President’s Page – July 2021
April was a month packed full of activity. First of all, Welcome! I’m Connie Cockrell, newly elected President for the Arizona Professional Writers. The biggest event was the April 17th Virtual State Conference. In our short business meeting, we elected new officers. I was elected President, Marie Fasano steps into the Past President role, Bobbie Bennett remains Vice President, and Brenda Whiteside remains Secretary.
Most importantly, we are in need of a Membership Director and a Treasurer. These are vital positions in any organization. Both areas are in good shape, we just need a couple of people to see the value in keeping our organization vibrant by stepping up to volunteer. You can contact me at connie.cockrell@gmail.com to talk about it.
June was the National Federation of Press Women virtual conference. In the national contest, Dianne Beeaff from Tucson, won second place in the category Collection of Short Stories, with her book titled On Traigh Lar Beach. See her website for info on the book. Wynne Brown, also of Tucson, won second place for the category Newsletter, Web, and Social Media. Her entry, Personal, The Sara Lemmon Project can be found at her website or contact her at wynne@wynnebrown.com. Congratulations to both as there were thousands of entries nationwide making competition very high.
Our Communicator of Achievement, Marie Fasano, attended the NFPW virtual award ceremony. We’re sorry to say that she didn’t win. Sherri Burris was selected. You can find her details at NFPW. Congratulations to Ms. Burris.
July features the Payson Book Festival. It is July 17th at the Mazatzal Hotel and Casino from 9am to 3:30pm. We have over 70 authors this year. We’ll have a shortened children’s program in the morning and entertainment by Marshall Trimble, Buckshot Dot, and a panel of Grand Canyon experts scheduled for the afternoon. I do hope you can make it to the festival even if you aren’t a “seller”. It will be a great time to catch up!
Speaking of the book festival, we’re doing a lot of posting on our Facebook pages for both APW and the book festival. Take a look at those pages and share the posts. Lots of people sharing creates a big boost in the number of people who get to see the post. It’s an easy way for you to get to know the authors appearing and to help us drive attendance to the festival. Payson Book Festival Facebook page and Arizona Professional Writers Facebook page.
That’s it for July. Everyone stay safe, enjoy the summer, and hope to see you at the book festival!
Connie Cockrell
APW President
APW president, Connie Cockrell, was interviewed by Randy Roberson of KRIM 96.3 regarding the Payson Book Festival to be held July 17. Connie’s interview is archived on President’s page – January 2021
Marie Fasano
As we start the year, 2021 we can be hopeful that the rhetoric will be more civil and that we will stay focused on the truth. COVID vaccines are getting into the arms of healthcare workers, teachers and us elders and by summer we will see a good number in the population with some immunity. We are also hopeful that the economic strain on individuals and businesses will ease. Safety remains an issue with masks and social distancing still a necessary component of our lives.
As for APW, we already have several excellent speakers scheduled for Central and Rim Country chapters for the next few months and the APW annual meeting planned for April. The APW Book Club, under the leadership of Karen Lateiner, is thriving with wonderful discussions and sharing of each individual’s process in developing their book. For February, Brenda Warneka, one of the editors of our publication, Skirting Traditions, will meet with us and share the fascinating histories of the Arizona Press Women.
APW Rim Country plans to have the Payson Book Festival open July 17 this year with many authors, a wonderful children’s show and workshops with inspiring speakers and songwriters.
More members have entered the NFPW communications contest this year than last and we look forward to excellent award winners from our group. Our application for a $1000 scholarship has been sent out to Arizona colleges and universities. If you know an undergraduate student, studying in the fields of writing or journalism, encourage them to apply through the arizonaprofessionalwriters.org website. We would not want that gift to languish.
We are looking for members to step up to take some leadership positions, particularly for President and Treasurer, for the upcoming elections. If you have an idea you want to serve, and have questions, please drop me an email. We need you!
Right now I am snowbound, but cozy at home, here in Payson with much needed moisture for our dry Arizona. Stay safe.
Keep writing,
Marie A Fasano
Arizona Professional Writers, President
Communicator of Achievement Award – Connie Cockrell
Connie Cockrell was named “Communicator of Achievement” for 2019, APWs highest award. Her certificate and original “storyteller” carving made by a Pueblo Native American were displayed at our virtual State Conference in May. Connie was also honored at the virtual awards NFPW Awards Ceremony. She will receive a stipend to attend the 2021 NFPW Awards Ceremony.
“Local writer wins Communicator Achievement Award,” written by Marie Fasano, tells more about Connie and the award and appeared in the 6/30/2020 issue of the Payson Roundup. Photo by Randy Cockrell.
Connie Cockrell, winner of the Communicator of Achievement Award
Carol Gail Osman Brown 1941-2020
Carol Gail Osman Brown 78, of Payson, AZ, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 6, 2020, in Los Angeles, CA with her sons by her side. Carol was preceded in death by her husband James Carrington Brown III (Bing) on Friday, May 31, 2019, in Phoenix, AZ. Carol and Bing are survived by their two sons, James Carrington Brown IV (Jim) and Bryan Lee Brown, wife Ronda Doyle and grandson, Asa of Los Angeles, CA and extended family. Carol was preceded in death by her parents Sidney A. and Natalie Constance (Charipper) Osman.
Carol was born in Schenectady, New York on September 28, 1941, to Sid and Natalie Osman. Carol and her parents lived in New York City as a child but due to her severe asthma, moved to AZ and settled in Phoenix, Arizona around 1949.
Carol attended Kenilworth Elementary School and West High School in Phoenix and graduated from Arizona State University.
Carol and Bing met while they were summer camp counselors in Prescott, AZ and were later married on November 3, 1961, in Phoenix, AZ. Both Carol and Bing were longtime residents of Phoenix and then Payson AZ where they both were intricately involved in the journalism community.
An award-winning journalist, Carol was a strong advocate of children’s literacy programs. Her long-term leadership involvement with Arizona Press Women (now Arizona Professional Writers) allowed her to spearhead the very successful annual Payson Book Festival featuring Arizona authors from throughout the state and is held in July in Payson, AZ. Proceeds support a variety of children’s literacy programs.
During her career, Carol drew public attention to other causes including historic preservation, education, health, Native American and women’s issues. She wrote for The Phoenix Gazette and Arizona Republic newspapers and taught journalism classes at her alma mater Arizona State University and Rio Salado College.
Her articles and photographs have appeared in numerous publications including Arizona Highways, Native Peoples, and Sunset magazines as well as publications of the United States Information Agency. She also worked for Associated Press and United Press International wire services.
She received a variety of awards throughout her 50-year career from organizations including the National Federation of Press Women, The Arizona Newspapers Association, the Public Relations Society of America, and Women in Communications.
Carol and her husband, Bing were a powerhouse couple in their community. They formed Carrington Communications LLC and worked as a team on writing projects that took them long distances throughout the United States, China, Mexico, Costa Rica, Africa, Australia, Europe and Canada. They were active on the Beaver Valley Water District board and the Arizona Association of Professional Writers.
Carol was born with severe Asthma and fought her lung disease her entire life. A lifelong commitment to researching her own medical condition, including using holistic medicine as a key component, enabled her to live a full, vibrant, and very productive life.
Due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19), a Celebrations of Life will be held in Beaver Valley, AZ (Payson) and in Phoenix, AZ at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Payson Book Festival, Inc. or the charity of your choice.
See the home page of the Payson Book Festival website for details if you would like to donate to their children’s programs and literacy projects.
President’s message – December 2019
Christmas Luncheon APW RIm Chapter 2019
President’s Page – December 2019
As we end this year, we want to thank each member who has been participating in all of our monthly meetings with many excellent speakers.
What we have accomplished in 2019
- We have increased our State and National membership.
- The PHX Central Chapter is up and running again, thanks to Barbara Lacy. (She will need more help in 2020.)
- Southern Chapter had a meeting and Barbara Marriot has agreed to be the contact person there.
- Our Trade Name is current with the Secretary of State.
- We revised our Bylaws and will be voting on them in May at our Spring Conference May 9.
- We were involved with ASU for several programs.
- Our joint fall conference with ANA was a success. Bobbie Bennett helped me with the logistics.
- We had a successful Payson Book Festival AGAIN thanks to Connie Cockrell and all our volunteers.
- The website and Faceboook pages are current with interesting information thanks to Jaimie Bruzenak.
The APW Treasury is in good hands thanks to Cheryl Kohout.
Member News
- Carol Osmon Brown lost her husband and best friend, Bing this year. She had to resign as Secretary and moved with her family to California. I keep her updated about APW happenings.
- We lost a long time member in 2019 Jane Eppinga and will be having a celebration of her life next year.
The Board of Directors: We will be having an election in May 2020. In the meantime, we want to thank Joan Westlake for her many years of service on the Board. She is busy with her consulting work. She will be turning over the membership duties to Connie Cockrell as of January 2020. Brenda Whiteside has agreed to replace Carol Osman Brown as Secretary. We thank them for their willingness to help at this time.
Enjoy your Holidays!!
Keep Writing,
Marie A Fasano
President, Arizona Professional Writers
President’s Message – November, 2019
President’s message for November, 2019
Marie Fasano
In November we start planning for the holidays. Some may have family members over to their home; others share the days with friends and neighbors. Lots of writing takes place even if it’s just in cards and email notes.
This year, my first Thanksgiving as president, I am writing to you, the members of APW, to say “Thank you” for your commitment to your chapter by attending meetings to share your writing stories and learn more from excellent speakers.
We have recruited several new members in Central and Rim Country Chapters. There are new ideas to get the word out about you as a writer and to promote APW. Jaimie Bruzenak, our webmaster, has sent out a call to see who might be interested in participating in developing a short video for YouTube or an audio Podcast. Let us know what you think about this idea.
We are excited to announce our plans for 2020 including:
APW representation at the ASU Desert Nights Rising Stars Writers Conference on February 22 by six members: Jan Cleere, Jody Sharpe, Susan Anderson, Jane Ruby, Mary Rechkemmer Meyer and Barbara Lacy. To help with the registration fee, each author will pay a small amount to participate with APW taking up the remainder of the cost. This is just one advantage of being an APW member.
Plans are in place for a spring conference on May 7 in Payson. More info later. Save the date.
Don’t forget Rim Country’s Payson Book Festival July 18, 2020. Sign up early in January to hold your place.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Keep Writing,
Marie A Fasano
President, Arizona Professional Writers
James “Bing” Brown obituary
Obituary for James C. “Bing” Brown III
May 17, 1939 – May 31, 2019
James Carrington Brown III, (Bing Brown), 80, of Payson, passed away in Phoenix on May 31, 2019, following a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Carol G. Brown, Payson, sons James C. Brown IV and Bryan Lee Brown (Ronda) and grandson Asa, of Los Angeles; brother David Brown (Magaly), of Glendale, sister-in-law Stella Brown, of Elfrida, AZ, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by parents James Carrington Brown Jr., Virginia, and his brother Tom Brown.
Bing was born in Wilmington, Delaware and the family moved to Prescott, AZ on July 4, 1945. Bing began his career as a teen DJ with a Prescott radio station. He was a reporter with the Prescott Courier, before joining the newsroom staff of the Phoenix Gazette in 1961, where he later served as business editor. A graduate of Arizona State University (ASU), he joined the media and information department of Salt River Project in 1965 and worked there for nearly 25 years in various management roles prior to becoming an information officer for the City of Phoenix Water Services Department. He was an adjunct professor at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and taught writing and business courses at Rio Salado Community College. Bing was president and co-owner of Carrington Communications, a public relations firm. His articles and photographs were published in Sunset, Westways, Arizona Highways and many other magazines and newspapers.
Recognized for giving his time and talents to community groups, Bing received many awards, including ones from the Boy Scouts of America, Western Coalition of Arid States, Recordings for the Blind, Nature Conservancy and the Heard Museum. After moving to Payson in 2001, Bing raised funds to help the Northern Gila County Museum to build a replica of the original Zane Grey cabin. He worked as a docent in the cabin for many years, enjoyed singing with the Payson Choral Society and helped start the Payson Book Festival.
A celebration of Bing’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on August 24, 2019, at the Community Presbyterian Church, 800 W. Main Street in Payson. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Central Arizona or the scholarship fund of the Payson Choral Society.
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- James C. “Bing” Brown III May 17, 1939 – May 31, 2019
President’s message – June, 2019
President’s Page June 2019
Things are happening!
Bing Brown: As some of you may know, our friend Bing Brown, husband of long-time member Carol Osman Brown, made his transition on May 31, 2019. Bing was a wonderful support to Carol and to APW. He was always there to help and to take photos for us and did it with a smile. We will miss you Bing.
APW Fall Conference: We are well into preparation for the Fall Conference Sept 28, 2019. Be looking to your email and on the arizonaprofessionalwriters.org website for registration information in the next few weeks. We are holding a joint conference with the Arizona Newspapers Association. I met with Tim Thomas, President of ANA, and his staff to plan the conference. We are excited to work together. The day, running from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., will include a General Membership meeting, our own meetings and a joint luncheon. The Wild Horse Casino Hotel in Chandler, where we are holding the conference, is giving us a special rate for those who would like to spend the night. We will need volunteers to help get the word out and be there to help on Sept 28. Let me know how you want to participate.
Payson Book Festival: Right now, I am deep in planning for the Payson Book Festival Saturday, July 20, 2019. The APW Rim Country members have been hard at work for months. All the Media work is done (my job). The volunteers are all lined up and ready (also my job). The 90 authors and vendors are set to go and the Mazatzal Casino is in good form (Connie Cockrell’s job). We have auction items (due to the gathering skills of Bobbie Bennett) the written program is set (Marsha Ward’s job). We have many sponsors and the children’s programs are ready (thanks to other members of our committee from the community).
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- Buyers and sellers at the 2017 Payson Book Festival
Literacy: The Payson Chapter does meet once a month to bring in outside speakers for information and enlightenment to our members, but we are also doing things that I think the chapters might try. We are working with other organizations in the community to promote literacy for children. The children have produced a book and are working on a puppet show for the Payson Book Festival. How many other ideas can members come up with in your own community?
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- Children’s book cover. Copies will be available at the Payson Book Festival
Central Chapter meeting: I attended the Central chapter meeting on Saturday July 20th at the home of Barbara Lacy. In attendance were Lois McFarland, Emily Cary, Brenda Warneka, Bobbie Bennett, Pam Stevenson, Barbara and me. The group was pleased we are having a fall conference and several folks agreed to help with getting the word out. The group wanted to continue the APW group and is planning their next meeting, a luncheon, in Westminster Village in Scottsdale on September 14. Barbara Lacy will let you know more, later. Those in Central can put it on your calendar.
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- (photo by Brenda Kimsey Warneka)
Virginia Piper: That same after noon I attended the Virginia Piper Inaugural meeting of the #PhxLit serve : A collective space for creative writing community organizers to stay connected and communicate as they work towards common goals .
My goals were to network with the literary community; make them aware of APW and the Payson Book Festival. Those goals were met. I have several more contacts who are interested in APW, our fall conference and the Payson Book Festival.
Bylaws: Now back to work on the draft of the Bylaws revision. When I accepted the job of President, my promise was to work to revitalize APW and that’s what I am spending my time doing. It’s exciting to meet active, former and new members.
See you at the Payson Book Festival July 20!
Keep Writing,
Marie A. Fasano
President, APW
