They're Putting Me To Work
By patgalca
@patgalca (18481)
Orangeville, Ontario
January 24, 2016 6:27pm CST
I am a member of a local writing group. Actually, I'm the secretary which in reality means I run the group. I set the schedule. I unlock the door. I send out reminder emails. I run the Twitter and Facebook pages.
At today's meeting our founding member said someone had complained to her that our blog was not up-to-date. Since most members of the group are having difficulty with the blog they are going to just send stuff to me for me to post. Well, yeah, I volunteered but if no one posts anything the blog will die. We need to keep the blog active and up-to-date... and that's my job.
So I came home from the meeting today and made two posts - one a funny one welcoming the group into the new year (with pictures), and the other a synopsis of today's meeting.
If you want to check it out it's Headwaters Writers' Guild on Blogspot. I'll post a link if that is not enough information.
7 people like this
8 responses
@softbabe44 (5815)
• Vancouver, Washington
25 Jan 16
Ah, I can see that it understanding how it works being able to know what they want and how they want it to be proud of what you are asked to do it.
2 people like this
@patgalca (18481)
• Orangeville, Ontario
25 Jan 16
I am proud but I did inform them a couple of years ago that I was getting frustrated and almost quit. They got me a lovely Christmas gift at the time, wrote some kind words in the card, and began to show more appreciation for what I do "because no one else wants to do it".
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5815)
• Vancouver, Washington
27 Jan 16
@patgalca Well you said what you had to say and were honest and it worked out great.
@snowy22315 (208948)
• United States
25 Jan 16
Secretaries always bear the brunt of responsibility it seems to me.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169477)
• United States
28 Jan 16
It sounds like a lot of responsibility.
1 person likes this
@sherryericha (1806)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
25 Jan 16
I miss being in a writers group, good luck keeping yours going.
@patgalca (18481)
• Orangeville, Ontario
25 Jan 16
It's not going anywhere. We keep getting new members because we're the only group in the area. We won't turn anyone away. One member begged us not to put a cap on the members because she wouldn't have 6 books published if she hadn't joined the group. Fortunately for us, I guess, not everyone chooses to stay with the group. We can have anywhere from 5 to 15 people at one meeting.
1 person likes this
@sherryericha (1806)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
25 Jan 16
@patgalca. That is great, and that many books published, Wow
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
25 Jan 16
I've belonged to several writer's groups over the years. I was local chapter secretary and later the national vice president of the group (it was based in New York City). Then our local chapter decided they no longer wanted to be affiliated with the national group. After that the group fell apart. I started a group that met for many years but then it faded away.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18481)
• Orangeville, Ontario
25 Jan 16
We are in a town of 26,000 people but our group covers the whole region of different cities and towns (mostly towns). We are very well known as a writing group. The library knows of us and involves us in author/writing/literacy events. The local independent book store is also on our bandwagon and advises people about our group and doesn't hesitate to hold book launches for our members when they get published. And we are so active on Twitter and Facebook. I really don't see other writing groups on those social media sites.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18481)
• Orangeville, Ontario
26 Jan 16
@RichardMeister We make time for everyone to read. We don't have to be out of the hall by a certain time. We start at 1:30pm on Sunday and end anywhere from 3-4pm.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
26 Jan 16
@patgalca The groups I was in was long before Twitter and Facebook. I now belong to a small group where we don't want so many that everyone doesn't have time to read. I've been in groups so big that there was always someone who went home a bit unhappy because there wasn't time for the person to read their work and have it critiqued.
