President’s Column — Feb., 2010

Our January meeting at the beautiful Cavallo Point Lodge with guest speaker Roy Stearns, Deputy Director of California State Parks, was a big hit. “One of our best meetings and venues ever!” several members raved.

On February 20, our biennial BATW Awards presentations will take place at Book Passage in Corte Madera, thanks to Awards Coordinator Karen Misuraca and her diligent assistants, Pat Arrigoni, Lee Daley, Stephanie Levin, and Ellen Sarbone. BATW appreciates the generosity of our hosts, Elaine and Bill Petrocelli, owners of what’s often called the best travel book store in the world — and a community gathering center for many of us in the travel writing and photography worlds.

Over 150 people submitted top-quality entries to the numerous categories of travel writing and photography, competing for fabulous prizes ranging from multiple overnights and meals at luxury hotels and restaurants, whale watching and wine country trips, museum passes and theatre tickets, to Lake Shasta houseboat overnights.

The BATW Board of Directors met for our official “Annual Meeting,” at which officers are selected for the coming year. We welcomed new members of the Board: Robert Kaufman and Emma Krasov who will serve as VP. Also at the meeting was Lee Nelson, who has volunteered to be the BATW Webmaster, taking over the technical and structural aspects of the BATW website from Laurie McAndish King. Lee will coordinate his work with April Orcutt, our Web Editor, in producing our website functions and on line magazine.

Continuing in their positions are Susan Acorn, Treasurer ; Tom Wilmer, Membership ; Sandy Sims, Programs; Marc Longwood, Graphics and Directory; Lakshman Ratnapala, International advisor; and Janet Wilson, interim Secretary. I was asked to continue in my post as President.

Agreeing to serve on our Advisory Board are Morton Beebe , John Montgomery, and Suzie Rodriguez.

Assisting Sandy with Program and Event planning are Arvis Northrop and Erin Van Rheenen.

We are preparing a survey, similar to the general one we did in 2004, but this one will have a specific focus on BATW’s online presence. We will be requesting your suggestions, views, and ideas regarding the BATW website and online magazine (ezine). Look for the survey in your in box in the not too distant future.

Available now are our 2010 stickers to update Active members’ press cards. Marc Longwood, Board graphic designer, is distributing them at meetings. Those of you who won’t be attending meetings can send Marc a self-addressed stamped envelope to receive yours.  Send your SASE to Marc Longwood, 8103 Walnut Fair Circle, Fair Oaks, CA 95628.

Also in the works, thanks to Marc, will be the 2010 printed Membership Directory.

Our renewal process is complete this year. Many, many thanks to Susan Alcorn for the long hours and diligence it takes to complete this job. Big thanks to all of you who made this year’s renewal process a record breaker with almost everyone renewing! Normally there’s a significant drop off of membership at renewal time, with new members joining over the course of the year. Our membership is now around 180, an all-time high, and about 30% growth over the past 3 years. Especially significant are the extraordinary writers, photographers, and tourism professionals who are joining BATW.

Happy travels and writing to all and hope to see you at our February Awards Presentations.

Diane LeBow
— 2010 BATW President