SCBWI & OWAIC SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI
The information below is provided by Naomi Shaw, President OWAIC. (Naomi has worked hard to provide this group for writers who love to write & illustrate for children. I love this group. Thanks to you Naomi & your members for providing us monthly meetings and the best annual summer workshops.Mary Nida Smith)

It has been a great privilege to get to know all of you and be a part of your writing and illustrating career. I look forward to staying in contact with you in the future and continuing to be a part of OWAIC. However, I've come to a point where I have to make the decision to step out of the leadership role. OWAIC will continue to meet at the Library Station on the first Saturday of the month. But, I will no longer be able to make arrangements for programs, reminders, or the workshops. In the last five years our group has grown in numbers and in the craft. OWAIC meets a need in the region that currently has not been met by any other organization. Still, with the appointment of our very own Joyce Ragland as the Regional Assistant for Missouri SCBWI, we have a unique opportunity. We could "merge" our local group. Many are members of SCBWI now. Membership in SCBWI would not be a criterion for attendance. Joyce is willing to become involved with our OWAIC group in a leadership role as a facilitator until if/when someone else wants to lead the local group.

OWAIC would retain its identity for now as long as the GROUP wants to continue.

WHERE--The Library Station is reserved through the end of this year and we have our name in for next year.

JANIE--Will be stepping down from her role as planner and organizer for now, but will post announcements and updates on the website. Author J.B. Cheaney

DIRECTION--The group will retain its unique identity. Your creativity will continue to be encouraged and developed into marketable work. We have asked Joyce Ragland and Janet Weber (the Assistant RA) to bring their vision and resources, which are significant, to the group. Individual members of the group would need to take responsibility for some logistics.

OWAIC has assets. You are the biggest asset. Your desire to produce great literature, your willingness to share your time and experience, and your respect for each other cannot be quantified. Plus, we have established a great relationship with the Library Station and the Library Center.

SCBWI is the largest international organization promoting children's authors and illustrators on the planet. I feel our group will be in good company to share when we can at a local level.

Saturday,October 1, I hope all of you that can attend will attend and make the most of this new arrangement. I look forward to seeing all of you again as often as I can.

I will not be giving your contact information to Joyce automatically. If you would like to stay involved at the local level, please share your contact information with Joyce at JCRagland@gmail.com. Mention OWAIC in your subject line please. She looks forward to hearing from you. Or, if you prefer to attend the October meeting to see/hear more about the revised OWAIC, that is fine.

Thank you and God Bless,
Naomi Shaw