BCATW Constitution Revisions
Baila Lazarus
Vice-President
As you may know by now, we will be making revisions to the BCATW constitution regarding membership requirements. These revisions will affect what you will have to provide to join or remain a member of the organization. We’re taking this on to make the requirements clearer and easier to track, as well as to allow for new media such as bloggers, videographers, etc.
We’re looking for just a few members interested in taking part in this committee. There are still a couple of spots left for those interested in having a say on membership requirements. We will meet at some point in August, with some discussion by email. The changes need to be completed and sent to membership by October and then presented for a vote at our AGM in November.
If you’re interested in taking part, please email baila@nullshaw.ca.
– Baila Lazarus, BCATW Vice President
BCATW Member News
Roberta Staley returned from Afghanistan following one month shooting her documentary Mightier Than the Sword, about Afghan female journalists and filmmakers and their impact on gender perceptions and gender equality. The documentary features three young Afghan women who are striving to find and articulate their voice in this deeply conservative society.
She was in Afghanistan during Ramadan —Islam’s holiest month — so food wasn’t available during the day. But her Afghan crew was fantastic — even though they neither drank nor ate from sunrise to sunset. The fears of Afghans: that security would decline as coalition forces withdrew, is unfortunately coming true. While she was there, the Taliban launched a brazen attack on Parliament that could have ended with the deaths of many MPs. Afghan forces showed their mettle by thwarting the assault. Vancouver filmmaker Jonas Quastel has agreed to take on editing duties, which means (she hopes) that the documentary will be ready for its first showing on International Women’s Day in March.
Ruth Kozak had a story about Worms Germany in the July 6 EuropeUpClose. Her Athens Guide ebook will soon be released by Hunter Publishing, USA. Ruth recently presented a successful Travel Writing Basics workshop at the downtown VPL to a large enthusiastic group including some BCATW members or associates and a lot of other interested would-be travel writers. Ruth will soon be heading off for Europe again with stops in London, Caerphilly Wales, Torreviejo and Malaga Spain and Greece. She hopes to visit BCATW member Darlene Foster while she is in Spain.
The Newton Senior Centre’s Writer’s Group awarded Margaret Deefholts first prize for her travel tale “Penguins on Parade” about the Fairy Penguins of Australia. Her article “A Jaunt Through Juneau” was published via Travel Writers’ Tales syndicate in the July editions of the Delta Optimist, the Vernon Morning Star and the Kamloops This Week newspapers. Read the story.
Doris Ecker’s two articles “Urban Angles” and “Vancouver Life” have just been published in print in The Essential Vancouver 2015/2016.
Irene Butler’s stories and her husband Rick’s photos were featured in Europe Up Close – “Tirana, Albania: From Despair to Hope,” “When in Kosovo Enjoy Pristina and Nearby Prizren”
What Travel Writers Say has added a banner link for Irene and Rick’s “Globaltrekkers” website and book “Trekking the Globe with Mostly Gentle Footsteps” on their Index Page for Canada (second down on right side). This same banner link is also on the Index Pages for other destination categories (Caribbean, Europe, Mexico/Central & South America, Middle East, Pacific Rim/Asia/Africa, U.S.A.) found under “Travel Articles” at the top of the What Travel Writers Say site.
Irene and Rick stepped “out of the box” with Senior Living Magazine. Instead of interviewing people along their own travel journeys they interviewed/wrote/photographed the dynamic life journey of a senior in their hood. Their story on Iceland appeared in yet another publication, Maptia.
Baila Lazarus took part in a FAM tour of Semiahmoo Resort, which has undergone more than $10 million in renovations over the past two years. Declared the Best of 2014 Readers’ Choice Award winner in the December issue of Seattle Magazine, the 212-room seaside resort features thousands of square feet of recreation space, include two indoor raquetball courts, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, outdoor swimming pool and full-size fitness facility (with running track), a full-service spa and several water-based activities. France-born culinary director Eric Truglas oversees a superb restaurant. Baila was surprised that general manager Mark Andrew actually lives in downtown Vancouver as the commute is an easy one hour door-to-door (with a Nexus card, that is). Many White Rock and other local residents frequent the hotel and spa finding it faster to get there than to commute to Vancouver! Indeed, this is the closest full-service resort outside of the Vancouver area.
Baila took advantage of her BCATW symposium prize of a Sewell’s Marina Sea Safari to tour Howe Sound, with close-up views of the marine life on Anvil Island, Pam Rocks and Bowen Island. The two-hour tour departed from Horseshoe Bay and was rich with harbour seals, cormorants and bald eagles. Not for the faint of heart, 30-foot rigid-bottom inflatable was put through some pretty sharp 360-degree manoeuvers, crashing through waves bringing spray up and over the delighted tourists.
BCATW Industry Member News
Bestway Tours & Safaris has partnered with the Jordan Tourism Board North America, and is offering travel writers the opportunity to go on one of three life-changing assignments. Whether you’re into experiencing a culinary journey, a cycling trip, or visiting some of the most famous film sites on earth, this is a chance you won’t want to miss out on. All info must be submitted no later than August 30th, and is available to all North American-based travel writers/bloggers.
Visit Bestway.com now to learn more.
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