Welcoming Big Changes for SDWG in 2017
By Elli Meeropol
2017 looms, and seven years after Straw Dog Writers Guild was conceived in Patricia Lee Lewis’ living room, we are poised for big changes. Two original members of the group, Jacqueline Sheehan and Patricia Lee Lewis, are stepping off the Steering Committee and moving to the SDWG Advisory Board. We are so grateful for their leadership and dedication, and do not plan to let them entirely off the hook.
Two big changes have already begun. Most exciting is our hiring first staff person for SDWG. After an exhaustive reviewing and interviewing process, we hired Laura Stone as the part-time Administrative Director. Laura started work on December 1. She has been getting acquainted with our mission, our members and committees, our website, and our plans for the future.
Laura has worked in the arts and nonprofit community for over 10 years, as a Program Coordinator and Youth Arts Program Manager. She is an experienced writing group facilitator, fundraiser, social media marketer, web designer, events planner. She has a strong passion for community building through the arts. She also writes and plays nature-inspired songs for children on her ukulele.
She recently received a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Marlboro College Graduate School. Laura is looking forward to meeting and working with SDWG members and is inspired and very thankful to be on board. She will be attending most Straw Dog events; please introduce yourself to her.
The second big change is that Straw Dog has joined Click Workspace in Northampton with a Community Membership for the organization and an individual membership for Laura. This gives us a home. We can use the meeting room for our second Saturday craft programs, the big downstairs space for larger gatherings, and conference rooms for smaller meetings, as necessary. Click is an exciting co-op working venue. Check it out at http://clickworkspace.org.
Change can be unsettling but it offers huge opportunity for growth. Please join me in welcoming Laura, exploring Click (you can sign up for their community newsletter to hear about the wonderful programs offered there), and adding your talents and energy to our local literary arts organization.