GCWA logoGulf Coast Writers Association, Inc
President’s Annual Report
15th Session
April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011
Pursuant to Article I, Section 5 A, the following is the president’s annual report. As president of the Gulf Coast Writers Association for the past year, I am happy to report that our organization is in excellent condition.
Membership: We have 150 members.
We increased membership over the last three years from 118 to 150. We held eleven meetings during the year, and one workshop through March 1, 2011. 630 people have attended. The largest attendance was February 19 with 83.
Treasury:
The bank balance as of 1 March, 2011 is $9,045.65, an increase of $107.03 from 1 April 2010.
GCWA expended $2058.42 for the purchase of an LCD projector to enhance our educational programs and provide speakers with an additional tool for their presentations.
We reduced individual membership dues to $25 and inaugurated new family membership dues of $35.
Programs: Our open to the public educational program for the 15th session was eclectic.
Doug Macgregor – “Thinking Creatively”
Gwyn Ramsey and Virginia Crane – “Pounding the Pavement”
Edward Livingston – “Legal aspects of contracts, copyrights, and publishing”
Robert Macomber – “Self editing and critical reading of your manuscript”
Felice Gerwitz – “Book marketing for the New-Internet crazed age”
Dr. Brad Busbee – “The beginning of English poetry”
Little Joe Micale – “Confessions of a Hollywood Hairstylist”
Jeff Schlesinger – “Publishing Options for Authors – Mainstream, Cooperative, Self Publishing, eBooks and beyond”
Panel Discussion – “The financial side of being an author” Panelist: Richard Georgian, Mary Beth Lundgren, Kyle Miller, Ken Feeley, Jan Nieman, and Lori Ruhl.
Christine Lemmon – “Intimate aspects of writing, creativity and inspiration”
Special Projects:
We conducted a members only writing contest sponsored by the North Captiva Island Club Resort. The winner received a weekend stay for two valued at $1,200.
We held an open to the public free workshop “YouTube tips from TV pros, DIY Book Trailers” at Barnes & Noble, March 10, 2011. Panelists were: Jennifer Marquis-Muradaz, Doug MacGregor, and Connie Bottinelli. Attendance was 39 with several persons stopping by and listening and then moving on.
Significant events:
GCWA continued membership in the Alliance for the Arts of Lee County.
GCWA established a reciprocal agreement with Pine Island Writers.
GCWA participated in the October 30, Alliance for the Arts “Walk through the Arts.” We had 22 authors who sold 82 books.
GCWA participated in a book fair at Faith Lutheran Church in Lehigh Acres. We had five authors who made 17 sales.
We conducted a 2011 Writing Contest.
GCWA participated in Gateway Charter High School’s “Read across America” reading fair on March 2.
GCWA children authors participated in the Alliance for the Arts, Fantasy and Fairytales on March 17, 2011.
GCWA attended the Lee County Reading Festival, March 19. We had fifteen authors at our booth, and sold 64 books.
Other activities:
The Web master, Judy Loose, has during the year made significant improvements. We have added a founder’s page that provides historical information about GCWA. Judy also added a members’ books page.
The Alliance’s fall class schedule included GCWA members, who taught writing courses.
A GCWA member, Tim Jacobs, responded to an Alliance for the Arts emergency call for a teacher to conduct a class with very short notice.
We owe special thanks to all those who, under Jan Nieman’s leadership, has provided hospitality during the year.
We honored Ruben Colon with a lifetime members for his dedication to GCWA.
The president’s recommendations:
Continue cooperation with Alliance for the Arts and implement playwright and screenwriter readings, or prose open mike readings. Support additional literary art events with the Alliance.
Establish a Cape Coral critique group – Need a point of contact to start organizing this effort.
Improve publicity for our workshop meetings to encourage public attendance.Conduct a writer’s brunch with a high profile speaker (writer).
Conduct a 2012 GCWA Writing Contest – We need sponsors.
Continue searching for opportunities for authors to sell their books.
Find opportunities for playwrights to produce shows.
Recommend attendance at the 2012 Reading Festival, and purchase two tables for our authors.
Respectfully, submitted,
Richard Georgian
President, 2010-2011
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