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A Message from the President, Jim Gaines

Let me take this opportunity to wish all the VWC family, members, officers, and chapter folk, a wonderful summer. As the gardens of our state culminate in bloom, I hope this will also be a period of abundance for our writers. Thank you all for your support and encouragement over the past few months. We have made great progress toward strengthening the infrastructure and finances of our group. After a shaky winter, we have emerged with an improved balance sheet, a new strategy for financial stewardship and record keeping, and a step forward toward implementing the plans begun last year.

One measure that has met with gratifying approval has been our electronic newsletter, the E-Nunciator. As its third issue approaches release, we have heard many positive comments and we have also listened to suggestions for change, leading to a somewhat new format discussed at our May BOG meeting in Smith Mountain Lake. And what a meeting that was! It continued the powerful beginning made in February in Fredericksburg by successfully moving to new stages of planning in many areas. The good people of the Valley Chapter impressed everyone with their hospitality and with the big turnout of regular members for the excellent speaker program. Let's try to make this a prototype for all future BOG meetings.

One of the big news items at Smith Mountain Lake was the opening of communications between our organization and the Richmond-based James River Writers and their large annual convention. This is the second leg of our strategy for strengthening working relationships with the three major in-state writers' conferences. The first has already been cemented by our ongoing co-sponsorship of the Hanover Writers Festival, and all are encouraged to take part in that nationally important summer event. As we increase our profile with the James River Writers Conference, we will step forward with the third leg, opening communications further with the Christopher Newport Conference held each spring. Our goal is for VWC members to enjoy the best possible access and information on all three of these conferences and the writers and agents they bring to our area.

Our mission is not complete, however. During the coming months I will be speaking with you further on another initiative, that of re-strengthening communications and affiliations between the chapters and the central VWC, especially in the area of membership. By doing this, we can then make meaningful resources available in return for chapter events, such as the four writing events we are committed to sponsoring each year, making more funds available for speakers for BOG and other meetings, and helping to encourage growth in re-organizing chapters, as we are currently doing with the Richmond group. Be on the lookout for some little material incentives that will be offered in the future to members who keep their dues status up to date!

May your summer be a safe and productive one! Hope to see you at the Hanover Festival and perhaps at the next BOG meeting in Alexandria in September!

Jim Gaines, President