MAY
1988
THE FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS NEWSLETTER Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2206, Main Post
Office Address:
Ste. 706, 402 West Pender St., Vancouver, B.C., V6B Phone Number: 683-2057
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WHAT'SINSIDE...
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Conference 88: Balancing the Books Stimulating, relaxing and fun Regional Reports North Coastal Writers Members Directory, Literary Arts Directory
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Special Events: July Social and Reading
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Update PLR, PEN
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Markets, Workshops and Awards
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Personally I am delighted that so many of the objectives I had when starting this job are coming into view. I am mindful though, that everything we have accomplished is the outgrowth of years of hard work by many dedicated people. The Federation is like a tree which is just beginning to bear fruit.
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Major membership drive. Membership has now reached almost 550 members. Our membership continues to be diverse with many of the well known and senior writers in B.C. joining in the last year. Thanks to Lynne Melcombe for all her effort in this area. Higher profile. With three-quarter time for our Executive Director (up from half time), we've begun a flurry of news releases and media outreach. CBC now calls us on a regular basis when they want an opinion on literary issues.
Office, Vancouver, B.C., V6B
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Arms-length Provincial Arts Council with funding for individual artists. Represented by Bob Webster, our excellent Executive Director, we are taking a leading role in the Ad Hoc Coalition for B.C. Artists which promotes this issue to the provincial government. A year ago, arms-length funding was seen as impossible; now we look at it as a question of time and intensive lobbying. Writers in the Classroom, a directory of writers
for schools. More money for B.C. writers! It will also enhance the profile of B.C. authors and broaden our audience among young readers. Patty Gibson was hired on a four-month contract to facilitate the publication and promotion of the
directory.
Art Reach, a series of hearings sponsored by the Assembly of B.C. Arts Councils to point a direction for the provincial government for the community arts. Our Regional Reps came through strongly here, as did Betsy and Bob. Our participation made a difference.
rilriters Bridging Cultures. Sponsored by the City of Vancouver and organized by our Vancouver coordinator Judy Villeneuve, this jampacked reading featured 6 readers from diverse backgrounds.
National Book Festival. This year, we held readings in Nelson, Nanaimo and Penticton in long-term care facilities. We were also pleased to receive a last-minute grant to host a reading in Vancouver as well. Working with other writing groups, Bob has set up an informal meeting every two months with representatives from the Kootenay School, CANSCAIP, Women and Words, PWAC, FEAC,