Greetings Gulf Coast Writers. We will be meeting Saturday, April 21st at Zion Lutheran Church on Winkler beginning at 10 am.

April celebrates Poetry Month and Ms. Dorothy Brooks will be our featured speaker presenting “The Importance of Sound in Poetry and Prose.” We look forward to Dorothy’s message, for most of us can use a little music in our work.

In review, March was a busy month for GCWA with so much going on. The Lee County Reading Festival was held on the 17th at the Harborside in downtown Fort Myers, where eighteen members presented their book publications and helped promoted our organization. Always a fun event.

On March 24, 2012, our Annual Election Meeting and Writing Contest Awards took place. A new slate of officers was voted in and we also thanked those departing; Larry Stiles-Treasurer, Becky Elam-Membership, Carol Drummond-Secretary, and John Repa-Programming along with Corporate Chairperson, Martha Jeffers. Please come to the April meeting, give a personal welcome to our new officers, and thank the smiling ex-officers.

Nine awards were given to contest winners in Poetry, Non-Fiction, and Fiction with the first place winners reading their compositions: Larry Stiles-Poetry, Denise Holbrook-Fiction, and Artis Henderson-Nonfiction. Congratulations to the winners and also a thank you to all who submitted over 8o entrees.
On March 31st Ken Feeley, Special Projects, hosted a New Writers Workshop attended by 16 aspiring authors. Another such event is tentatively planned later this year.

It will be good to be “back home” at Zion once again. See ya.

Tom Nelson
President

Dear Members,

By now most of you have realized that GCWA has not yet met this month of March. That is by design so we did not conflict with the Southwest Florida Reading Festival this past Saturday, March 17th.

Now we are ready to have our Annual meeting and Writing Contest Awards Presentation this coming Sat, March 24th. Regrettably, with a conflict at Zion Church we will be meeting at an alternative site. Please note the following’

*Place: Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2439 McGregor Blvd, Ft. Myers. (A couple of blocks south of Edison Estates.)

*Time: 10am to 12:30. Come early to find the new location, and to get a good seat or help in the kitchen.

*Special: Potluck lunch, bring a serving to pass or $5 for being a non- potlucker. Don’t forget serving spoons, ladles for your special dishes. Drinks, luncheon meats, cheese, rolls and rest of eating utensils, plates etc furnished.

Our program agenda will be a lively one with a number of business items to attend to (quickly) including voting on proposed bylaw changes and constitutional amendments. This will be followed by the election of Board members and Executive Committee as GCWA enters into its seventeenth year.

As always in March we celebrate the winners of this year’s writing contests in poetry, fiction and non-fiction categories. First place winners will read their successful entries for the entertainment of the group. (No whistles, catcalls, or throwing of objects allowed.) Please note in your program that day the list of generous sponsors of special gifts for the winners. But of course only your president knows in what order the nine nominees have finished and in spite of various offers, my lips are sealed.

Remember, for those who haven’t paid this year GCWA dues, March is the last month to keep your name on the rolls. Bring your check book Saturday.

Any questions check out www.gulfwriters.org or give me a call.

See you Saturday,

Tom Nelson, President

Dear GCWA Members,

Here we are once more, days away from our next meeting, Saturday, February 18 at Zion Lutheran Church beginning at 10am.

S. R. (Bob) Maxeiner Jr will bring us his message of Strong Writing. He will remind us that writing should be fun, virtuous and full of life as he leads us down this path showing us how to avoid the pot holes of lazy narrative. This will prove to be another entertaining and informative hour with the author of novels TRANSPLANT, INNOCENTIA and TOO MANY QUESTIONS.

As always we encourage you to check the website for all information pertaining to our association and other related events. There are any numbers of special opportunities for members and non members to enjoy during this active season. Anyone wishing to help with the maintenance of the website please contact Judy Loose.

March heads up; Remember to keep in mind that our March meeting date has been changed to the fourth Saturday, March24th, to allow members to attend the Harbor Side Reading Festival on March 17th. There are still spaces available at the GCWA table for your book signing and sales at the Harbor Side event. Call Ken Feeley 992-2726.

With that date change, we also must meet on March 24th at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2439 McGregor Blvd. It’s near the Edison Estates, see map on web site. ( I see in my Jan letter I announced that we would be at Lakeside Library; that changed and its now Covenant.)

See you this Saturday at Zion.

Tom Nelson, President