National Writers Union, San Francisco

Message from the chair; upcoming elections; free speech/sunshine issues; and news from you!

|January 27, 2008| President Jerry Colby requested to meet with chapter members. Everyone urged to come. For directions or to get a ride from the BART station, nwu@unionwriters.org

It’s the season when we’re all looking for the light; best wishes for the season and the new year from your sisters and brothers at unionwriters.org. P. O. Box 99020, Emeryville, CA 94662, 510-848-4537

|October 7, 2007| 2-5 p.m. Chapter meeting/party/report from the Delegate Assembly. There will be snacks and things to drink!

|Saturday, October 6, 2007| 2-5 p.m., El Tecolote Literary Series presents Lorna Dee Cervantes, Ina Cumpiano and Margot Pepper (who we’re proud to have as a member!). They’ll read at El Tecolote’s office, 2958 24th St., San Francisco. More info 415-648-1045.

I went with a sense of dread ….. BUT came away with a sense of hope.

September 22, 2007 | Why is the Bush administration threatening to wage war on Iran? Find out from Reese Erlich, author of The Iran Agenda

Union news, writer news, member news

Laborfest, contests, poetry groups and more from the SF Bay Area chapter of the National Writers Union.

New phone 510-868-4537; P.O. Box 99020, Emeryville, CA 94662.

Print on Demand - What It Is, How to Do It, What It Costs - news you can use from your union

POETRY AND FICTION GROUP MARCH 24; REESE ERLICH TALKS ABOUT IRAN APRIL 4; REPORT ON POD PUBLISHING

Chapter meeting December 10; poets and fiction writers December 23; Save Journalism Day Dec. 11; Job Hotline is Back, Hire a Union Writer; news from the freedom of information front; news from members

Great membership meeting and new one scheduled; upcoming national meeting;news from the First Amendment front lines; member news

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! SF Bay Writers Union Members Meet, Have Excellent Ideas, Plan to Meet Again December 10!

Chapter meeting Oct. 29, author event Nov. 3, poets/fiction Nov. 4, Project Censored Nov. 4, First Amendment items, member news

National Elections, new list-serve, and member news….

Potluck with reviewer Marvin R. Hiemstra, Bay Area Poets Seasonal Review

Upcoming events starring YOU….

Eight members have new publications: Richard Bermack, Cesar Love, Randy Lyman, Michael Parenti, Margot Pepper, Jack Rasmus, Vanessa Tait, Tim Wohlforth. See info by searching on book

Are you ready to pitch in to run our Chapter? Now is the time to nominate yourself of one of the office. See the full post for details on the offices and where to sumbit your nomination.

The Chapter is run entirely by volunteers. The more of us who pitch in, the more we accomplish. We can always count on “someone else” stepping up to do the work. If you have ideas and energy, or want to lean how a scrappy, member run union work, now is the time to step up an run!
Nominations are due on June 15th, 2005.

|Saturday, June 25, 2005|and oh,, yes, a meeting. National President Jerry Colby and Vice President our own Al Weinrub, Mickey Ellinger’s house in Oakland, Saturday, June 25, 2-5 p.m. Eat! Drink! Hang out with other writers! Find out what’s happening in the union!

Long-time member and contract adv isor, former local co-Chair Mike Bradley says he’s ready to “think the unthinkable” - recruitng staff writers to the National Writers Union.

April 20, 2005 | Writers Union members will discuss non-traditional publishing options - self-publishing, print on demand, co-op publishing, based on their experience. Bring your experience and questions, Wednesday, April 20, 609 Aileen, Oakland.

March 19, 2005| Join the Labor speak-out against the war before the “Bring our troops home now” rally in San Francisco on Saturday, March 19th. The anniversary of the war’s start is a good time to speak out against the war and the ongoing occupation of Iraq by US armed forces and contractors.

February 18th – 20th, 2005 | If you have a passion for writing, the San Francisco Writers Conference can help you develop your talent and begin a serious career as a writer. Last year’s event was a sell-out, this year promises to be just as exciting.

The City of Oakland in 2004 imposes tax on writers and other creative workers. Chapter 3 of the NWU discusses options with members and groups in Oakland. Other cities may be affected. Look for email survey forthcoming from the union.

Steering Committee opens union website to chapter 3 members. Send your photo and 250 words with your personal bio and summary of your works to chair, Jack Rasmus, for uploading to website today. Send to chair@unionwriters.org

The International Federation of Journalists today confirmed that 2004 has turned into the worst year on record for the killing of journalists and media staff as two new violent deaths were recorded in Africa and Asia, bringing the death toll to 120 in the year so far.

December 2, 2004 | When it comes to gardening or carpentry, holding to traditional practices may be endearing. But for writers, there is no attraction to living in the past. Sponsored by Copyright Clearance Center.

Sign the petition and join the NWU’s Oppose Offshoring campaign! The goal of this campaign is to mobilize NWU members and other writers to win passage of legislation…

The NWU’s parent union, the UAW International, has endorsed John Kerry for President.

The NWU’s National Executive Board voted unanimously at its August meeting to endorse the Million Worker March scheduled for Sunday, October 17, in Washington, D.C.

October 23, 2004 | Offshoring, the corporate practice of moving high-wage jobs to overseas locations to escape paying fair wages, will be the topic of a special BizTech division meeting in San Francisco Saturday, Oct. 23 at 11:00 a.m.

October 8 - 9, 2004 | The California First Amendment Coalition’s annual conference this year is presented jointly with the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.

The City of Oakland has a new regressive tax that applies to anyone who claims a home office deduction on their state tax forms—it does not matter whether you make any profit whatsoever. Oakland wants you to pay for a city business license.

A proposed state-constitutional amendment to strengthen California’s open-meetings and public-records laws will appear on this November’s ballot as Proposition 59.

Sept. 4, 2004 | A six person panel, comprised of writers and publishers, on what to do and to expect when self-publishing your book will be held at the EXPO.

August 28 and 31, 2004 | Does your workstation feel like torture? Learn how to identify and remedy improper ergonomic workstation setups…

August 7, 2004 | Local chapter 3 of the Writers Union will be sponsoring a joint workshop on copyright with the Independent Press Association (IPA) of San Francisco on August 7, 2004.

The NWU has finalized an arrangement that will give National Writers Union members in several regions throughout the U.S. access to group health insurance through CIGNA.

July 21, 2004 | Take a train, plane or bicycle to Monterey so you can join friends from across the state to help make the case for greater media diversity.

July 10, 2004 | On Saturday July 10 National Writers Union grievance contract officer, Todd Pitock, will speak on behalf of the Writers Union at the Society of Professional Journalists’ event for writers of diversity held in Oakland at the Asian Cultural Center.

June 5, 2004 | Michael Parenti and David Bacon will discuss their “Experiences in Book Publishing” on June 5 at 7 PM at 62 Richardson Road, Kensington.

May 7 - 9, 2004 | Members of the National Writers Union will conduct a contract language and copyright seminar in Cedarville, CA.

On Tuesday, March 16th the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists hosted its annual James Madison Freedom of Information Awards dinner…

April 10, 2004 | Is it true that writers have more fun? Come find out Saturday, April 10, 2004, 2-5 p.m. Food, drink, membership drive kickoff, and special guest appearances…

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is attempting to further loosen the rules on corporate media monopolies. Join the fight to oppose these changes…

A new Steering Committee (SC) has been elected for 2004, containing some new faces and many longtime activists.

A resolution passed unanimously by the National Executive Committee, after consultations with UAW officials, restores the dues structure that was in place before the 2003 Delegates Assembly.

Nearly a decade of growing rancor within the National Writers Union came to an abrupt end when official results restored longtime local activists to office. The new NWU officers led by President-elect Gerald Colby took over at the Executive Board meeting on Jan. 9, 2004. The Bay Area’s own Al Weinrub was elected 1st Vice President.

Fourteen experts in self-publishing talk about the state of the industry, the opportunities for self-publishing, how to write and publish your books, and how to distribute online.