President’s letter – April 2023
President’s Page: April 2023
It’s nearly time for the Arizona Professional Writers Annual Conference. There are only 12 days before the conference! This is where we elect new officers, celebrate member accomplishments, honor those who have passed on, and hear some really good speakers! This doesn’t even mention the time we get to socialize with our fellow journalists, authors, poets, screenwriters, oh, well, you get the idea. Here is the info:
It’s time to register for our upcoming State Convention on May 6 at the Phoenix Indian School Visitor Center! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arizona-professional-writers-2023-state-conference-tickets-601839336657
Speakers: We have two excellent speakers, lunch and a chance to see the venue – the Phoenix Indian School. Elena Selestewa will not only be speaking but will later answer more questions and give us a tour. Our other speaker, Debra Utacia Krol, is a dynamic journalist with the topic of “On the beat – through the eyes of an indigenous reporter.” See https://arizonapresswomen.wordpress.com/2023-apw-state-conference for our speakers’ photos and bios.
Business meeting at 9:15: APW members should plan to arrive in time for our 9:15 business meeting. We have exciting ideas to share for the upcoming year plus election of officers. Be there!
Lunch: Choice of 3 kinds of salad, water and cookies.
Register: Register at Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arizona-professional-writers-2023-state-conference-tickets-601839336657 Members use APWmember10 as the promotion code to register for the member price of $50. Regular price is $60. Click on Get Tickets but then enter the code to receive the $50 price. If you’d prefer to pay by cash or Zelle QuickPay, contact treasurer RuthAnn Hogue at arizonaprofessionalwriters@gmail.com.Price at the door is $75. Students with student IDs are $25.
Share and publicize! Please share the APW FB post to your personal and writing or author pages as well as to any community or writing groups that you belong to. You can also help by asking them to post it on their calendar, if they have one. We also need your help posting copies of the flyer (attached) at your local library. If you have a relative that is a high school or college/university student here in AZ, ask them to take a copy to their English or Journalism teacher and invite their students to attend. The theme –Diversity – stories honor our many heritages– is a hot topic and could fit into many curriculums.
Location: The Phoenix Indian School Visitor Center is located in the Band Building, 300 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85012. Parking: free on the grounds. If you are coming from Payson, I have 2 seats left in my car. Call or text me at 928-951-0970 or email at connie.cockrell@gmail.com.
Morning coffee: Bring your own! Both some Starbucks and Dutch Coffee locations are within 3 or 4 minutes of the school.
For questions, contact Jaimie by email or by phone at 928-607-3181. (Text or leave a message) Contact RuthAnn Hogue at arizonaprofessionalwriters@gmail.com for questions about Eventbrite or to pay by check.
Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arizona-professional-writers-2023-state-conference-tickets-601839336657 to register now!
More information at https://arizonapresswomen.wordpress.com/2023-apw-state-conference
From Marie Fasano, an opportunity: Take a look at our facebook page for APW. This is a great place to announce your newest book, magazine article, or speaking engagement. This is just one of the many perks you, as an APW member have, so take advantage! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ArizonaPressWomen
Finally, A reminder that the Payson Book Festival, this year called the Authors and Artists Festival, is July 15th at the Payson Mazatzal and Hotel ballroom. 9am – 2:30pm. Bring a friend!
Thank you everyone for your continued support of this historic organization.
Everyone stay safe, enjoy the upcoming warm weather, and hope to see you at the conference!
2022 State Conference is a wrap!
Our 2022 State Conference is over. It was special getting to see old friends in person; some we had only ever met on a Zoom call. We also had several guests plus our speakers and our 2022 scholarship winner and her father and brother.
President Connie Cockrell called the meeting to order. We accepted the slate of officers, welcoming Jody Sharpe to the Board and passed the budget. The winners of the At-large division of the NFPW Communications Contest who were in attendance were introduced.
Our morning speaker was Dr. Karen Bryson who spoke on “The Top Ten Reasons your Book Isn’t Selling And What To Do About It.” Everyone authoring a book should take these into account. Find help at Karen’s newest Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/motivatethemuse.
During lunch, Marie Fasano and Jody Sharpe presented our 2022 Scholarship winner, Elena Morrison, with a certificate and a check for $1000 to pursue a career in journalism. Elena is a student at Coconino Community College in Flagstaff.
Brad Graber spoke after lunch on “The Stories We Tell Ourselves: The Importance of Shifting Our Mindset.” Using personal stories and humor, Brad shared how we can limit ourselves. His website is BradGraber.com.
The last activity was a tour of the wonderful Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Their collection of all things Western is second to none. Put it on your list to visit if you never have. https://scottsdalemuseumwest.org
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- APW President Connie Cockrell conducting the business meeting
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- 2022-23 Board – Jody Sharpe, Marie Fasano, Brenda Whiteside, Connie Cockrell, Cheryl Kohout, Bobbie Bennett, Jaimie Bruzenak
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- 2021 At-large communications contest winners in attendance – Chrissann Dawson, Marie Fasano, Jan Cleere, Bobbie Bennett, Jody Sharpe, Brad Grabor. (Not pictured – Rebecca Goodrich)
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- Dr. Karen Bryson
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- Elena Morrison, winner of the 2022 scholarship. Jody Sharpe and Marie Fasano presenting. (Kathleen Kelly not present). Thanks also to Brenda Whiteside and Brenda Warneka for assisting the committee.
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- Brad Graber
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- Attendees listening to Brad Graber’s talk
APW State Conference
Registration is opening for our 2022 State Conference!
May 14, 2022 from 10-3 at the Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
Marie Fasano -winner of COA!
Congratulations to Marie Fasano! She was named Communicator of Achievement for Arizona for 2021 at our APW Virtual State Conference on April 17, 2021. Her entry is being considered by NFPW at the national level. Her writing and community involvement credentials are impressive. Here’s a very brief summary of Marie’s career. And the photos are of our new president, Connie Cockrell, presenting Marie with a certificate and the traditional Navajo Storyteller figurine for her achievement.
Marie A. Fasano from Arizona had a career in nursing and as a photojournalist. As a pilot, she volunteered flying to clinics in Mexico and writing travel articles. Marie has published books in the health field and a memoir, Tessie’s Tales. She edited two nationwide magazines and wrote articles for newspapers and magazines. Currently, she writes a column for the Payson Roundup, “Roaming the Rim.”
We should note that a Communicator of Achievement is not named every year. So it is quite an honor for Marie to be selected and well deserved!
APW State Conference coming April 17!
Arizona Professional Writers Annual Conference Saturday 9:00am to 12:00 pm April 17, 2021
2021 APW Virtual State Conference
2021 APW Virtual State Conference
Making the Past Come Alive:
Stories from Days Gone By
Attend the 2021 State Virtual Conference
of Arizona Professional Writers
Saturday, April 17, 2021, 9 a.m. —12 p.m. on Zoom
The conference is presented by Arizona Professional Writers (APW), a non-profit statewide organization of professional women and men in the communications field. The Conference is being brought to members and nonmembers at no charge by APW. To reserve your seat and receive notification of the Zoom link, register at Evenbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stories-from-days-gone-by-tickets-147437893709 You will need to register for both the Program open to the public and the general meeting, if you wish to attend both free sessions.
We’ll be holding our annual meeting from 9 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; followed by a program with two excellent Arizona authors and speakers: Jan Cleere and Linda Pressman. Click here to see more details. Or, click on the navigation tab 2021 APW Virtual State Conference.
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- Speaker Linda Pressman
President’s Page – February & March 2021
March is Women’s History Month. This month I published an article in the Payson Roundup on three interesting women who each have non-traditional jobs: a tree trimmer, an airplane and power-plant inspector and a Septic Pumping company owner. It was fun interviewing each of them. There are so many stories out there. You can find stories about other unique people as well. (See article.)
Speaking of the unusual, this month APW Central had speaker Patty Mahoney tell us about her life growing up in a mortuary where she had to keep secrets that she heard as a child. Only now as a mature adult is she able to tell those stories as a writer. Fascinating!
Marylee MacDonald spoke with the APW Rim chapter in February and March. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of marketing and getting reviews for your publications. If you missed it you really missed an opportunity. We are thinking of having a workshop later in the year with this same topic to learn more from her expertise. Don’t you think that’s a good idea?
If you haven’t been attending the virtual meetings you are missing out on exceptional opportunities for learning how to improve your writing. This is just one benefit of your membership.
We will have an annual APW virtual conference again this year on April 17. We have two excellent speakers – Jan Cleere and Linda Pressman. It will be a half -day program from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon with a membership meeting 9-10, Jan Cleere speaking from 10-11 and Linda Pressman from 11-12. Short but informative. Come join us. The Zoom invite will be out soon.
The APW Book Club is rolling along. We have become a cohesive group hearing how each member developed their story, sharing their ideas about their book. All members are welcome to join us the fourth Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM.
Several members of APW have won awards in the NFPW Communications Contest. What a group we have! Winners are being posted on the APW website and our FB page and will be recognized at our annual meeting.
At the annual meeting on April 17, 2021, we will be voting for officers for 2021-22.
The Slate includes:
President -Connie Cockrell
Past President- Marie Fasano
Vice President- Bobbie Bennett
Secretary Brenda -Whiteside
Treasurer – open. We need a volunteer-Interested? Email me at mfasano.apw@gmail.com
Keep Writing,
Marie A.Fasano
APW President
APW 2020 Virtual State Conference – June 20
Greetings all APW members,
The APW Board has decided to have a short virtual conference this year in June in place of the May one that was cancelled. We hope you are all well.
Date: Saturday June 20
Time: 10:00 am to about 12 noon.
Zoom information will be sent prior to the meeting.
Our agenda will include:
- Vote for new incoming officers (Ballots to be sent out shortly).
- Brief reports from Board Members and Chapter Chairs.
- Approval of the Revised Bylaws (Copies will be sent out for your review prior to the meeting.)
- Presentation to honor our APW 2020 Communicator of the Year, Connie Cockrell.
- Notification of winners of the At-large NFPW communications contest.
- Ceremony honoring our members who have passed.
We encourage all members to be present for this short meeting.
If you have any questions about the Zoom meeting, please contact me at mfasano.apw@gmail.com.
Marie Fasano, President
President’s Page – May 2020
Arizona is opening after the shelter in place orders for several weeks due to the COVID-19 virus. How are you coping? Are you ready to join the crowds on the streets and in the stores? I’m not. I wear a mask when I’m out in public and keep social distancing within a group. Family and friends from the East Coast and California are being very cautious. Here in Payson, not so much.
My home town of Elmhurst, New York has been particularly devastated, with overcrowding in the hospitals and funeral homes. Family members who are doctors and nurses in New York have talked of the lack of PPE equipment, wearing the same mask several days in a row. Maybe that’s why I’m still cautious and not ready to join the throng.
Are any of our APW members writing stories that have to do with the corona virus? I would love to hear from you. What have you been doing at home? Writing more? I’m reading lots more. I put down one book and pick up another, or turn on my Kindle and think. “I should be writing more not just reading.” Alas, my energy level has been low, but hopefully, coming back soon.
Here in Rim Country we started our monthly meetings via ZOOM and had some good interactions with our members, catching up on what they are writing. I love the way Marsha Ward talks to her characters. This time she is asking them how to end the story. Each author has her tricks to keep the writing flowing.
Our virtual APW Board meeting will be May 30th. Contact me at mfasano.apw@gmail.com if you want to attend and I will send you the ZOOM information. We will have a virtual celebration of our Communicator of the Year and APW meeting this summer. We hope many of you will join us. We will email you with more information later.
Keep Writing,
Marie A. Fasano
President
Arizona Professional Writers
President’s Page – April, 2020
President’s Page
May 2020
This month has been an interesting one with many of us “sheltering in place” at home. How many more Zoom, Facetime or other virtual meetings have you had? I’m getting quite proficient at Zoom- even had a surprise 90th Birthday party for my husband Mac with his family for him!
Due to the COVID-19 virus issues, the APW Board has decided to cancel the May 30th Conference for this year. We have scheduled a virtual APW Board meeting for that day. Anyone who would like to attend can let me know. I will send you the ZOOM contact info. It might be a way to get more involved without traveling to a meeting. We will announce the Arizona Communicator of the Year. We are looking at some future virtual meetings and will keep you informed.
NFPW has also cancelled their National Conference in Arkansas. A conference will be held in 2021.
People are watching more TV, spending more time getting their news through newspapers and online. Have you thought about sending an article to these media outlets that include information about how the COVID-19 virus is affecting people? There are so many stories out there.
2020 has been designated as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife by the World Health Organization. Since one of my careers included nursing, my intention for my newspaper column “Roaming the Rim,” in the Payson Roundup included writing stories about nurses in various arenas. In the last article, I covered information about how the coronavirus affects the work of the home health nurse. I have some other ideas for articles because of the current situation. I imagine you can come up with some as well. What’s going on in your community?
Stay well. Keep your distance. Wear your mask and wash your hands often.
Keep writing,
Marie
Marie Fasano, President
Arizona Professional Writers
Arizona Professional Writers 