Bay Area Travel Writers » Rebecca Bruns Memorial Award

Mr. Tips & Resources: Lee Foster Wins 2010 Rebecca Bruns Award

April Orcutt — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:45:19 +0000

Lee Foster

The Rebecca Bruns Award is awarded bi-annually by Bay Area Travel Writers to one of its members whose dedication, both personally and professionally, has had a significant influence on fellow travel writers and their profession. Naturally, outstanding success is part of the equation, but it is not enough to say that the individual’s professional achievements are laudatory. More than that, the award recognizes originality, individuality and most of all, generosity in giving back to the writing community.

The 2010 Rebecca Bruns Award recipient is longtime BATW member Lee Foster. Lee’s forward thinking, his dedication to professional development and education and his generosity as a teacher and mentor place him in the forefront of travel journalism today. BATW honors Lee with this recognition for his many contributions to the BATW membership and to the travel writing industry.

Congratulations, Lee Foster.

– Lee Daley

2008 Rebecca Bruns Award goes to Bruce Whipperman

April Orcutt — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:01:17 +0000

The Rebecca Bruns Award honors an individual who inspires others – by creativity, hard work, dedication to craft and commitment to BATW – in the same way Rebecca did. The 2008 honoree, Bruce Whipperman, followed in Rebecca’s footsteps in even more ways: Bruce’s first Moon Handbook Pacific Mexico was inspired by Rebecca’s renowned Hidden Mexico, Adventurer’s Guide to the Beaches and Coast. Like Rebecca’s, Bruce’s guidebooks reflect a bold sense of adventure, rigorous intellect, and deep passion for travel. BATW presented the Rebecca Bruns Memorial Award to our former BATW president and beloved colleague at the January, 2008, BATW meeting at Book Passage.

– Carol Canter

The 2006 Rebecca Bruns Award Goes to Patricia Lee

Laurie McAndish King — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:02:16 +0000

The 2006 Rebecca Bruns Award has been awarded to Patricia Lee, founding member and first president of BATW. Patricia, a retired San Francisco school teacher, brought the same skills and traits to her presidential role as she did to her teaching career.

During BATW’s early years, she steered the group’s often chaotic but enthusiastic monthly membership meetings with patience, good humor and gentle but firm direction. She inspired others to volunteer their individual talents and held BATW’s first few years of board meetings in her San Francisco home where she always served tea and cookies along with praise and encouragement.

Those of us who followed in her footsteps as subsequent BATW presidents — myself, Bruce Whipperman, Cori Kenicer — did so, in part, because of Patricia’s example and tutelage. BATW has been blessed to have found its beginnings in such an altruistic and dedicated individual.

The Rebecca Bruns Award is presented yearly to a BATW member who exemplifies the character and essence as well as the achievements of Rebecca Bruns, a gifted and generous writer whose life and work inspired many.

– Lee Daley

Rebecca Bruns Memorial

Laurie McAndish King — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:04:45 +0000

Rebecca Bruns, a founding member of BATW and one of our shining stars, had her trajectory cut tragically short by illness. That she remains a muse to many of us is a testament to both her brilliance and her generosity of spirit.

Rebecca was a mentor in the true sense of the word, working hard, achieving success and sharing her every secret about writing, marketing, motivation. In BATW’s fledgling years, a small number of aspiring writers gathered monthly at one another’s homes, to hear manuscripts in progress read aloud. Rebecca’s were invariably spellbinding, yet so too was her agility at helping others bring their work to a new level. She wrote, as she lived, with passion, honesty and creativity. Her metaphors, like her adventures, were gutsy and original.

To an exceptional friend, teacher and writer, we dedicate this webpage on the 10th anniversary of her passing.

Carol Canter
December 2004