September 21, 2026, Board Meeting

7:00–8:15 pm

On Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88235510746?pwd=GculaYX3eDFVDw8HjDPctRCwKeN7Ug.1

Meeting ID: 882 3551 0746

Passcode: 394637

A quorum is a minimum of five voting members present.

Attendees: Sue Barizon, Andrea Christensen, David Harris, Colleen Olle, Vibha Akkaraju, Miera Rao, Connie Chang, Alisha Willis, Tice Swackhamer, Nirmy Kang, Geri Spieler

1)      Vibha made a motion to approve the August meeting minutes. Approved.

2)      David debriefed us on the move to Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church. CWC members at the September meeting liked the space. The acoustics and lighting may need some work. Book sales are still not permitted. After a couple of more general CWC meetings, David plans to revisit this topic with the church’s board members.

3)      Vibha presented the treasurer’s report. The current balance, including the CD, is $14,400. After paying the state CWC $2,800, our account will have $11,400, which is comparable to what we had a year ago (i.e., $13,800 before paying the state CWC). By raising the meeting fees by $5/member, we earn an additional $200/month and $2,000/year. The Fault Zone submission fee will yield $400/year. Our rent at Hope Lutheran is nearly the same as that at the Sequoia Yacht Club, and the picnic entry fee and a tighter food budget saved our club $1,000. The decrease in expenses and the increased revenue place our club on a more solid footing. Consequently, Vibha recommends holding off on a Giving Tuesday fundraiser this year.

4)      Andrea said that the state CWC will hold a meeting at the end of October, after which she will be able to provide an update on the new Member Directory system.

5)      David and the board discussed finding replacements for Megan, Tim, and Margaret. Vibha and Sue will also be leaving at the end of their terms in June 2027. The team also discussed logistics of the upcoming workshop on October 3.

6)      David and the board discussed ways to express our club’s condolences on the passing of member Steve Latner.

7)      On behalf of Carol Ann Lapeyrouse, Connie said that Fault Zone: Shake, Rattle, and Roll has received submissions for three poems, four short stories, and one piece of creative nonfiction. Harlan Suits will serve as the CNF editor. 

8)      David proposed that our club host a new-member orientation. He and Margaret have done so in the past. Board members discussed possible locations.

9)      Connie and Nirmy talked about speakers for the upcoming general meetings in October and November and potential speakers in 2027. They also described their process in finding speakers. Board members who had attended the general meeting in September spoke enthusiastically about Elizabeth Stark’s presentation “Swerve: Writing into the Unexpected.”

10)  David will follow up with Eva Barrows about future Zoom presentations.

11)  Based on input from Darlene Frank, Tice suggested that Writers Helping Writers remain as two separate pages on our website.

12)  David said that the board will resume its normal first-Tuesday-of-the-month meeting schedule next month. We will meet on October 6.

The meeting adjourned at 8:11 pm.

Colleen Olle (Secretary) September 21, 2026