Our August Meeting

Santa Barbara Writers Association
(a.k.a The Screenwriters Association of
Santa Barbara)
is pleased to present an evening with Author and Columnist
Ernie Witham
Witham will introduce his new book:
A Year in the Life of a “Working” Writer

Thursday, August 13th at 7:30 p.m.
Borders Books
900 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Please join us. All are welcome. Free.

Our August 13th guest speaker will be longtime Screenwriters Association member Ernie Witham. Many of us know Ernie and read his column in the Montecito Journal regularly. You can even download and listen to his podcasts—they’re a hoot! But what you might not know is that Ernie has a new book coming out, and we will be the first group he will make it available to. Below is an excerpt of the press release from Ernie’s publisher, John Daniel at Fithian Press:

Every day of Ernie’s year is a quest for the next column, and his material is all around him, in the everyday life of Ernie’s World. Every year in this writer’s world is full of predictable events: his wife’s birthday, Valentine’s Day, and their anniversary; golf games, farmer’s markets, local festivals; Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Not to mention water fights with the grandchildren and far-flung vacations.

Or calling up the FBI to ask for their advice about smuggling mob money over the Mexican border. Or getting injured in a motorcycle accident—in his own driveway while the bike is standing still. Or sharing an elevator late at night with a six-foot, four-inch transvestite. Even getting a little too cozy with amorous dolphins. Yes, these everyday events are part of Ernie’s World too.

The stuff of Ernie Witham’s life is the stuff of Ernie’s humor column, a family-friendly romp through everyday life.

Another ongoing ingredient of Ernie’s life is placating his long-suffering, wonderful wife and best friend, Pat, by promising to find a “real job.” Honest. As soon as life stops being too funny not to write another column about it.

Like that’ll ever happen.

Well, Ernie won’t find a job this year; he’s too busy. But perhaps a job will find him? Read A Year in the Life of a “Working” Writer and find out!

Ernie Witham is the author of the book Ernie’s World, which is also the title of the nationally syndicated column. He is also a contributing writer to many magazines and anthologies, including more than a dozen volumes of the “Chicken Soup” series. He has taught humor at writers’ workshops throughout the country and is the humor workshop leader at the week-long Santa Barbara Writers Conference.

Come join Ernie for some inspiration and some laughs at Borders Books, 900 State Street, Santa Barbara on Thursday, August 13, 7:30 p.m. All are welcome, including guests and friends. And it’s free. See you soon!

please address any questions and concerns about our upcoming meeting with Vice President, Rashi Bahri.

Meeting minutes for Thursday, July 9, 2009

The Screenwriters Association
of Santa Barbara, aka
Santa Barbara Writers Association

PO Box 1410 Santa Barbara, CA 93102-1410
Email: sbwritersassoc@gmail.com

Our meetings are held at Borders Bookstore, 900 State St. Santa Barbara, on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:30pm. Meetings are held every month with the exception of December.

Annual membership dues are $30 and can be mailed to the address above, or paid to our Treasurer, Chuck Kent.

President: Ginger Swanson
Vice President: Rashi Bahri
Secretary: Danielle Greene
Treasurer: Chuck Kent
PR Czar: Lisa Angle

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Meeting minutes for Thursday, July 9, 2009 @ Borders bookstore

The meeting was called to order at 7:45 pm by President Ginger Swanson

Present at the meeting were: Lisa Angle, Rashi Bahri, Jim Sturnot, Ernie Witham, MaryAnn Vanover, Danielle Greene and Ginger Swanson.

The floor was immediately open to comments about the group, the future of the group, what members are looking for, what members feel they have gotten from the group, what role they would like to play.

• The challenge of getting speakers when there is no certainty of how many people might attend was discussed.
• Does the group always want to have a meeting set in Borders or just meet at Borders when there will be a speaker?
• What is the mission of the group?
• Should the group have more of an Internet presence in order to attract more members?
• What is the purpose of this group? It was originally formed so people writing scripts could meet agents.
• Should the group meetings be suspended annually in June, July and August because of low attendance? Right now the group meets the second Thursday of every month except for December.
• Should the group have a monthly calendar?
• Should all members be pitching in to line up speakers?
• Is the group alienating people who aren’t screenwriters based on the name of the group?
• Should the meetings at Borders be moved toward the back of the store?

A motion was made by Rashi Bahri to modify and create a new identity for the group, in changing the name of the group to Santa Barbara Writers Association aka Screenwriters Association of Santa Barbara. The motion was seconded by Ginger Swanson.

A motion was made by Ginger Swanson to elect Lisa Angle as the group’s public relations czar (“P.R. Czar”). MaryAnn Vanover seconded the motion.

A motion was made by Ginger Swanson that the group will spend some money for the P.R. Czar to publicize the group. The motion was seconded by Ernie Witham.

A motion was made by Ginger Swanson to elect Danielle Greene as the secretary of the Santa Barbara Writers Association a.k.a. Screenwriter’s Association of Santa Barbara. The motion was seconded by Ernie Witham.

A motion was made by Ginger Swanson to elect Rashi Bahri as the vice president of the Santa Barbara Writers Association a.k.a. Screenwriter’s Association of Santa Barbara. The motion was seconded by MaryAnn Vanover.

A motion was made by Lisa Angle to elect Ernie Witham and MaryAnn Wanover as directors-at-large for the Santa Barbara Writers Association a.k.a. Screenwriters Association of Santa Barbara. The motion was seconded by Jim Sturnot.

It was announced that Ernie Witham will be the speaker at the August meeting. His new book is entitled: A Year in the Life of a ‘Working’ Writer-a Memoir to the Best of the Recollection of Ernie Witham. The meeting will be his first signing for this book.

The meeting adjourned at 9:40pm.