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October 2001 Page One |
Happy 15th Birthday to Usby Marsha WardDear Sisters, This month, American Night Writers Association celebrates an important milestone. In October, 1986, ANWA was born, so it is now 15 years old! It hardly seems possible! At that first meeting in the basement of the old Gilbert publish library, six LDS sisters met, some for the first time. What began as a shy gathering of women writers of the LDS faith--mostly strangers to each other--ended two hours later in unity and sisterhood. A phenomenon was underway. Thanks to the kindness of Craig Linford, we met at first for our monthly meetings in the break room at Deseret Book on Gilbert Road and Southern--not its present location, but across the street. Soon, we outgrew the spot, and since we often stood and talked for another hour in the parking lot when the store closed, we began to meet in members' homes. This pattern has worked very successfully through the years. Although at times it seemed like the fledgling organization would die, especially during the summer months, it has not only survived, but grown health and strong, and has a widespread influence among LDS women writers here and across the United States. Among its accomplishments, ANWA publishes a monthl newsletter, provides an email critique group for its members, and sponsors both a summer writing retreat in the mountains of eastern Arizona and a yearly writing conference in the fall. ANWA has grown and flourished because of you, the members. Everyone helps each other, whether it is critiquing a piece of poetry for a sister, or making soup for the conference. I hope to see continued growth and further assistance to hundreds more LDS women writers through many years to come. Love, Marsha Ward General Secretary-Treasurer and Founder American Night Writers Association |
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