Who's Who on the Boston Chapter Steering Committee, 2008-2010
Barbara Beckwith: My goals for 2008-2009: 1) organize career-building workshops, subgroups, and social-networking, 2) connect members with each other and with writers' resources, 3) raise the union's visibility in the writing community and in the public. 4) keep it real; keep it fun. I am a journalist and essayist. My work has appeared in many newspapers, magazines, and anthologies. I'm now watching paying markets shrink, which makes the union even more important to writers' lives. I'm a long-term NWU activist: 3 terms on the national board, activist with NWU diversity committees, long-term Boston Steering Committee member.
Anne Brudevold: I have been an NWU member for over 15 years, first in the Western Mass chapter, and now in the Boston chapter. In Amherst and Northampton, I wrote review of the panels that were published in newsletters. I got an agent through the Union, and made numerous fruitful networking friends. We formed writing groups, and one novel group, in which, over the course of one year, each member finished a novel. The support of Union members was an invaluable asset for me. I would like to take NWU into the community, perhaps with workshops, or a radio show where I can mention the union. I have been on CCTV and can go again and tout the union. I am a fiction writer, poet and book reviewer, and am interested in writing factual pieces, mainly on wild edibles and ecology. I have published 2 books, have a novel and 2 chapbooks in the works, and run a press (www.edenwaterspress.com) which has produced one anthology; another is due out early next year: I would love to include more Union writers.
Charles Coe: As co-chair of the Boston Chapter Steering Committee, my main goals in the coming year are to help "mentor" NWU members who want to become more active in the local and to concentrate on expanding our membership base. I've been a NWU member for more than fifteen years and am in my ninth year as a Steering Committee member. I served for two years on the National Executive Board (since renamed the "National Executive Committee"). I'm one of the original three founders of the union's National Diversity Committee. Recently, I have helped to expand our collaborations with other area writing associations and broaden the range of professional development workshops and events available to members. As a freelance writer I write poetry, magazine feature articles and various kinds of work for hire. I work fulltime for the Massachusetts Cultural Council administering the grant programs that serve music and literature nonprofit organization.
E. Jeanne Harnois: I have been an active member of the Boston Steering Committee since 2004. I am a nonfiction freelance writer. I also do newspaper copyediting, am pursuing my masters, and am a teaching assistant. Since September 2006, I have been the national treasurer. I bring to that position skills and my commitment to helping this union be the powerful voice for freelance writers that I know it can be. I intend to continue my work at the chapter level to further the union's goals.
Stephen Holmes: I have served on the Steering Committee for several years, and I believe we've accomplished some good things. I am the Steering Committee's representative on the Massachusetts UAW CAP Council, which is their political action committee. My goal is to continue our good work.
Chris Kenneally: As a current member of the Steering Committee, I want to build on continuing efforts to make more effective and more efficient the local's various activities. I especially want to help writers of all genres work toward growing the value of professional writing in the minds of readers and publishers. I believe the National Writers Union and the Boston chapter can build for writers an important forum enabling open discussion with editors, agents and others from the media industry.
Barbara Mende: I've been active in the Boston chapter since 1994, much of that time on the Steering Committee. I've done grievance and contract advice almost that long, and now coordinate the Grievance and Contract Division assignments. I'm a longtime delegate and am now on the NEC, where I've learned that the most exciting work in the NWU is being done at the chapter level and that Boston is one of the most active chapters. I hope to help keep it that way. I write about business, careers, computers, and other humorous subjects.
Shirley Moskow: The NWU is at an important juncture: my historical memory and years of experience can be helpful in influencing the critical decisions we'll be called upon to consider. I also want to help to make the way easier for book authors and other freelancers. I've begun contacting bookstores to see how we can better work with them to sell our books. Lately, our chapter has provided conferences with successful programs. I'd like to build on that by establishing a speakers' bureau to give our members greater visibility.
Jason Pramas: As a long-time local labor and community organizer, as a journalist and social media specialist, and as the chapter staffer for 6 years from 1992-1998, I think I have a lot of relevant skills to offer the union in what are clearly difficult times. I'd like to do my bit to help us thrive again, and the Steering Committee seems to be the best place to do that.
Wayne Soini: I'm interested in NWU Boston chapter's sending out roots more into the community of non-members. The chapter already sponsors a twice-monthly workshop at the Boston Public Library, open to the public, that I facilitate. We hope to extend that start in 2009!
Lucy Sutherland: I have been a member for two years. In that time I have helped to update and expand a local and national membership directory. As the project grew, a number of members told me the list was not only a useful resource, but also fostered a sense of cohesiveness and connection. As a Steering Committee member, I want to raise the profile of the NWU among writers in their 20s and 30s. This is a rapidly growing group looking for mentorship and support. As a 39-year-old business journalist with experience both as a staff writer at two Boston area dailies and a freelancer, I believe I can help the UWU take advantage of this great and pressing opportunity.
Maria Termini: I like to write and have a good time with people that love to write. I like to dance and organize parties and events. I also believe that together as a union we can work for and win fair practice in our quest to survive by our talent and justice in the larger world, especially in seeking universal single payer health care for all. Why grumble alone and complain when as a union you can have a strong voice.
