As others have noted, we had a super Spring Conference at Manitowoc. Thank you to Roxanne Aehl, Jane Osypowski, Barb Jensen, Bill Nelson, Robin Butler, and a whole host of other WRWA members and leaders. Two highlights were the Writers' Roundtable on Friday night and the Award Ceremony at lunch on Saturday, enlivened by the Lunds' singing a Johnny Cash song. The Roundtable is a regular feature the evening preceding conferences. Come; join in, a delightful and valuable experience, an excellent opportunity for networking and sociability led by Jane Osypowski and Boyd Sutton. There are two other continuing networking opportunities. Check out on our Web site (www.wrwa.net) and the Online Forum led by Larry Van Veghel. If electronics isn't your thing, contact Credessa Williams, the Round Robin Chair. Refer to the page listing Directors, Committees, and Other Contacts, if you desire to contact any of these people.

We extend a special thank you to: Kevin Crawford, Mayor of Manitowoc for his warm welcome at our Spring Conference; Kristin Badura and the Kalmbach Publishing Company for providing free issues of The Writer magazine for everyone and a certificate for a year's subscription, won by Jeane Knapp; and Raianne Angel, Office Max, Betsy Alles, Manitowoc-Two Rivers Chamber of Commerce, Karen Yelmene, Manitowoc Visitor and Convention Bureau, and Suzanne Lawrence, Silver Lake College for their contributions to our "goodie bags".

Greg Peck and Robin Butler convened a group of non-fiction writers at the conference. There are plans to schedule another meeting of the group during the Fall Conference. If interested contact Greg or Robin.

Bette Williams, Information Coordinator, and Claudia Anderson are working on updating our Web site. Claudia is focusing on the Spotlight on Members page.

Some have expressed an interest in producing a booklet containing the winning entries from the Lindemann, Nelson, and Jade Rig contests.

The Board is responding to the concerns about the long distances some members travel to come to conferences. Any helpful input is welcome. If you have any suggestions as to how WRWA can expand into new areas that will meet your needs more fully, and/or enhance the benefits of your membership, please share them with me and/or other members of the Board. In the Conference Evaluations, we had some volunteers indicate their desire to become more involved in WRWA. Thank you. I will pursue how we can involve them.

The evaluations submitted at the close of conferences always include comments concerning the speakers. I'm sure that Roxanne Aehl, Spring Program Chair, and Nate Scholze, Fall Program Chair, are always open to helpful suggestions.

Again, a great Spring Conference. See you September 28, 29, 30 at the Voyageur in Reedsburg for the Fall Conference. The Board Meeting and Roundtable are on the 28th.

Have a good day - every day.