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February 23, 2012: Bulletin #2.4 Show Me the Money
A new PWAC professional development resource
"Do what you love and the money will come." That's what we've always been told but for some writers, the money hasn't come, at least not in a sustainable stream.
That's where we hope a new PWAC professional development blog, "Show Me the Money," can help. Blog creators Heidi Turner and Carla Furlong have a mission: to seek out and explore new ways to make money. To go where (too) few freelances have boldly gone before - into the minds of our seasoned colleagues to gain concrete how-do-you-really-do-it tips to being successful freelance writers.
A "making real money" question will be put to a panel of successful freelancers each post. We hope their actionable advice can help increase your income and give you solid business development ideas.
Visit the blog at www.pwacprofessionaldevelopment.wordpress.com to read the inaugural post and find out more about what our successful freelance writers have to say.
Carla and Heidi are also seeking out topic suggestions and panelists (PWACers and non-PWACers welcome) for future posts. Please support their efforts by emailing info@heiditurner.ca and be prepared to boldly explore our newest PD offering.
February 23, 2012: Bulletin #2.3 Update from your PWAC President
Your PWAC board and staff recently completed three days of important meetings and planning in Toronto. I'm going to share the key decisions and initiatives with you, and I encourage you to share your thoughts and feedback with me, or with your regional director. Their contact information is listed here.
Writers.ca
As mentioned in my letter from last week (Bulletin #2.2), we recently received a grant from Canadian Heritage that enables us to launch the new Writers.ca 2.0 service in time for what promises to be a great MagNet conference in Toronto June 5 to 8. We have some conference details online here, with lots more to come.
This enhanced service will provide you with a powerful new online profile, and with the ability to pitch stories and negotiate terms with Canadian publishers and corporate and government clients. On top of that, the social networking capabilities of the new service will enable PWAC members to easily and securely connect and communicate. You can view three very preliminary online demos of the service here, here and here.
We are shaping the service and see it as a way to attract new members and build better partnerships with publishers. I'll keep you updated on its progress.
AGM Delegate Subsidy
We are offering the highest delegate subsidy in recent memory (perhaps ever). This means that those elected to represent your chapter as delegates at the our Annual General Meeting during MagNet2012 will pay a maximum of $175 for direct travel costs (plane, train etc.) Flying from Vancouver, Lethbridge, Thunder Bay or Moncton? PWAC will reimburse all direct travel costs above $175.
We do this to encourage the participation of delegates from across the country. Better representation at the AGM means a more representative and democratic PWAC. Your most affordable option for attending our National Conference and AGM at MagNet 2012 is to be elected as a delegate for your region.
As a delegate, you will be responsible for attending your regional meeting, the AGM and a few other official PWAC events. In return we cover a significant portion of your travel costs. Please speak with your chapter president and regional director (and do so before making your travel plans) if you would like to be a delegate.
Regional Events
At last year's AGM, delegates voted in favour of a motion to hold our National Conference and AGM in conjunction with MagNet in 2012, 2013 and 2014. This provides our organization with a fantastic annual event held in conjunction with partners who also provide significant services and subsidize our participation. It allows PWAC to allocate our resources to deliver improved member benefits and focus on new initiatives.
One benefit we are committed to delivering is regional events. Holding our conference in Toronto for the next three years means it's important that we foster a sense of regional cohesion, and provide networking and professional development opportunities in different parts of the country. PWAC National also needs to find new ways to support local chapters, the lifeblood of this organization.
We spent time this weekend working on a strategy to support regional events by offering funding and other resources to make them successful. We are in the process of drafting criteria that will enable chapters to apply for regional event funding. The board aims to establish the funding framework for regional events prior to the AGM, and for us to fund at least one new regional event in 2012-13. If you want your chapter/region to host one, I encourage you to speak with your chapter executive and your regional director.
Strategic Planning
PWAC received grants in recent years to help us prepare and deliver a strategic plan for the organization. This process took a big step forward on Friday, when your board, PWAC staff, Toronto Chapter President Jaclyn Law and former PWAC executive director John Degen worked with two consultants to set priorities and a vision for who we are and where we want to be in three years. I also want to thank Kathe Lieber and Ann Douglas for participating in telephone interviews with our consultants prior to the meeting.
This process will continue over the coming months and will culminate in a strategic plan in September. As a sneak peek of what we covered, let me say that we all agreed it's important for PWAC to take a major role in helping freelance writers adapt to and embrace new technology and markets, in developing leading edge professional development, and for us to be a leader in bringing together our sister writing and publishing organizations to raise standards, advocate for writers and influence policy.
Self-Publishing/Independent Publishing
At our September meeting, the board discussed the criteria that could be put in place to enable self-published/independently published authors to join our organization.
It's important that we embrace this new and flourishing sector of the writing and publishing world. The stigma surrounding self-publishing is no longer fair or accurate. Many high quality self-published works are being brought to market, and they are finding success in print and electronic formats. We want these high quality authors to be part of PWAC.
With that in mind, we discussed adapting membership criteria to include a way for self-published authors to become part of the PWAC family without requiring additional writing samples. We came up with draft criteria and are now circulating them among members who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in self-publishing. We hope to be able to welcome self-published authors as part of the ongoing membership drive. Speaking of which?
Membership Campaign
I want to remind all of your again of our special membership offer available from now until March 31; see the details here. Existing members receive $30 off next year?s dues for each new member you bring in. Recruit 8 new members and you get a free membership! We?re offering new and returning members the opportunity to receive 18 months of membership for the price of 12. That's savings of well over $100.
On top of that, all new members are entered in a draw to win a full MagNet 2012 conference package, and a credit for one free conference workshop. Not to be left out, we?ll also give you an entry in a draw for a separate MagNet 2012 package for each member you recruit.
I'll also mention we have a donation campaign running that has so far raised close to $5,000 for our organization. In particular, if you received a Heather Robertson settlement cheque or a PAYBACK payment, we hope you?ll donate a portion to PWAC. Remember that our organization played a major role in funding the Robertson case and founding Access Copyright.
As you can see, your board and staff are working hard on your behalf. I want to thank this year's board and our dedicated staff for such a productive and enjoyable weekend. It's a pleasure to work with such a talented and committed group.
Thank you for your confidence in your board and staff, your feedback, and your commitment to PWAC.
Best regards,
Craig Silverman,
PWAC President
February 13, 2012: Bulletin #2.2 An important message from your PWAC President
I hope 2012 is shaping up to be a rewarding, enriching year that's filled with the kind of work you love to do. This is an important update about our organization, so I ask that you take a moment to read through this message in its entirety.
First, we are excited to see as many of you as possible at our National Conference and Annual General Meeting being held in Toronto June 5 to 8 in conjunction with the MagNet publishing conference. A detailed conference package will be arriving in your mailbox soon. It includes an overview of workshops, social events and other opportunities. We have also provided a preview of workshops in the members only section of our website, which you can access here.
As for this update, we have one very good piece of news to share, and we are asking you to pitch in and help us to turn good news into great news.
First, the good news: at the end of last week we received word from the Department of Canadian Heritage that they have approved a $70,000 grant that will enable us to complete the new Writers.ca 2.0. This means we will be ready to launch the new service for members at our Annual General Meeting in June. As you know, Writers.ca 2.0 is not just a new and improved database to help employers find a freelance writer. It is an electronic marketplace that will connect Canada's freelance writers with publishers and clients enable you to pitch, negotiate and sell new and existing works.
We have been waiting for news about the grant application for a long time (more on that in a second). This good news means PWAC is about to deliver a significant new benefit to our members. I want to recognize the work of executive director Sandy Crawley who brought forward this idea and has worked tirelessly to secure the funding.
We have another success to share: last week we received approval for a grant to help fund the completion of the strategic planning process PWAC began two years ago. So that's close to $80,000 in grant funds in one week. It's a great boost to our priorities as an organization.
But here's the thing: the reality is we had expected to receive these grants last summer and to have launched Writers.ca 2.0 last fall.This delay has produced significantly lower revenues. To meet this challenge, I am asking us to come together and set PWAC up for a great 2012-13. We have two ways you can get involved. To encourage your participation, we've also sweetened the pot with rewards for you.
Two Ways To Help
1. Help us recruit new members and bring former PWACers back into the fold.
We are today announcing a special offer for new and returning members in addition to a prize package for you: Current members will receive a $30 credit towards your next membership for each member they bring in. That means a free 2012-13 membership if you recruit 8 members. On top of that, each referral will provide you with one entry into a draw to win a free full MagNet 2012 package that includes four workshops, social events and meals. The more members you recruit, the more entries you get in the MagNet draw.
Next, all new and returning professional and associate level members who join between now and March 31st, 2012 will receive 18 months of membership for the price of 12. That means anyone joining by the deadline will be paid in full from now until the end of August 2013. That's a saving of $120, and they will receive the generous discount available to PWAC members for MagNet 2012.
All new and returning members will also receive a credit for one free professional development workshop at MagNet 2012, and they will also be entered into a separate draw to win a free full MagNet 2012 package.
We've set a goal of hitting 700 members for the first time in our history. We can only get there if you help by getting in touch with friends who used to be in PWAC, and by contacting writers you think should join up. Remember, if you're currently a member and you bring in 8 members, you get a free membership, plus 8 chances to win a free pass to MagNet 2012.
2. Make a charitable, tax-deductable donation to PWAC.
We're asking those of you who have benefitted from the Heather Robertson settlement and from the Access Copyright PAYBACK program? and those of you who can afford it ? to make a tax deductable donation to PWAC.
Staff and the board have already kicked off the campaign by donating a total of $4,000. Now it's your turn. We've set a goal of hitting $10,000 in donations. We need you to open your pocketbook and help us get there. Remember that donations of $25 or more are tax deductable. Help PWAC and help yourself come tax time. Please click on Canada Helps and enter PWAC in the "I want to give to" box.
We are asking for any and all support you can provide. PWAC has never been rich, but what we've lacked on the ledger we've more than made up for with our collective voice and dedication to supporting each other and this organization.
Please contact me, your regional director, or staff if you have any additional questions. Contact info for staff and the entire board is here.
Finally, I promise to provide regular updates on the progress of the above initiatives in order to celebrate our success and keep you informed about major initiatives.
Best regards,
Craig Silverman
PWAC President
silvermancraig@gmail.com
February 02, 2012: Bulletin #2.1 ERDC Notice
To members of the class action concerning the copyrights of the Gazette's freelancers. Please view the terms of the settlement package by clicking here for the English version, or here for the French version.
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