-block . You'll need to scroll down a little. Please note that internet talk radio is not censored. Colorful language is permitted.


Jim Hanna's recent publication, "The Phoenix Climbs," was in Red Savina Review, published this Spring. Jim will be presenting this month with his talk entitled: Ten Writer Traps to Avoid. Take a peek at a sample of his work at  http://www.redsavinareview.org/17834-2/.


. Congratulations on your Literary Successes!


CWC NORCAL GROUP UPDATE


Elections were held on our last May 5th meeting and the officers for the 2018-19 year are: Carole Bumpus (SF Peninsula Branch) and Kymberlie Ingalls (Napa Branch) are co-chairs; Dave LaRoche (South Bay) is Treasurer; and Evelyn LaTorre (Fremont) is Secretary. The term is for one year.
 
NorCal Website Future Plan - to utilize our NorCal website more fully and have all our northern Californian members have access to all the events in each of our branches, we are requesting that each branch's Publicity Chair send any, and all, branch event information the month before the event, at the latest. 

Bay Area Book Festival Update - For those who attended the April 28-29 Festival in Berkeley, you will find that the NorCal booth attracted much positive attention. There were many sign-ups for further information and those lists were distributed to all the pertinent chapters of the attendees.  
Action item:Chapter membership chairs need to follow up with the lists they were sent to make certain outreach is met.
 
Leadership Conference, September 29 - The theme for the upcoming conference will be the same as in 2016: Building Better Branches. The purpose is to educate or re-educate present board members, train incoming branch officers, and share best practices and ideas between present and potential chapter leaders. The cost should be around $25 to $30 per participant with each chapter paying for the first six to eight of its members. NorCal will subsidize poorer chapters upon request.

There will be sessions for the following peer groups: president/vice-president, secretary, membership, treasurer, program, website and newsletter, publicity and miscellaneous positions such as chairs of contests, writing retreats, innovative programs and conferences. Any member of a branch who is interested in becoming a "leader", please contact our President to be considered to attend the Conference.

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS OPEN FOR SF PENINSULA BRANCH:
We have several volunteer positions open for this coming year (July 1st through June 30, 2019):
  • Hospitality Help
  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • State Board Representative
  • Critique Group Coordinator
  • Greeter at General Meetings
  • Open Mic Hosts 
SAN CARLOS LIBRARY PRESENTERS - We are continuing our outreach through the San Carlos Library by teaching a 1-1/2 hour class on Basic Writing Tools every 3rd Wednesday through the Summer and into the Fall. If you would like to volunteer to teach a session, please contact me. You will be able to hone your skills and possibly sell your own books.
 
For information or to join our team, contact Carole Bumpus -  
carole.bumpus@yahoo.com

Carole Bumpus
Member Resources

Check out the updated  Writers' Corner  page on the SF Peninsula CWC website, where you'll find a list of resources to help you write and get published. Listings include publications and small presses founded or edited by branch members, literary magazines where members' work is published, local writing conferences and contests, and local writing organizations. 

There is a list of branch members who provide writing-related services for a fee: editing, coaching, and more. cwc-peninsula.org/writers-corner/writing-services.  

Classified Ads

Look below for Writer's Conferences, Volunteer Opportunities and Upcoming Events. Let's promote our club and boost your career. 

Check them out!

Art Exhibit


Teresa Jade LeYung, with her classmates, invites you to:


Featuring Twenty San Francisco Bay Area Women Artists answering the question:

" If you had a place of your own, what would it be? "

Curated by Cynthia Tom and Maggie Yee
 

Sunday June 3  Artists Talks 2:00-4:00pm; Gallery Open 12:00-5:00pm
Sunday June 24  Closing Reception 12:00-3:00pm

at J-SEI,   1285 66th Street, Emeryville   (510) 654-4000

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan, please visit  http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com/blog


Volunteer Positions with SF PENINSULA Branch

We are looking for an Open Mic Moderator(s). This could potentially be a shared role so think of a co-host if you like! We will move to our new home at the San Carlos Library in June, Please contact Lisa Meltzer Penn if you are interested in this snazzy role to represent our club in the community. Her email address is:  pres@sfpeninsulawriters.com .
 
Member Discounts

Family Tree Magazine (for genealogical writers and researchers) has offered CWC members $3 off a one-year subscription (seven issues). Price would be $24 vs. the $27 "standard intro price." California Writer's Club members can receive a discounted Family Tree Magazine sub rate for seven issues for $24.00. When ordering by phone (888-403-9002) club members should mention source key: 87DCWC. Expiration on this agreement is  6/30/18.
Critique Groups

SAN MATEO: Meets on the 2nd and 4th Friday each month, 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Peninsula Regent, 1 Baldwin Avenue, San Mateo, rear of the large meeting room opposite the elevator. Bring at least 5 copies of your no-longer-than-6-page manuscript to hand out. For more info, contact Karen Hartley at  sew1machin@icloud.com or (408) 315-0271.

FORMULATION OF NEW GROUPS:
By popular demand, our branch is helping to facilitate the formation of critique groups, along with distributing information about best practices in running a group.

If you are a member looking to join a critique group, add to your current one, or you just want to try something new; click on the link below and fill out the form to get more information about upcoming events.  CWC SF Peninsula Critique Groups
 
Even if you signed up on an earlier list, please sign up again here, so we have everything together with complete information. Thank you.


IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE  YOUR EXISTING GROUP IN THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL  newsletter@sfpeninsulawriters.com , subject line: Critique Group.

BoardMembers

Executive Board:
President: Lisa Meltzer Penn
Vice President: Audrey Kalman
Secretary: Jean Morrow
Treasurer: Pratibha Kelapure        
    
Appointed Board Positions:
State Board & NorCal Rep: Carole Bumpus
Membership Co-Chair: Tim Flood
Publicity Chair: Bill Baynes 
Newsletter Editor: Jeannine Gerkman 
SMCF Literary Stage Coordinator: Bardi Rosman Koodrin 
Fault Zone Editor-in-C hief: Laurel Anne Hill  
 
Non-Voting Positions:
Immediate Past President & Volunteer Coordinator: Carole Bumpus
Web Manager: Pratibha Kelapure
Hospitality Co-Chairs: Geri Spieler and Eve Visconti
Think Tank: Geri Spieler  
Parliamentarian: Alisha Willis
Member-at-Large: Bette Houtchens

Guidelines for Submitting Articles to This Newsletter  
  Want to see your article or poem published here?
seamless_pattern_books.jpg
 
Please Note: The submission deadline has been changed to the 23rd of each month. 

Keep in Mind:
  • You must be a  current member  of the club.
  • Your article must be  related to writing.
  • Your piece shall not exceed 350 words.
Format Requirements:
  • Use Word, .pdf, or write within the body of the email.
  • One space (not two) at the end of sentences.
  • Edit and proofread carefully before sending. If accepted, your article will be printed as submitted.
       Send your submissions to:  newsletter@sfpeninsulawriters.com  
 
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