What happens to my dues?

On February 10, 2013, I went to my first Writers Alliance of Gainesville presentation at the Millhopper Library. I know this because, like many of you, I write a blog — actually, a couple. This is what I wrote in one on February 12, 2013.

“The Writers’ Group meeting on Sunday was interesting. Dot Hutchison, a twenty-eight-year-old new author, took us through the steps from first draft, to manuscript, to querying, to signing with an agent, then a publisher, editing (even the title), jacket design, and now she has her galley in hand and is waiting for publishing in the fall. And did I mention she is only twenty-eight?

“Her book is YA and involves a new look at Hamlet’s Ophelia. Her original title was Elsinore Drowning, but it will be released as A Wounded Name through Carolrhoda Books (Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.). Someone asked how much her advance was, but she said her contract did not allow her to say. Rats! It sounds like a good book, though. She read the first page to us and it has a good hook.”

The next day I mailed in my $36 dues together with my application to become a member. I continued to attend the Sunday meetings and began to think about visiting a critique pod. During this same period of time, I was deep into Susie Baxter’s “Writing Your Life History” class, another freebie at the library at that time, where encouragement from fellow students and Susie gave me the kick-start I needed. At the next Sunday WAG meeting, I muscled up my nerve and approached Patsy Murray, the pod coordinator, and, as they say, the rest is history.

In March of the next year, Patsy stepped down from her position as coordinator and asked me to assume her duties, to which I agreed. In July, I heard our treasurer, Rick Sapp, was anxious to get on with his journey to distant places and give up his position. You know our leaders have to be persuasive because, after I retired, I relished not being a bookkeeper. Whenever I am asked about my “previous life,” I always reply that I am a recovering bookkeeper. But I volunteered to become WAG’s treasurer until elections in November. And then I was elected! I am still pinching myself in amazement that all this has happened in such a short period of time to a new member, proving how welcoming an organization we have. I feel very lucky to be a part of it.

When I first joined WAG, I gave little thought to what happened to that $36 I paid to become a member, but as time went on, I learned of the many things WAG offered me. When I became treasurer, I found out exactly where that money went.

I felt like the president himself (or herself) as I wrote out the prize awards for the Bacopa Literary Review, a total of $1,950. Bacopa is one of the crowning achievements of our group. Of course, it does not print itself, and there are expenses involved. And there are also expenses for our website.

I know many of you came to the Tioga Winter Fine Art Fair and saw the beautiful tent we purchased for this event and for other events we are planning in the future. All these festivals charge us fees to participate, allowing our authors new book sale venues.

Some of our Sunday speakers come great distances, and we reimburse them mileage at the government rate. Others are happy to receive a $25 gift card, and many are delighted to receive a copy of our own Bacopa. We love those speakers, a bargain for the cost.

We are very proud of our donation to Creeks & Currents Making Waves, a K-12 literary art magazine published by PK Yonge. Although it is a small donation, we know it makes a difference and complements our organization’s purpose.

Then there are the things no one thinks of: the post office box rental, the annual Florida corporation filing fee, rental for the site of our December social, miscellaneous supplies, and snacks for readings we give, for example, at the Scribes of the Sunshine State event at the Matheson Museum.

Reading about expenses might be boring, but as paying members of WAG, it is your right to know where your dues go. Anytime you have a question about that, feel free to ask me, in person or by email and I will do my best to answer. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your treasurer, and you may be assured that your money is spent wisely and strictly in accordance with our bylaws during my tenure. Thank you for your trust.