The City of Euless has been asked to close all non-essential facilities due to the electrical blackouts caused by the ice storm. This means the Ruth Millican Center may not have lights or heat. The Board of Directors has decided to cancel the Wednesday, February 2, meeting of the DFW Writers' Workshop. Please do not attend, since the building's doors will be locked and the read-and-critique sessions will not be held.

As long as the weather permits, the Workshop will reopen for business next Wednesday, February 9.

With North Texas continuing to have winter weather advisories, the question has been asked if the DFW Writers' Workshop will be open this week, or not. As best as anyone can remember, DFWWW has closed only once in its 34-year history and that time was due to inclement weather.

Before you start your commute, please check this blog, your email, Facebook, or Twitter for an update. The final decision will be made around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 2. While we hope to continue the tradition by keeping the doors open for our famous read-and-critique sessions, everyone's safety takes priority.

Again, subarctic temperatures (at least, it felt like it for Texas) failed to chase away a large crowd that included two new members and two visitors at the January 19 meeting of the Workshop.

In the news, Candace Havens announced two upcoming releases from Harlequin: She Who Dares, Wins due out March 22, and Truth and Dare on May 1. Dale Cain will be a featured poet at the next Austin Poetry Festival. Kate Cornell once again encouraged everyone to follow DFWWW on Twitter and Facebook. Larry Enmon advised that all positions for agent/editor assistants have been filled, but backup wranglers are needed.

Finally, the 2011 DFW Writers' Conference is fast approaching. February 26 - 27 will be here soon, and everyone who hasn't already done so is encouraged to register.

Some of the coldest weather of the year couldn't keep a full house of dedicated DFWWW writers away from the January 12 meeting.

In the news, Kenneth Ingle signed the contract for his fifth book titled Who Killed the Killer? Rosemary Clement Moore will teach her famous "How to Pitch to an Agent" class this Saturday, January 15 at the North Texas Romance Writers meeting. KevinMD.com named Richard Young's blog a top site for 2010. Kate Cornell encouraged more members to join the social networking bandwagon. She says the Workshop's Facebook page has 31 friends (need more) and the Twitter account has 2000 followers (that's more like it). Conference chairperson Jeff Posey asked 2011 DFW Writers' Conference attendees to send their query letters for the Gong Show. President Donna Lasko reminded all DFWWW members who have registered that they need to volunteer a few hours during the conference. Larry Enmon advised there will be a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on January 26 for all agent/editor assistants. If you signed up to help wrangle our special guests, it's important you attend.

Finally, the Workshop celebrated A. Lee Martinez Appreciation Day (his birthday?) with delicious cake enjoyed by many.

It was a change of the guard at the January 5 meeting of the Workshop (well, almost, two members of the former Board ran for re-election) as a new Board of Directors was seated. They are:

Donna Lasko, President

Carolyn Williamson, 1^st Vice President

Kate Cornell, 2^nd Vice President

Paul Lamarre, Treasurer

Kyle White, Secretary

Ron Soule, Director

David Whiteman, Director

 

Former President Stephen Manning presented outgoing President Russell Connor with a plaque to commemorate his two years of service. Russell gave gift cards to the 2010 Board in recognition of their service; and to Harry Hall for opening the building each week, Eric Dixon for consistently volunteering to monitor a read-and-critique session, and to Chris Moore for serving on the 2009 Board.

In other news, Kate Cornell advised that she now handles the social networking for DFWWW. People can stay current about Workshop events on Twitter, or our Facebook fan page. Rosemary Clement Moore announced the release of her Young Adult novel The Splendor Falls on January 11 in paperback. Larry Enmon cautioned that only five spots remain for agent assistant volunteers. Interested members should see him to sign up now. Jeff Posey warned that the 2011 DFW Writers' Conference is fast approaching and people should register today before it's too late. Finally, please keep member Michelle O'neal in your thoughts as she fights a life threatening medical condition.