Welcome to the first newsletter from your new WCBA Committee.
At the AGM on 17 August 2009 at Turnbull House, our Association convenor, the irrepressible and multi-talented Fifi Colston stood down after a highly successful and productive three year term. Warm thanks to Fifi for her contribution during this time. Her creative energy and ability is evident in a number of roles as author, illustrator, comedienne, TV presenter, crafts person and events organiser and we have been fortunate to have her on board. Fifi will remain on the committee where her talents will continue to be put to good use.
Highlights from the Convenor’s report for 2008 can be read on our blog at http://www.the-wcba.blogspot.com
Who is your WCBA Committee?
Convenor: Louise Davies
Community co-ordinator, parent and sporadic poet and song writer. Member of WCBA committee since 2000 and past co-convenor. Storylines festival committee member for 3 years.
Secretary/ membership: Johanna Knox
Freelance writer, editor, researcher, and reviewer who home schools her two children. Guest on Radio New Zealand's This Way Up, chatting monthly about wild food foraging.
Treasurer: Pippa Werry
Published writer, contributor to School Journal and other educational
publishers, WCBA treasurer
publishers, WCBA treasurer
Maureen Crisp
Teacher, parent and published writer. Ten years as WCBA committee member- three as Convenor. Organiser of Spinning Gold conference.
Fifi Colston
Author, illustrator, poet, occasional columnist and multiple Wearable Arts finalist. Regular arts and crafts presenter on the Good Morning show on TV1. Past Convener of WCBA and a Wellington committee member for the Storylines Festival. Judge for the NZPost Children’s’ Book awards in 2008.Co-organiser of the Spinning Gold Conference 2009.
Fleur Beale
Former teacher Fleur Beale has written over twenty novels for teenagers. She has won several awards, the latest being The 2009 Esther Glen Award for her popular young adult novel Juno of Taris (Random House). A member of the Writers in Schools programme.
Margaret Cahill
Wellington editor with a passionate interest in children's writing and publishing. Past convenor of the WCBA.
Holly Gooch
Fledgling writer, mum and teacher
Adele Jackson
Professional designer, illustrator and event coordinator. Wellington Co-ordinator for the Storylines Festival in 2008 and 2009. Member of the organizing committee for the Spinning Gold Conference.
Marie Murdoch
Ex schoolteacher. Librarian for WCC at Kilbirnie for 10 years and Librarian at Marsden Collegiate School for Girls for 5 years. A storyteller for 9 years. Takes a story and music session at The Children's Bookshop every Friday morning.
Jenni Carlton
Fledgling writer with a creative background in craft and design.
Ruth and John McIntyre
Owners of the award winning Children’s Bookshop in Kilbirnie. John has a regular Friday slot as a reviewer of children’s books on Radio New Zealand’s “Nine to Noon Show”.
Spinning Gold conference
This marvellous event wove its magic over three days in Wellington from 18-20th September. A dedicated team led by Maureen Crisp and Fifi Colston organised what was the first ever National Conference for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in New Zealand. The conference venue, historic Capital House located in the heights of Newtown provided an aptly quirky and creative ambience for the event.
A sell-out from minutes after registrations went on sale, the conference proved to be an overwhelming success.
It featured 23 key note speakers, workshop presenters and panellists and representatives from all of the major New Zealand publishing companies. More information about the conference as well as some of the marvellous pictures taken during the weekend can be seen on the Spinning Gold Blog: www.spinninggold09.blogspot.com .
Conference highlights listed in the Conference Report based on participants’ feedback included presentations by Kate De Goldi, Martin Baynton, Lawrence Green, Fleur Beale and Dylan Owen.
Several favourable mentions were also made about
* the workshops, in particular the Finish IT workshop
* Pitch slams
* Hands on stuff
* Publishers’ panel
* Flexibility/vibe
We are already looking forward to the next conference in a year or two which Auckland delegates have kindly offered to host.
Jack Lasenby Award
The WCBA created and sponsored this award named after our Patron, which is made to the winners of a biennial competition for writers for children and for children who write in the Wellington region.
This year the award was for Years 7 and 8 students. Results have just been announced by our judges, Eirlys Hunter, Fifi Colston and Maureen Crisp.
The winner is…. Raphael Kidman, aged 12 who is a year 7 student at Scots College. His story entitled “The Big Hairy Monster” impressed the judges with its humour, use of language and reference to several Wellington icons. Raphael will receive his trophy, certificate and a cheque from the WCBA for $200 at the end of term Prize- giving on Tuesday 1 December. His school will also receive a set of books from Longacre Press. His famous grandmother, Dame Fiona Kidman, must be very proud. Writing is obviously in the family genes! For more details see our Blog.
Christmas ‘Kids’ Lit’ Quiz night for adults at the Southern Cross.
Thursday 3 December 7.30pm.
This popular annual event for adult aficionados of Children’s literature will again be held at the Southern Cross Hotel’s Lodge room this year. Dylan Owen will preside as Quizmaster. Tickets are $10.00 (available at the door) and include delicious platters of nibbles. Drinks available at the bar. Fabulous prizes for the winning team and spot prizes and raffles will add to the excitement.
WCBA becoming an Incorporated Society
At present the WCBA is a not-for-profit organisation, but not an incorporated society. Some of you may already belong to other organisations that are incorporated. There are a number of advantages, such as:
1) The members of an incorporated society are not responsible for any of the society's debts
2) It can sometimes be easier to get funding grants if you can show that you are incorporated.
3) You can apply for an income tax exemption from the IRD.
About ten years ago, a draft WCBA constitution was drawn up and attempts were made to apply for incorporated status. This wasn't quite carried through so this year we have decided to have another attempt.
We talked about this at our March meeting, and the new draft constitution was discussed at our AGM and subsequently voted on and passed. However, we still need to show that a majority of our members have approved it.
So - here is what you can do to help: please could you take a few minutes to email Pippa Werry, our Treasurer who will send you a copy of the draft constitution. (werry@paradise.net.nz) Copies will also be available at the Christmas quiz night for you to uplift. If you are happy with it, could you take another very short moment to email us at our WCBA email address: the.wcba@gmail.com
Suggested wording is: ‘I have read and approve the proposed WCBA draft constitution.’ and please include your name and address.
(If you were at the AGM and signed the sheet, you don't need to reply again.)
Being an Incorporated Society doesn’t mean we need to get audited accounts, because we haven't specified that in the constitution.
The clauses in the constitution are quite general. They describe what we can do, not what we have to do every year.
We would really appreciate your help, so please do take the time to reply!
Coming events for 2010
Events on the table for the first quarter of next year include a Story telling workshop and an authors’ panel discussion as well as some exciting Book launches.
The WCBA committee looks forward to hosting more Children’s Book events for Wellington members and the public next year. The cost of postage is a concern and where possible we would like to keep members informed of events by e-mail and through our blog. This is proving extremely useful and we have created links with other literary/book sites as a free alternative to a website. If you, as a member have a book launch or children’s book related news you would like to share with the wider community, please let us know and we will post it on the blog for you. If you have a blog yourself, we can link it to ours too.
How to find us
We look forward to seeing you at one of our events in the near future. Do email us if you have suggestions, ideas or queries about Children’s Literature and we will be delighted to discuss them with you.
In the meantime keep reading and writing when you can!
Best wishes to all for the festive season!
Louise Davies
Convenor
WCBA
No comments:
Post a Comment