A guest post by Karen Lewis, Conference Director
 Karen Lewis is the Director of the 2015 Mendocino Coast Writers Conference. Karen first attended MCWC as a student in 1995 and earned her MFA at Antioch-Los Angeles. An essay “Never, Now, and Always” is forthcoming in the anthology Mothering Through the Darkness (HerStories, 2015).  | First, rely on 25 years of organizational history. The conference has evolved from a casual one-day affair into a 3-day program that attracts writers from near and far. Next, enlist the talents of twelve volunteer board members who take responsibility for everything planned and a few surprises that always pop up. In 2015, we’re inviting fifteen fabulous faculty members, most of them from out of the area. Remember to carefully blend in a dozen local hosts who graciously open their ocean-oriented homes to visiting faculty. Confer with superstar volunteers, who help set up conference sites, organize in-kind donations, and manage our relationship with Dominican University in order to offer CEUs to classroom teachers. Remember that writers come in all varieties; they’re what makes each conference unique. Mix poets with novelists, add plenty who aren’t sure what they’re writing but want to explore, and shake these up with memoirists, short story writers, and those who are in the midst of a script or two. Sizzle with friendliness and the desire to learn. Splash liberally with qualities of age, youth, kindness, courage, and excitement. Find the perfect place to gather. That would be College of the Redwoods, our central campus, now also known as the Mendocino College Coastal Campus. To spice it up, two social events happen off campus. Each site requires a large variety of paperwork, and a cadre of volunteers to set up, clean up, and make sure that everyone stays cool in the midst of creative “tossing”. As Director, I’ve been discovering the pleasures of working closely with the entire team, and meeting faculty members and most students in cyberspace. With all the pieces in place, count down days until August 6-8, when the MCWC “instant” community comes together in real time/space. Creative minds will gather, learn, and savor new alchemy and opportunities. It’s important to keep track of details each day, conversing with contest judges, updating the online registration system and social media, touching bases with Gallery Bookshop, inviting donors to attend receptions, and investigating the mystery of the missing picnic tables. Remember to set the timer: Last call for conference registration: July 30. www.mcwc.org. All are invited to enroll! The Mendocino Coast Writers Conference: connecting writers to community for 26 years. TO COMMENT, click on "Comments" above or below the post, then fill in the form, or click on "Reply" of another comment to add to that comment. SHARE on your Facebook or Twitter, hit the buttons: |
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