HEARING can be a problem for some of us at WRWA conferences. I know. I wear hearing aids. So do many other members. Sometimes it's the speakers' fault if they don't speak slowly, clearly, and directly into the microphone. Sometimes it's the quality of the public address system. And sometimes it's a combination of both. Your WRWA board of directors is very much aware of the problem.

There's not much we can do about the speakers' presentation skills, although they are reminded that the audience will contain people (like me) who are hearing impaired, and our conference chairs do try to contract speakers who have good presentation skills-if that can be known ahead of time. But we are trying to do something about the PA systems.

You may have noticed our Vice President, Nate Scholze, moving about the audience with a "boom" microphone at the Spring Conference, thanks to his efforts to acquire that piece of wireless technology for WRWA. It does not produce sound itself, but it "piggy backs" on the conference center's PA system and allows questions from the audience to be heard by everyone. It will see more use at the September 29-30 Fall Conference in Reedsburg.

Meanwhile you can be sure that we will continue to look for ways to improve the acoustics at our conferences.

ONE MEMBER writes: "I'd like WRWA to have an Advisory Board composed of members with knowledge in a particular aspect of writing, willing to answer questions from members” about copyrights, tax deductions, and other writers' concerns. Some of these concerns are covered now and then by feature articles in the Wisconsin Regional Writer, which is no longer a "newsletter." (Because of its high-quality format, it is now a "journal.")

Your board has often discussed the desirability of having a "speakers bureau" of member-experts on writing matters (there are many in WRWA) who would be willing to make presentations at local club meetings, perhaps being reimbursed by the club for mileage, but interest in such a service has not yet been surveyed. I, for one, am certainly willing to make 45-60 minute participative presentations at local clubs on Research Tips and Techniques, on Writer Presentation Skills, and a few other subjects. How about you? Let board members know whether you would be willing to share your own expertise with fellow WRWA members. If enough volunteers come forth, we'll try to get something going.

I HAD THE PLEASURE of sitting next to another retired technical college teacher during the Fall Conference lunch. He asked me what the "regional" meant in Wisconsin REGIONAL Writers Association, Incorporated. I explained (and you long-time members can correct me on this) that when Robert Gard started Wisconsin RURAL Writers, its charter members were predominantly Madison area rural writers. As it grew in members and in the area represented by that growth, the name was changed to Wisconsin REGIONAL Writers. We have members in eastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, northern Illinois, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, hence the name is apropos of the Wisconsin "REGION."

Another member suggested we call ourselves the "MIDWEST Writers' Association. Well, I think that name has already been taken. And the states on our borders, or some of them, also have state writers associations. However, at present we do have one Canadian member, so maybe we should call ourselves the Wisconsin Regional Writers' Association INTERNATIONAL! Or, to go from the ridiculous to the subline, why not call ourselves the Northwest Territory Writers' Association? That would take in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. (Sorry, Minnesota and Iowa. You're not in the Northwest Territory.)

What you've just read, folks, is an example of how a writer's imagination can carry him away. Far away. Far, far away.

See you in September at Reedsburg!