A SEASON OF CHALLENGE & CHANGE
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Dear 49 Writers community:
As 49 Writers celebrates its 10th year of bringing great programming to our state and helping build strong communities of writers, we are faced like everyone else with a crisis like none we have ever seen. The coronavirus pandemic is changing by day the world as we know it, reshaping our sense of priorities by the hour. Nothing feels as important as the welfare of our families, our communities, and ourselves, and no activities more critical than those that bring safety, security and comfort to those around us. We are forever inspired by the steps so many of you are taking to reach out to others and do what you can.
But it's no surprise to Alaskan writers that social distancing and seclusion can also feed the creative fires. In recognition, we wanted to send this brief update of our plans for the immediate future. As you can read below, we are undergoing a significant staffing change that will impact every aspect of our work. Given this and the ongoing public health crisis, we are taking the opportunity to step back and explore our priorities and find out what you, our members, value most about the programs we provide. We've created this
short, simple survey
and would really appreciate your feedback:
Also, to mitigate the impacts of current social distancing across our state, we invite you to submit to
WRITING THE DISTANCE,
a new 49 Writers virtual event dedicated to the power of the written word in difficult times. Beginning April 1st, we will post the poetry and short prose of Alaskan writers in an online broadside format, and those whose work is featured will receive a gift card to the local bookstore of their choice. We hope you will consider sharing your work as we navigate this strange season together, in spirit if not in person.
With our gratitude for your support, and our best wishes for your health and well being,
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The Board of Directors, 49 Writers, Inc.
Barbara Hood, President, Anchorage
Matt Komatsu, Vice President, Anchorage
Carla Beam, Secretary, Anchorage
Ron Andersen, Treasurer, Cordova
Katie Bausler, Juneau
Dan Branch, Juneau
Cameron Leonard, Fairbanks
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THANK YOU,
Jeremy Pataky!
April will bring a monumental and bittersweet change to 49 Writers: our longtime Executive Director, Jeremy Pataky, is stepping down to devote his attention more fully to his many other writing endeavors. Jeremy has served 49 Writers since its inception, as a founding board member from 2010-2016 and as ED for the past four years. To say he leaves big shoes to fill is certainly an understatement. But we're happy that he'll still be supporting Alaska's dynamic literary community in other capacities, as co-publisher and co-editor of
Edible Alaska
magazine, as founder of the new Porphyry Press
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and as an active and engaged Alaskan writer himself. Thank you for everything, Jeremy! We will miss you!
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Feeling a little restless staying home?
Need a creative outlet that doesn't require you to leave the house?
Introducing WRITING THE DISTANCE, A Broadside Invitational
Twice weekly from April 1 to June 1, we will feature an online "broadside" of poetry and short prose by 49 Writers members, addressing themes inspired by the current social distancing and isolation of the coronavirus pandemic. We are all experiencing these unprecedented times in our own unique ways, and as writers we naturally find calm and comfort through creative expression. So we hope you will consider contributing, as follows:
- Email short works of poetry or prose, and an original visual image (preferably a photo) in jpeg format that complements the writing, to: info@49writers.org.
- Include in the email with your submission your name, mailing address, phone number, and the following statement: "I authorize 49 Writers, Inc., to publish the attached written work and visual image in the "Writing the Distance" exhibit, both online and in print."
All writers whose works are selected will receive a gift card to a local Alaskan bookstore of their choice. If possible, the works will be collected into a print exhibit for display in venues statewide after the crisis abates. Selection of broadsides to be featured will be at 49 Writers sole discretion.Thank you!
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PLEASE STAY WELL AND SAFE
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We will keep you posted through this newsletter when classes, events and other programming resume.
In the meantime, we hope you are able to keep your loved ones close despite the circumstances. And that you find bountiful time for reading and writing.
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Our Vision:
A vibrant community of diverse Alaskan writers of all levels and ages, coming together to find and share our voices.
Our Values:
Creativity | Craft | Culture | Community | Catalyst
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