My Nonprofit Reviews

I'm on the board as Editor of two publications; PAWA Quarterly and Contrasts (the latter, a themed anthology of members' writings.) The Quarterly consists of some short news items including announcement of members books being published, but the major portion are stories, memoirs and poetry, and even art work of membership authorship.

The Quarterly started as an 8 page work, and moved up to its current 20 pages around 2004-5; in a 11x17 inch folded and stapled format (will likely stay at that level.) Contrasts has consisted of more than 60 pages and up to 134 pages, 6x9 trade paper format, produced as a paper bound book by the Espresso Book Machine. The early anthologies (some still available) were originally a 6x9 (8.5x11) folded and stapled booklets.

The organization has been producing the Quarterly from 1999, and around 2003 gained 501(c)3 status. PAWA also publishes an anthology which has been published sometimes annually, sometimes semi-annually. There have been 17 of these, with the last three under the single title "Contrasts" (with themes, a.) apples and oranges, b.) guilt or innocence, and c.) more or less. Since last fall both publications are now part of the EBSCOhost databases of full-text digital publications marketed to libraries world-wide. We currently distribute print copies to members and/or subscribers to 6 states and Canada.

PAWA maintains some 11 critique groups; Poetry Jam, Fiction, Scriptwriting, Creative writing, and a number of groups not concentrating on subject as much on each members works. Works appearing in our publications generally have gone through the critique groups before being accepted for publication.

We have a number of missions, but mainly that of encouraging writers to complete there work and get it published. our tag line is : "a gathering of aspiring and accomplished authors."

We have produced fiction contests for middle school students, producing a special issue of our quarterly publication with the winning stories, and our members volunteer to act as judges annually for one of our Friends of the Library program for 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders writing and poetry contests. More recently we developed a full-day workshop on Publishing. The $25 charge paid for venue and lunch and refreshment throughout the day...otherwise I volunteered my time as a fund raising effort for our treasury. We had 10 participants in a very small room.

We have many published authors, and journalists; many retired, a poet Laurette, and other writers of poetry. Our Poetry Jam program in partnership with our Enumclaw, WA Arts Alive! group produced three publications of poems from the groups readings over three years...using some of the local artist's paintings and drawings within and on the covers.

PAWA is most active in trying to help writers/authors/members publish their work. We've had some difficulty with venues for our Quarterly meetings both for scheduling and for having enough space. Dues and payments for anthologies cover most expenses which include our web master, speakers, venues, and refreshments if required.

You can see a list of former speakers and much more information at our web site:
http://plateauareawriters.org/ ...flash needs to be turned on.

Self-publishing has become an exciting part for our authors endeavors and has sparked even more good writing. We are all excited with what we are accomplishing and we hope to be able to sustain our momentum with our small treasury.

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