WAG Enters the 21st Century

When the scheduled guest speaker for WAG’s June program had to cancel at the last minute, WAG Board Members Susie Baxter, Robin Ingle, Sharon Ketts, and Jani Sherrard filled the time slot with an informative program on WAG’s beautiful new website, WAG’s newly energized Facebook page, and our annual journal, Bacopa Literary Review.

Susie stated that WAG hired Raghu Designs to create a sophisticated website to represent the dynamic organization WAG has become. Robin said the developer gave WAG more bang for the buck than anticipated.

Susie began her presentation of the website on the home page. The “Join WAG” button is right there for easy clicking, and the WAG member login is easily accessible here. Also front and center is a list of upcoming programs and guest speakers.

Bold-faced entries and menu items on the left side of website pages link to more information: the history of WAG, what’s new, membership benefits, books written by members, issues of the WAG Digest, and lots more. A logged-on member will see a “members only” menu link to an expanded list of interesting pages.

A rolling display of testimonials appears in the right-hand column. Members are encouraged to send their thoughts to the webmaster so she can post them to entice nonmembers to join this wonderful organization.

A new benefit of the website is the ease of joining WAG or renewing membership. Dues can be paid using PayPal. New members may opt to print the membership form and take it to a meeting, or click-click-click themselves into membership!

Webmaster Robin Ingle said that all WAG members should have received their website user names and passwords. When logging in the first time, a member enters the assigned user name and password. After that, a member may use his/her email address to log in and may change to a new password.

Susie mentioned that WAG’s current bylaws and the proposed revised bylaws are posted for members to review on the announcement page in the “members-only” section. Please read them. The revised bylaws will be voted on at the July meeting.

Members may have their work—books and blogs—listed and the books sold on WAG’s website. Each week a book is featured, chosen systematically. All purchases made through Amazon give WAG a four percent kickback. “If you continue shopping on Amazon after first accessing it through the WAG website,” Susie explained, “WAG also will get a kickback when you buy a new toaster!” Because WAG is a nonprofit, all those kickbacks go to worthy causes. So begin your Amazon shopping through WAG’s website!

Robin remarked that social icons are displayed at the bottom of all pages. Use them. She is tweeting all WAG members’ books on Twitter.

Another advantage for members is the members’ forum. Here’s a place to express your ideas, plus make suggestions and comments. The forum is viewed only by fellow members. Participate and help it grow.

Sharon Ketts encouraged everyone to check out WAG’s Facebook page, to click “like” when you see something of interest, to comment, and to share the posts. The number of followers has increased dramatically now that posts are being made daily.

Jani Sherrod stated that the Bacopa Literary Review, WAG’s annual journal, is one of the few print literary journals still available. The purpose of Bacopa is to promote local and world-wide writers by publishing their works and offering rewards in the contest. The genres for the contest are poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Poetry receives the most submissions by far.

Jani explained the reason for having two submission periods for each issue. The first is for general publication. The later period is for the contest. Bacopa established the two categories because many published authors don’t want to pay to enter contests.

Contest judging is blind. The genre judges do not know the names of authors. One person tracks the authors and forwards submissions to the genre judges, who categorize them as “print,” “maybe,” and “no.” Diversity and originality are sought. The pieces marked “print” and “maybe” are then reviewed by all judges, and the final decision is left to the genre judge.

This year’s contest deadline of June 30 is approaching fast. Creative nonfiction has the fewest submissions, so if this is your specialty, here’s a golden opportunity. Members are entitled to one free submission; entries thereafter cost $11. The fee offsets prize money for first second and third place in each category.

WAG is here for you!  Visit the website, the Facebook page, and submit to Bacopa!