1 THE PURLOINED NEWSLETTER April 2009 www.capitalcrimewriters.com

Volume 21, Issue 8 – April 2009 Inside this issue:

Message from the President 2 CCW MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT: Ken Gibson Special Guests: Notes from the Editor 3 Trish Dyer & Andrew Seymour Katherine Hobbs April 8, 2009 at 7 p.m.

Ways to begin a book 4 The April 8th meeting of Capital Crime Writers will focus on the Forensic Corner: N is for experiences of reporters and journalists who cover criminal Nancy Drew 5 cases and court proceedings. The format will be an "interview" between two reporters with a lot of experience in the field. Report 1992 6 Trish Dyer, one of our CCW members, covered crime for the

Toronto Star in Ottawa, 1983-1990, when she joined the CBC as an investigative journalist covering criminal issues. She was with March Meeting Report: 7 the CBC for 10 years, retiring in 2000, to set up her own writing Guest Author Rick Mofina business. Andrew Seymour has been the crime/court reporter with The Ottawa Citizen for the past three years. His articles routinely appear in The Citizen. The final bits & pieces 10 See you at the meeting, Tom Curran, Program Committee

Capital Crime Writers is an organization of writers and editors working in the mystery field, as well as readers who love the genre. We meet on the second Wednesday of each month to discuss writing and crime. Meetings are sus- pended in July and August for the summer. Membership fees are: $30 per year, $15 corresponding. Meetings are held in Room 156 at the Library and Ar- chives Canada, 395 Wel- lington Street beginning at CCW member Maggie Taylor poses with author Rick Mofina, who was the guest speaker at the March 11 CCW meeting at Library and Archives Canada. 7:00 p.m. 2 THE PURLOINED NEWSLETTER April 2009 www.capitalcrimewriters.com

CCW Executive Message from the President - Ken Gibson It was great President—Ken Gibson listening to Chair@capitalcrimewriters Rick Mofina VP – Vacant speak about vp@capitalcrimewriters writing at our Past President – last meeting. Brenda Chapman His talk was pastchair wide-ranging, @capitalcrimewriters but I found Treasurer – his comments Rachel Pitcher about locating Treasurer@ capitalcrimewriters a story in a place that you Programs – have only Bev Panasky , Deborah Gyapong & Thomas Curran visited once or programsworkshops@ twice, or not capitalcrimewriters at all, to be

particularly interesting. known short story Membership Secretary: 2009/10 CCW executive It can be done. So, if writer, said that every Darlene Cole on page 10. We do not membership@ your writing interests day when he reads the have a candidate for capitalcrimewriters span the globe, but newspaper, he finds a Vice-President. If this, your budget keeps you multitude of storylines. Newsletter Editor/ or any other position, Public Relations - close to home, you can He cuts them out and on the executive inter- Katherine Hobbs place your characters puts them in a file and 613-263-0069 ests you, feel free to in any locale with skil- when he feels like writ- newsletter@ seek a nomination. A ful use of the Internet ing, he's never short of capitalcrimewriters vote, if necessary, will pr@capitalcrimewriters and a good supply of topics. be held before the May travel books. meeting. There are some people

Webmaster – Rick also said that who get the news be- We also anticipate a Guy Mercier when he is working to fore it appears in the webmaster@ need for volunteers for tight deadlines, he newspaper - crime re- capitalcrimewriters CCW's 20th anniversary doesn't have the luxury porters. At our April celebrations next fall of writer's block. This meeting, I look forward (and for BW?) and per- www.capitalcrimewriters.com reminded me of the to hearing CCW mem- haps other activities. If times I have sat in ber, Trish Dyer, a for- you are interested in front of my computer mer crime reporter, volunteering, please let screen patiently waiting who will be on a panel us know. for inspiration to strike. with Andrew Seymour,

a current crime Katherine has filled the ―Bring all your It also made me think reporter with the newsletter with her intelligence to bear on of a writers' panel I Ottawa Citizen. It usual neat stuff, includ- your beginning.‖ attended a number of should be splendid ing another walk down year's ago at a evening. Elizabeth Bowen memory lane with Vicki Bouchercon confer- Cameron. Enjoy! ence. One of the You will see the notice panellists, a well- of nomination for the Ken Gibson

3 THE PURLOINED NEWSLETTER April 2009 www.capitalcrimewriters.com

From the Editor- Katherine Hobbs At Bouchercon in Balti- member in attendance is Margaret Dunlop more last October I invited for a free drink at: listened to panels with at the CCW sponsored hour authors like Amaldur long cocktail preceding the Margaret.Dunlop Indridason from Ice- banquet. @rogers.Com land. I bought one of his We’d be happy to books and was hooked. The mystery cafe is open to have you as part of the public and writers from the BW team! When Vicki Delaney across Canada will be par- spoke at our Christmas ticipating at the cafe every Katherine event she referenced half hour. There are lots of Indridason's books as an surprises and it promises to There has been a lot of inspiration in her own be a most entertaining talk about Writer Confer- writing -- she talked event overall. Check out ences lately . I have to about how she used his www.bloodywords2009. admit there hasn't been prose as an example of com for more information much on my mind for how she could get better on what is going on. more than a year now at what she does. other than writer's confer- A great way to get ences. — and more spe- So these events are defi- immersed in the conference cifically Bloody Words. nitely the places to be if and help garner a real you love reading mystery, sense of belonging is to And after reading through if you love writing mys- volunteer. I was a time- the historic copies of The tery, and if you want to keeper at Bouchercon and it Purloined newsletters and meet some of your gave me the opportunity to finding Vicki Cameron's favourite, or soon to be immediately feel part of synopsis of various favourite, authors. things. conferences she'd attended over the years, And now Bloody Words Attendees had volunteered it gave me pause to think 2009 is almost upon us. from all over the globe; an about the myriad of book Australian woman was events and conferences It's been more than a manning the registration I've attended over the year now that the core desk when I signed in. My past year in order to steering committee has volunteer task was easy; I glean the best tips in or- been working on this con- would act as timekeeper at ganization, topics and ta- ference. We are thrilled sessions I wanted to attend boos for putting on with the line up of guests anyway. I had to show up Bloody Words. -- Denise Mina, Louise early, clean up the mess Penny , Barbara Fradkin the preceding panel had First up was Bloody and Mary Jane Maffini -- left, and put out fresh Words in Toronto. Bloody and the line up of media glasses of water. great time. My eyes were personalities to interview opened to writers in them, from the CBC Then I sat in the line of Canada and the US that I (radio and TV), to the Ot- sight of the moderator and didn't know existed tawa Citizen, as well as held up cards giving them previously. Since then the editor of KitchArt 30 minute, 15 minute, or 5 I've bought many books I Magazine. minute warnings -- or might not have picked up whatever time period they ordinarily. This broaden- Bloody Words also gives preferred. What power! ing of my reading list has us an opportunity to increased my overall showcase our national So if you feel so inclined enjoyment of reading capital mystery writing as to volunteer and help out mysteries. organization -- Capital June 5, 6 or 7 at Bloody Crime Writers. Any CCW Words, please contact

4 THE PURLOINED NEWSLETTER April 2009 www.capitalcrimewriters.com

Some Ways to Begin a Book Reprinted from the February 1992 edition of The Purloined Newsletter

WITH MOTIVE The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. — The Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allan Poe

BY INTRODUCING To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. — A Scandal in Bohemia, THE PROTRAGONIST A. Conan Doyle AND/OR ANTAGONIST

WITH THE VICTIM The corpse without hands lay in the bottom of a small sailing dinghy drifting just within sight of the Suffolk coast. — Unnatural Causes, P.D. James

WITH ACTION They threw me off the hay truck about noon. — The Postman Always Rings Twice, James M. Cain.

BY SETTING THE I wasn’t doing any work that day, just catching up on my foot-dangling. TONE — Goldfish, Raymond Chandler

WITH IMAGE He was just a pink dance-ticket to her. A used-up one at that, torn in half. — Deadline at Dawn, William Irish

Tips from and for Writers From Robert Byler: Talk out your story

The most readable writing has a conversational flow and feeling. Say it aloud, especially when sty- mied by a tough sentence or paragraph, and you will write more speedily and readably. Talk to the wall, to a pet, or — better yet — imagine you are talking to a typical reader …

From Stephen King: How to Evaluate Criticism:

Show your piece to a number of people — ten, let us say. Listen carefully to what they tell you. Smile and nod a lot. Then review what was said very carefully. If your critics are all telling you the same thing about some facet of your story — a plot twist that doesn’t work, a character who rings false, stilted narrative, or a half dozen other possibles — change that facet. It doesn’t matter if you really liked that twist or that character; if a lot of people are telling you something is wrong with your piece, it is!

If seven or eight of them are hitting on that same thing, I’d still suggest changing it.

But, if everyone — or even most everyone — is criticizing something different, you can safely disre- gard what all of them say.

5 THE PURLOINED NEWSLETTER April 2009 www.capitalcrimewriters.com Forensic Corner: N is for Nancy Drew and nine lives By Katherine Hobbs

When I was growing up I in print. The franchise and haunted mansions in knew Nancy Drew was a has sold over 200 mil- search of clues. She al- fictional character — but lion books in 17 lan- ways had a flashlight and it came as a shock to me guages. a magnifying glass in her as an adult to discover pocket. the author Carolyn Keene When the first books was too. Well, kind of... came out in 1930, With the help of her River forensics were not what Heights pals, tomboy Using the pen name they are today, and George and pretty, plump Carolyn Keene, Mildred girls were certainly not Bess, she caught jewel Wirt Benson wrote 23 of what they are today. thieves, kidnappers and the 30 original Nancy other criminals. Nancy's Drew mysteries. She was The character of Nancy father, handsome attor- paid $125—$250 per Drew was originally ney Carson Drew, praised book and never collected conceived by Edward everything she did. royalties. That amount of Stratemeyer. Although Luckily Nancy had nine he felt a woman’s place money was equivalent to lives and she got out of Window Mystery, Nancy was in the home, he about three months pay every scrape. visits friends in the south wanted to capitalize on as a journalist at the whose African American time. But she did have to servant, ―lovable old Beu- contend with some dif- lah, serves squabs, sweet She was bound by an ferent issues in the potatoes, corn pudding, agreement with the 30’s. In the old ver- piping hot biscuits, and publisher not to reveal sion of Lilac Inn, Nancy strawberry shortcake.‖ her identity as the series is gagged with a hand- author, but it became kerchief and she nearly The mistress of the house known in 1980 when she chokes on it. Hankies waits till Beulah has left testified in a court case were almost twice as the room and then says to involving Nancy Drew's large then as they are Nancy, ―I try to make publisher. today (and who even things easier for Beulah uses them anymore?) but she insists on cooking When asked in an inter- so it would be easy to and serving everything the view in 1999 how she felt suffocate on one. Mildred Wirt Benson old-fashioned way. I must about being Carolyn confess, though, that I Keene, she said, ―I didn't In the original books love it.‖ In the revised the success of The analyze it. It was just a the character of Nancy version, Beulah becomes Hardy Boys series with job to do. Some things I Drew was spunky. She Anna, a ―plump, smiling girl readers, by creating liked and some things I could even be found talk- housekeeper‖ whose race a series with a strong did not like. It was a ing back to the cops. is not made explicit. female heroine. It was day's work. I did it just Benson described her as who like I did my newspaper follows ―... She was an Some critics feel we’ve made her into a feisty, work. I wrote from early individual, from start to been left with a blander, stylishly dressed, morning to late night for finish. She was a person more politically correct golden-haired rich girl a good many years. One who believed in her own Nancy Drew. About the who tooled around in year I wrote 13 full- freedom.‖ But the books revised versions written by her own roadster and length books and held were revised beginning in Harriet Stratemeyer Ad- solved crimes. down a job besides. That 1959 at the insistence of ams, Mildred Benson said, takes a good deal of the publishers. They ―She made her into a tra- The always-perfect teen work.‖ wanted the books to be ditional sort of a heroine. detective wore cardigan more modern and to More of a house type. And sweater sets, white Dozens of ghost writers eliminate racist stereo- in her day, that is what I gloves and heels while followed Benson, and the types. In the original had specifically gotten climbing through attics Nancy Drew series is still version of The Hidden away from.‖

6 THE PURLOINED NEWSLETTER April 2009 www.capitalcrimewriters.com

Has it started yet? A report from the 1992 Bouchercon by Vicki Cameron

fairly frantic by the middle I have to confess, her to his good buddy, tags and glancing up at of Thursday afternoon, Bouchercon passed me Colonel North. faces. Lawrence Block. with a sold out house of in a fog. Let me explain. Max Allen Collins. Eliza- 320, and 20 more clam- One of the most popular beth Peters. Carole ouring to get dinner tick- For the uninitiated, sessions was Tales That Nelson Douglas. Aaron ets. If I hadn’t had Linda Bouchercon is the World Dead Men Tell—and illus- Elkins. Mary Higgins Wiken at the controls of Mystery Convention, held trated discussion by the Clark. Randall Toye, the registration booth, and annually at a site roam- Toronto Deputy Chief editor in chief, TOR; Audrey Jessup calmly tak- ing across the United Coroner. (Lunch was not Carolyn Marino, senior ing in money hand over states and across the served.) I arrived after it editor, HarperPaper- fist, I would have gone un- Atlantic. Last year, started and the room backs; Michael Seid- der and been swept away Pasadena, this year To- was packed to overflow- man, editor, Walker; with the flotsam. ronto. Then it goes to ing. I had to go away. Dominick Abel, Agent;

Omaha, Seattle, and Jed Mattes, agent. By Friday I was wiped. I Nottingham (yes, Eng- In the panel True Detec- will even admit to falling land). tive: The Cop, several Another goal at these asleep during a panel. The things is to network, weekend was half over Bouchercon is run before I got with the by the Bouchercon programme. organizing com- ...Usually when you walk up to an mittees in the host agent and state you’re unpublished, Nevertheless, I got a cities. The wheel huge amount out of this is reinvented they suddenly remember a previous conference. Usually, every year engagement…. when you walk up to an (although there editor/agent and state are plans to fix you’re unpublished, that). Mystery she/he suddenly remem- writers, editors, fans, police officers talked meet people who can bers a previous engage- and others converge to about their forces. Com- help you in your ca- ment. This time, I met discuss mysteries. At- mander Hugh Holton of reer. I spent a few them on neutral territory tendance is in the 1,000 the Chicago Police De- moments with Randall — I was an organizer and to 1,500 range. partment explained a lot and Bob, and had they were attendees. A about how Chicago cops longer discussions with boat-load of authors The workshops are ar- operate, contrasted with Carolyn and Jed. All to learned my name and gave ranged on themes and the New York police de- the good. me encouragement. I was writers talk about these partment, represented taken by the hand and in- themes, or authors tell by the top brass from Now, about the fog. As troduced to People Who funny stories about their New York at the other Chairman of the Cana- Count. work or careers, There end of the table. dian Chapter of Sisters are few writing tips, but in Crime, it was my re- And now the fog has lifted, there’s a lot of interest- One of the highlights for sponsibility to organize I can call in my markers. ing stuff discusses, and me was meeting Donald the Sisters in Crime Editors know who I am. you can be royally enter- Westlake, the King of the programme on the day They’ll actually read my tained. Humorous Mystery. Don- before Bouchercon ac- work with a favourable ald was just like my dad, tually began. We did eye. I’ve jumped the tran- For example, Diane Mott only slightly shyer, but two tracks of work- som. Now, I rise or fall on Davidson (Dying for he answered my ques- shops, dinner with Sara the strength of my stories. Chocolate) told us aobut tions anyway. Paretsky, and then I did my part. Now Woody how her Dad took her to Sunday morning break- and Steve, Imogene and his country club, firmly As one does at these fast and annual general Bentley, and all their told her not to embar- conventions, I spent a lot meeting. It was a lot friends, have to do theirs. rass him, and introduced of time reading name of work, and things got

7 THE PURLOINED NEWSLETTER April 2009 www.capitalcrimewriters.com

March Meeting Report: with Rick Mofina by Katherine Hobbs

According to Rick Mofina, That provides a good when it comes to process foundation to build the and structure there is no "what if" scenario. Then right way or wrong way, the writer needs to bring it's a matter of finding your it down to a person -- a own way. type of protagonist.

That might mean whether Rick talks about the need to outline your book or to threaten the protago- not; i.e. roadmapping nist, their loved ones or versus discovering the community as a whole. character was Rick Mofina story with each new Help them work through ―obviously home- paragraph. the problem. Have your less.‖ Tony told him When you meet some- character be an everyday instead to "describe one for the first time When Rick started out in person that your reader the person you see.‖ you don't get their life the business he provided a will sympathize or empa- You do have to catch story. Less is more. 7 to 60 page outline — as thize with. There is uni- yourself. Saying that’s the way his books versal real estate in cer- something like, ―She ―A writer is like a were purchased; the deci- tain emotions. Rick ex- was so angry,‖ for ex- platespinner,‖ Rick ex- sion to buy it was based on plains it further, ―We can ample. You don't need plains, ―you need to the outline. Nowadays he all identify with feeling to use the word angry give enough informa- doesn’t require an outline. like an underdog, feeling -- apply the emotion tion to let your charac- less than perfect, or hav- to your character. ter be revealed and But as Rick began his talk ing a secret to hide. Use keep the story moving at the meeting in March he that in your fiction and PACING forward. You should concentrated on the proc- wrap your character in it. Pacing is important. always be driving the ess of putting pen to pa- Have they have been You need to determine story forward. Try to per. And the starting cheated, betrayed or how much dialogue to avoid flashbacks, they point? Rick says, ―In the shortchanged in some use versus description. can slow the action beginning you need a nu- way?‖ down.‖ clear reactor of inspiration; RICK’S TIP: Too a strong idea that will get In Rick’s book Cold Fear, much descrip- RICK’S TIP: You you through to the end, a 13 year old girl camp- tion? Think about need drama, tension with a good character and ing in Rockies with her how you go through conflict, uncertainly a problem intertwined. parents went missing. things everyday and suspense and fear in This needs to be a compel- The police did look at the use it as a natural almost every ling problem that will parents as possible sus- guide. How much sentence, every change the characters lives pects -- so right away do you need to paragraph — or by the end of the story.‖ you have a foundation. know? How do you what's the point? Suspicions are raised. A communicate? RICK’S TIP: Be aware family is in crisis, of what readers are there is culpability and buying -- not writing to guilt. market, but writing to stay published. SHOWING VERSUS TELLING. Rick starts his novels with a grain of truth; usually Make your readers feel something he’d reported the story. Author on in the past. But some once writers read clippings of talked about a case Trish Dyer, Alina Popp, Tom Curran, Rachel Pitcher real cases. where a student said a & Darlene Cole

8 THE PURLOINED NEWSLETTER April 2009 www.capitalcrimewriters.com

March Meeting Report: with Rick Mofina, cont’d

.

you do need complete Idea: woman and It doesn't have to be a Sinclair Lewis once cri- accuracy then that is husband are in car huge problem; a small tiqued a book set in Spain, something different. crash. The husband fire in the basement of telling the author, " Your has amnesia and the house will do. The book doesn't start till page RICK’S TIP: Go to stumbles off. characters don't need to 52. People don't want to real estate know, but the reader read about Spain — they sites. What would Beat 1: Car crashes does. Take some time want to read a story." this person see in before smelling the this neighbourhood? Beat 2: Gun to her smoke -- and throw in a Rick went on to explain You can even take a head, there’s a guy hurdle or two. The origi- this concept further, ―Little virtual tour of the with one ear nal problem has to con- Red Riding Hood is not house you want to tinue to mount — the about the woods.‖ He use in your story. Beat 3: Reunion, stakes have to rise. As cautioned us to make our happy ending. Rick advises, ―Resolve setting as accurate as pos- RICK’S TIP: Find an issue at one turn, sible but not to worry too websites with popu- This forms the begin- and have another one much. For example if lar names for boys ning, middle and end pop up. But it must your in Christchurch but and girls. Character of your story. Expand make sense; you can't want to set your story in names should ring it to 15 or 20 of these build a house of cards.‖ Ottawa; while Ottawans true. beats and put them in

might be harsh judges of order. They become RICK’S TIP: Keep an the setting details, proba- RICK’S TIP: At every an outline. eye out to create sus- bly not as many others in point in the story pense at every the world would notice. check in -- what is Then flesh it out; i.e. turn. Come back to the problem? she gets help from her real life — where ―I've never been to Paris, long lost daughter. things naturally break but I find something there If it is that the child Then break down your down or are delayed. that works for me. It may is missing, keep on outline to a chapter.

be a little scene as a back- trying to find the Use it when it suits drop, but I limit how much child. RICK’S TIP: Don't the story, but don't I say about it. The reader get hung up use the WILD excep- will get it,‖ Rick advises. Don't lose sight of on saving all your tion. There is a limit the problem. And chapters -- it is like to suspension of be- RICK’S TIP: Research meeting the larger a ladder, you may lief. is an excuse, don't do goal involves a not need every

too much of it. Write series of smaller rung. Truth is stranger than the story first. Run goals. fiction, but it doesn't them across the river RICK’S TIP: Con- give you carte and then go back and sider time. It is a blanche to use it. The put the rocks in for ON SCREENWRITING very important as- reader will give you them to step on. Allow When Rick was writing pect. The woman in the benefit of the yourself flexibility. a pilot for a TV series the car has a medi- doubt but don't have he discovered screen- cal problem that something really ex- Your story is going to be writers are good teach- could leave her with ceptional, even if it set in Cincinnati Ohio? ers to help you get rid not much time to happened to you. Research the neighbor- of stuff. He described get help. Or the

hoods, i.e. Walnut Hill, the system they use — husband only has Use hooks at the end Oak Park. Look for the a series of beats to tell six months to live. of chapters to compel type of demographic, type a story. Never forget the to read another of neighborhood you want, importance of time. chapter and not go to then make up a fictional For example: sleep. place close to them. But if

9 THE PURLOINED NEWSLETTER April 2009 www.capitalcrimewriters.com March Meeting Report: with Rick Mofina, cont’d.

While novelists have too RICK’S TIP: Make much time, screenwriters sure you flesh out compress time. Ask your- your antagonist. As self, ―Can I make it hap- you are building to- pen in 3 days, in one ward the end you day?‖ Compressing time have to make sure introduces drama and ten- your antagonist is sion and suspense. every bit as compel- ling as your pro- You don't have to kill tagonist. A little bit someone, but in a mystery of understanding story it is probably a good will go a long idea. way. Explain their actions. It is the Or emotion toll, environ- difference between mental toll, relationship the why, and how Tom Curran, Bev Panasky, Ken Gibson & Brenda toll, ultimate toll, i.e. car could you? Chapman was treasured and is gone. THE FINAL SCENES At every step you have Take the pleasurable to give hope and take things we're all experi- it away — start to give enced and enlarge them hope at the end. Rick as you go along. It will says, ―In the final start to become quite scenes make it seem natural. If it’s historical like all hope is gone. facts, info from a news Have some doubt that clipping, try to keep it the good guy will win; real. If reader can relate, put in a final twist. they will follow your char- Here the cliché truly acter. holds -- it is darkest before the dawn. TENSION & SUSPENSE: Have it all come down RAISE THE STAKES to the wire. When it’s resolved and justice Joe Italiano, Rick Mofina and Paul Sadler Stakes = Toll prevails, you just have to ask yourself: Is this Toll = Someone is not go- true to the original ing to make it. problem? And has your character been To raise the stakes you changed in some way? don’t have to kill some- one, but in a mystery RICK’S TIP: Take story it is probably a good the reader on idea. a roller coaster ride. A roller But emotional tolls also coaster carries an count, as do environ- implied contract. mental tolls, relationship You get on it and tolls, and an ultimate toll, there will be twists such as a treasured car is and turns. You Rick Mofina signing his most gone. know how its going recent book Six Seconds for to end, but you put Maggie Taylor. your money down to

go on that ride. 10 THE PURLOINED NEWSLETTER April 2009 www.capitalcrimewriters.com

Tips from and for Writers

From Marlys Millhiser: Leave out some pieces

A story is a picture puzzle. And it doesn’t make sense until all the pieces have been fit together. So begin by losing as many pieces as you can. Palm them. Hide them under the cat. I don't care, but never show the whole picture the puzzle portrays until the end of the story. And If you want to make it really memorable, lose the last piece altogether.

You do this by raising as many questions as you can get away with and never answering one until you’ve raised another… And getting enough of these nagging little questions going in the minds of your readers makes it more difficult for them to put the book down and go do something else.

www.capitalcrimewriters.com Writing wrongs since 1988

Notice of CCW Executive Election and Request for Volunteers

In May of this year, we will experience an historic moment in the life of CCW. We will have our first Ex- ecutive election. In accordance with our new by-laws, the election for the 2009/10 CCW Executive will take place at the May meeting. The term of office of the Executive is from July 1 to June 30. Under the by-laws, the current Executive must endeavour to find a slate of candidates for each Executive position. This is not intended to make the outcome of the election a fait accompli, but to ensure we don't stumble into a leadership vacuum. So, any of you who have an interest in serving on the Executive IN ANY POSITION, feel free to step forward.

The available positions and current slate of candidates for 2009/10 is as follows:

President - Ken Gibson Vice-President - Vacant Past-President - Brenda Chapman Programs - Tom Curran Communications - Katherine Hobbs Secretary/Membership Director - Darlene Cole Treasurer - Rachel Pitcher

The Rules - If you are interested in serving in any of the above positions, please mail or fax me a nomination, signed by two other members in good standing, indicating the position(s) you wish to stand for. My fax number and mailing address are below. You can also give your nomination to any member of the Executive at a monthly meeting. Nominations should be received by May 6.

Volunteers - We are also looking for someone to work with Katherine on communications and we occasionally have a need for other volunteers for various activities. If you are interested in volunteering, please let us know.

If you have any questions on anything above, please contact me. Ken Gibson 65 Centennial Blvd. Ottawa, Ontario K1S 0M8 Tel:(613)237-0268