BCATW December 2012 BUZZ

Message from the President, Rick Millikan

As newly elected interim president, I’d like to first wish you multitudinous HAPPY, HEALTHY HOLIDAYS!

And on the behalf of all members, I want to thank our past Board and the many active members, who maintain and continue to build our Association.

For the last two years president Baila took the bull by the horns and we benefitted from many fine symposiums! And thanks too Baila for continuing as our interim treasurer! This was because our hard working, long-term treasurer Robert Scheer moved to Calgary! A BIG STAMPEDE OF THANKS to Robert for his many years service beyond the call of duty! As V.P., Chris continued contributing good ideas and helped stage our inspiring events. Let’s give continual thanks to our pair of Communication Directors Karoline and Darlene for e-delivering the Buzz! Yet, let’s also remember that its present value and future also relies on membership contributions! Let’s all endeavor to fill our e-newsletters with submissions of entertaining and informative views. And kudos to our Secretary Ruth Kozak, besides her noteworthy work, has revived “Beers With Peers.” These Buzzed events always bear bubbly encouragement and hop up supportive camaraderie …

Secondly I ask for all your help in what’s clearly in our mutual interest:

After we finish applauding Karoline and Mari for setting up our splendid new internet site, we must realize this beautiful new BCATW home needs all our attention re furnishings! Yes, everyone needs to furnish profiles!

Why is your profile important? Assignments, press trips and other opportunities may be based on your presence at this site. You never know! A well-paid assignment plus a speaking engagement resulted from our early write-up on the old site. And of course your profile gives more clout to the website and thus our association… So please, for your sake and ours, add and hot link your profile. If you’ve forgotten how, review our onsite Blog page… As they kindly advised Chris and me on our successful page, Mari and Karoline are also ready to help you.

And would you consider representing our Association at writers’ events? Many of you have written travel books! Thus, this could be an opportunity for you to sell your travel publications as well as our association. Having personal experience, I know you’ll sell books as well as stir interest in the BCATW. This often leads to new members, which are needed to reinvigorate our association!

With your help we could be represented again at WOTS, Surrey Writers’ Conference and other writer events. Is there someone who would lead us in this venture? If inspired to coordinate or simply participate in this enterprise, contact me at millikan@nullaxion.net or 596-5422.

Your increased BCATW role could well involve a Board position! As you can see my presidency and Baila’s treasurer position are restricted to one-year terms. Such leadership service will enhance your life resume…and provide a lot of satisfaction and an array of rewarding opportunities.

Incidentally, you might like to check out my BCATW message as your recycled Prez. As you’ll see, I tried to more fully promote our association. Know I’m open to compliments…and critical input! If interested in the Prez page, coming on Board, or other association matters, I’d appreciate your e- note or call!

BCATW Biz

As your $48 annual fees are due January 1st, please send a cheque made out to “BC Association of Travel Writers” and mail this to me Baila Lazurus, as BCATW treasurer. Some members will need to gather up the every two-year requirement of tear sheets.

Baila Lazarus
BC Association of Travel Writers 1433 East 1st Avenue, Vancouver BC V5N 1A4

News from Members

Julie H. Ferguson got away from it all in November spending three weeks on a “real” vacation. She played golf, ate out, and shopped in Palm Springs, well away from the wet coast’s gloom. After a year empty of working travel, she is excitedly packing her car with camera gear, oilskins, and a big umbrella for three days of bald eagle watching at Pretty Estate Resort. (This is the second time they have invited her.) Julie is anticipating a boat safari on the Harrison River with a biologist to get closer to the eagles. Next year promises to have many opportunities to write and photograph, starting in mid-April in the south Okanagan with wine tasting and early golf and maybe the Middle East in October. www.stampsinmypassport.blogspot.com

After a long drive over hills and dales Joei Carlton Hossack is safely tucked away at her winter resort in Yuma, Arizona. It’s warm and bright. Have a great winter everyone. She has already been booked for her first event when she gets home. On March 27th, 2013 from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. Joei has been invited to her first attempt at Story Telling at the George Mackie Library. www.joeicarlton.com

Jamie Ross got the good news from his publisher Dundurn that is book “Cottage Daze” is selling really well and is in its second printing. While the book features whimsical stories of cottage life, it also includes several travel adventures, or, more accurately, misadventures. Did I say what a great gift the book would make for Christmas? It is available at your favourite bookstore or online retailer. Jamie is happy to announce that “Still in a Daze at the Cottage” is in the works. In travel news, Bermuda Shorts and Pink Sand was recently published by TWT, and unwittingly, Jamie included a photo of his wife in a black bikini on the TWT site, a faux pas he is still trying to make up for … (What was he thinking?) Perhaps another trip to a hotspot will help him suck up. In the first quarter of 2013, stories on following in the footsteps of Sherlock Holmes in Switzerland and on following in the footsteps of Mark Twain in Bermuda will be published with TWT – the latter story including a photo of James by the pool in a Speedo … Not!

Patti Shales Lefkos has had another article published in the travel section of the San Francisco Chronicle. This one is entitled Five Places Where Harmonicas Blow You Away. She is also taking a memoir writing course at Okanagan College in Vernon to improve her travel memoir writing.