Resigning as Regional Director

I have asked PWAC National office to send a bulletin to Prairies Region members, but that can't be sent until after the weekend. I have contacted several people individually but I was also asked to post this here to help inform regional members, and the bulletin will follow up next week.

I have come to a difficult decision. I am resigning from the PWAC board of directors, effective immediately. I have enjoyed my short time as Regional Director of Prairies and the North, and I believe I have come to know many members better during this time. I will continue to be involved at the Saskatchewan chapter level, and I would be pleased to share my experience with the new RD and others as needed. I hope you will continue to contact me to discuss freelance business issues and ideas. I also hope I will still hear from you on writers.ca or social media, and see you at regional and national events. I wish you all the best in 2014 and the years to come.

Sincerely,
Marie Powell

Meet the new Lethbridge and Area Chapter!

A welcome introduction of our Region's newest Chapter
by President, Farrah McFadden ...

I am excited to announce the official start up of the Lethbridge and Area PWAC Chapter, and to have the opportunity to tell you a little about us. We are an eager group of eight individuals with a range of professional experience brought together at the initiative of MichelleGreysen, the Regional Director for PWAC Prairies and the North.  We met for our first official, albeit, casual gathering on November 19th.

I, Farrah McFadden, am a new member to PWAC and am thrilled to have this opportunity to jump in with both feet as Chapter President for the upcoming year.  I have the incredible opportunity to learn from more experienced freelance writers and to participate in growing a chapter that is supportive of newcomers like myself, but also one that satisfies the needs of career freelancers, such as Jane Harris-Zsovan, our chapter Treasurer. Jane has published articles in over a dozen magazines on matters relating to Canadian history and culture, and has recently released her book, Eugenics and the Firewall: Canada’s Nasty Little Secret.  Michelle Greysen is the founding member of this new Chapter, a magazine feature writer, copywriter and niche antique dealer blogger at Thrifty Diversion and is taking an active role in supporting the growth of our Chapter and of PWAC on all the Prairies and I look forward to her wisdom and guidance.

 Our membership includes Geneva Macgillivary, a resident of Nanton, who owns/writes the Nanton Review as well as for Tourism Alberta and MS Connections. Geneva’s writing is behind a number of local business start-ups and advertising. Linda Maki, also joining us from Nanton, combines her skills as a writer and photographer, and has been a columnist for a number of local newspapers.  We are pleased to count Richard Amery amongst our members. Richard is a reporter and columnist for the Lethbridge Sun Times, and is the Owner/Editor/Publisher of Lethbridge’s arts and entertainment magazine, the LA Beat. Zac Stinson, was the recipient of the student membership last year and joins us from the University of Lethbridge, where he has published articles in the independent student newspaper, the Meliorist. Last, but not least, is Lori Lavallee. Lori is an experienced corporate content developer and feature writer, and I do believe she is the fashion diva of our chapter. You can learn more about our founding members in their profiles on www.Writers.ca.

 By all estimates our chapter has a strong foundation and a bright future.  We are already planning of our first community event as a Chapter, and we look forward to expanding our membership across southern Alberta.  Our hope is to create an inclusive and engaged chapter that facilitates interaction across our large area. To this end we are committed to finding creative ways to facilitate Chapter meetings and events that foster participation of all members, whether they reside in Lethbridge or many of the small towns dotting the southern prairies and welcome membership reaching from Medicine Hat to Milk River and into the Crowsnest Pass.

Farrah McFadden

President, PWAC Lethbridge and Area Chapter