Transitions
Some Old Friends have Departed and Some New Friends have Filled their Posts
Life is unpredictable. If there’s one thing certain, it is that change will come when it’s least expected. Just such a change manifested unexpectedly after our last issue of Member News and resulted in the loss of a long-time board member.
Bob Lupo—the Guild’s long-time treasurer and editor of Latitudes, the Guild’s online literary review—left the Guild in recent months after experiencing unexpected losses in his family. Those of us who had the chance to work with Bob over the years miss him keenly and wish him well as he seeks to recover from these devastating emotional events.
Bob’s departure left some big holes to fill in Guild roles that required specialized expertise. Were there, for example, any Guild members who had expertise in handling the financial affairs of organizations? Our secretary, Donna Beumler, took it upon herself to find out. After some investigation, she discovered that Catherine Tripp, who had joined the Guild about a year ago, had worked in the banking industry for many years.
Catherine, who lives on the Big Island, agreed to take on the duties of Guild treasurer and was recently appointed to the job by the board of directors. By virtue of this appointment, Catherine has become a new member of the Guild’s Board of Directors. Like all officers, she will be up for election at the Guild’s annual meeting in January. In the meantime, thanks, Catherine, for stepping into the breach in a time of need.
Bob’s departure left some big holes to fill in Guild roles that required specialized expertise. Were there, for example, any Guild members who had expertise in handling the financial affairs of organizations? Our secretary, Donna Beumler, took it upon herself to find out. After some investigation, she discovered that Catherine Tripp, who had joined the Guild about a year ago, had worked in the banking industry for many years.
Catherine, who lives on the Big Island, agreed to take on the duties of Guild treasurer and was recently appointed to the job by the board of directors. By virtue of this appointment, Catherine has become a new member of the Guild’s Board of Directors. Like all officers, she will be up for election at the Guild’s annual meeting in January. In the meantime, thanks, Catherine, for stepping into the breach in a time of need.
That filled one vacancy created by Bob’s departure, but there was another, urgent, vacancy that needed to be filled as soon as possible. Bob had been the managing editor of Latitudes, the Guild’s online literary review, for the past three years. The managing editor is the lynch-pin of a large staff—eight genre editors, two at-large editors and a layout editor. Producing each annual issue requires several months of concentrated effort and coordination every year. Leadership experience in editing and publishing is a necessity. Planning for the next issue could not proceed until a new managing editor was found.
Who could take over this management position? Announcements were made, the hunt was on. One member who volunteered had to withdraw after his family decided on a major move. The search continued.
Finally, Margaret Zacharias, who had recently left her role as coordinator of the Guild’s online writers support group, Readings and Responses, stepped forward. She was deeply committed to the continued existence of Latitudes after spending two seasons working closely with Bob Lupo as an at-large editor, where her duties were varied and far-ranging.
Although a new time schedule had to be set for the 2024 issue of Latitudes, the good news is that there will be a 2024 issue of Latitudes. Thanks, Margaret, for your willingness to take on this responsible and time-consuming job. [Editor’s note: Look for our feature story about Latitudes elsewhere in this issue.]
Who could take over this management position? Announcements were made, the hunt was on. One member who volunteered had to withdraw after his family decided on a major move. The search continued.
Finally, Margaret Zacharias, who had recently left her role as coordinator of the Guild’s online writers support group, Readings and Responses, stepped forward. She was deeply committed to the continued existence of Latitudes after spending two seasons working closely with Bob Lupo as an at-large editor, where her duties were varied and far-ranging.
Although a new time schedule had to be set for the 2024 issue of Latitudes, the good news is that there will be a 2024 issue of Latitudes. Thanks, Margaret, for your willingness to take on this responsible and time-consuming job. [Editor’s note: Look for our feature story about Latitudes elsewhere in this issue.]
In the meantime, there was the question of filling the role Margaret had left as coordinator for the online Readings and Responses group. This group, open to all Guild members wherever they live, provided a real benefit to members who wanted to share their work-in-progress with other writers. Who could take over this important role?
Enter CherylAnn Farrell, a Guild Member who lives on Kauai.
Enter CherylAnn Farrell, a Guild Member who lives on Kauai.
With experience as an online college instructor, writing tutor for Colorado State University, and the Distance Learning Coordinator for McKinley School for Adults – Kauai Campus, CherylAnn had the requisite technical, teaching and writing experience to coordinate an online writers’ support group like Readings and Responses. CherylAnn stepped forward and said, “Yes, I will do that!” We thank you, Cheryl.
Although the group is currently meeting only once a month, it still exists, thanks to CherylAnn, as a tangible benefit to any and all members of Hawaii Writers Guild who want a place to share their work-in-progress. Here’s a schedule of some future meetings.
Although the group is currently meeting only once a month, it still exists, thanks to CherylAnn, as a tangible benefit to any and all members of Hawaii Writers Guild who want a place to share their work-in-progress. Here’s a schedule of some future meetings.
Saturday Sequel
R&R
Readings and Responses
Online via Zoom
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (HT)
3rd Saturdays
Jan 27
Feb 10
March 16
April 20
Hosted by CherylAnn Farrell
R&R
Readings and Responses
Online via Zoom
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (HT)
3rd Saturdays
Jan 27
Feb 10
March 16
April 20
Hosted by CherylAnn Farrell
The Guild is proud to announce the creation of a new regional directorship for Kauai and the appointment of Frank Reilly to the post.
You may remember a Transitions story in the last issue of Member News about this man.
Frank Reilly was an enterprising member of the Guild from Kauai who came to the board of directors with an idea: he was willing to coordinate an online writing group just for Kauai members as a way to begin to build a cohesive group of Hawaii Writers Guild members on that island. Although writers would not have to be members of the Guild to attend the online group, Frank would encourage them to consider that option. His online group has been meeting regularly and is building cohesiveness and at least one of the group has since opted to become a member of Hawaii Writers Guild.
The Guild has always included positions for regional directors on the board. Since the Guild began on the Island of Hawaii, the first regional directorships to be designated were on that island, in Kohala in the north and in Volcano in the south. Since those early days, the Guild has added members on other islands, but until now those members have not had regional representation on the board. Now, with Frank’s efforts to organize writers on Kauai, those writers have their own representative and Frank Reilly has a well-deserved place on the Board of Directors of Hawaii Writers Guild. Congratulations, Frank!
Frank Reilly was an enterprising member of the Guild from Kauai who came to the board of directors with an idea: he was willing to coordinate an online writing group just for Kauai members as a way to begin to build a cohesive group of Hawaii Writers Guild members on that island. Although writers would not have to be members of the Guild to attend the online group, Frank would encourage them to consider that option. His online group has been meeting regularly and is building cohesiveness and at least one of the group has since opted to become a member of Hawaii Writers Guild.
The Guild has always included positions for regional directors on the board. Since the Guild began on the Island of Hawaii, the first regional directorships to be designated were on that island, in Kohala in the north and in Volcano in the south. Since those early days, the Guild has added members on other islands, but until now those members have not had regional representation on the board. Now, with Frank’s efforts to organize writers on Kauai, those writers have their own representative and Frank Reilly has a well-deserved place on the Board of Directors of Hawaii Writers Guild. Congratulations, Frank!
Guild member Gwyn Gorg has announced that she is convening a Monday night poetry group at the Laupahoehoe Library on Hawaii Island. The new group will be a free gathering open to the public. Gwyn urges people to bring their own poetry or a favorite poem for open readings.
The first meeting of the group will be on Monday, January 8, 2024, from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at the library, which is located at 35-2065 Old Mamalahoa Hwy in Laupahoehoe. The group will meet on the second Monday of each month thereafter. For information, call the library at 808-962-2229.
--Gwyn will be participating as the poet sharing some of her poetry on January 14, at the Kona Martin Luther King Day Celebration. She will also perform in a one woman show on February 25 at East Hawai'i Cultural Center in Hilo, sharing anecdotes and poetry.
The first meeting of the group will be on Monday, January 8, 2024, from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at the library, which is located at 35-2065 Old Mamalahoa Hwy in Laupahoehoe. The group will meet on the second Monday of each month thereafter. For information, call the library at 808-962-2229.
--Gwyn will be participating as the poet sharing some of her poetry on January 14, at the Kona Martin Luther King Day Celebration. She will also perform in a one woman show on February 25 at East Hawai'i Cultural Center in Hilo, sharing anecdotes and poetry.
There are still some areas where the Guild needs leadership support. Below are some opportunities for those of you who are looking for ways to get more involved in facilitating Guild activities:
--We are still looking for someone to take over managing the Guild’s two Facebook accounts, the one open to the public and the one open to members only. If you like working with social media, please contact me at joyfisher374@gmail.com .
--We also still need assistance in re-establishing in-person readings and other events under the auspices of our Events Committee. If this is something you would like to assist with, please contact our President, Diane Revell, and let her know what you would be interested in doing to help.
--We are still looking for someone to take over managing the Guild’s two Facebook accounts, the one open to the public and the one open to members only. If you like working with social media, please contact me at joyfisher374@gmail.com .
--We also still need assistance in re-establishing in-person readings and other events under the auspices of our Events Committee. If this is something you would like to assist with, please contact our President, Diane Revell, and let her know what you would be interested in doing to help.