Four weeks to go....
Well, we are ticking off the weeks. Denise and I spent Monday night sorting through "THE BOX" which holds all the conference stuff. We made a list, checked it twice, and I still feel like I've missed something. Anyone who has ever directed a conference or a retreat knows the "back in your mind" thought keeps nudging that you've forgotten something. I'm hopin' I ain't done that! lol.
All that said, Denise and I went down the list, and I think we've gotten our ducks in a row. So, let's dig in...
First, I need to make sure that you know how to contact me, and I ask that you please stick to this method to contact me.
*Please use [email protected]. Please don't contact me through Facebook. I don't always go to Facebook. Don't call me by phone. I'm one of those who don't answer unknown numbers. If you need me, please contact me via email. I am checking that continually. That is where everything is for the conference. I cannot guarantee I will see your correspondence if you don't send it where I will see it. Just sayin'...
*Today's additional writing assignment is up on our blog. Our sweet faculty member, Pepper Basham, has taken the time to write The 5 Cs of An Elevator Pitch. Do you know what an elevator pitch is? Now is the time to learn. Pepper guides you precisely through making a great elevator pitch. Check out her blog post, study on it and take it in. A pitch is a step in learning the publication process.
*Again, we have our conference update page up and running on the website. It's called...get this...CONFERENCE UPDATES :)
Any changes or updates will be here. We do have a temporary schedule up on the schedule page, and we've even added a pdf where you can download and print it. Just remember, this schedule could change again if meal seating changes at the Cove.
*Our contests are completed and judged, and our contest directors are tallying the results. We're always excited to share these winners on Sunday of our conference. It's such a scary thing to put your work out there and not know how it will be received. Get this...it's always scary, regardless of how many books you may have in print. It's because our work is being looked at through subjective eyes. So, congratulations to everyone who entered our contests. We're so proud of you.
*Those 15-minute appointments - Terri will go over the sign-up for 15-minute appointments on Friday night. Don't worry. You'll have an opportunity to make those appointments. We ask that you remember the following rules:
1) It's perfectly acceptable to hover quietly behind the person in front of you at an appointment IF IT'S TIME FOR THEIR APPOINTMENT TO END. Hovering allows the faculty member to see the next appointment is there, and it helps them finish their current appointment. DON'T HOVER TEN MINUTES EARLY. Hover when it's about two minutes before your appointment time.
2) Be mindful that your appointment is only 15 minutes. Have everything ready BEFORE you arrive. If you have to sit and dig through a briefcase, hunt, and peck to find things, that 15 minutes ticks away. Have your cards, work, and questions in your hands before you sit down to your appointment.
3) When your 15 minutes are up. Be kind and end the appointment. Remember, there are folks waiting in hover mode behind you.
*Our bookstore will open on Friday after supper. Feel free to browse, but our staff is not ready to sell until after supper. They are checking in inventory, adding it to our inventory in the Square, and making sure things are priced. Keep in mind there are times the internet will be slow at the Cove with the hundreds of folks using it. That does, at times, affect how quickly our charge cards run. Don't grow frustrated with our staff, they have no control over the internet speed. Just chat with the folks next to you for a minute, and things will go through.
*Remember, check-in is NOT UNTIL 3 p.m., BUT you go to Shepherd's Inn to get your name tag. Our staff will meet you at the door. You can leave your luggage in your car until check-in. If you are being dropped off, you can park your luggage in a corner of Shepherd's Inn.
*Please do not try to come on campus before 11:00 a.m. You can come on campus at 11:00. Classes begin at 1. That leaves you time to visit the Cove bookstore on the first floor of the training center or to visit the Billy Graham Chapel. You must get your name tag from Shepherd's Inn, or you cannot enter the 3rd floor to the conference in the training center.
*Please do not ask the Cove staff if you can rent your room for the day after the conference. Long story short, NO, you can't. You can only stay on campus when your conference is in progress. The Cove sets a contract in place with us for housing, and we cannot veer from that contract. Save yourself the embarrassment of being told no, and just don't ask. I wish it wasn't that way, but this pertains to their 501c3 compliance as a "retreat center."
*Keep in mind the Cove is Alcohol and Smoke-Free. If you are caught with these things, their security will ask you to leave. You must go to your car if you are a smoker.
*Our dress code for the weekend is casual. It's cold in February, and we want you warm. Jeans and sweaters are perfect. But please, allow the holy factor to only apply to the Holy Spirit. Dress with dignity, and though the conference is casual, be wise.
*Visit the CONFERENCE UPDATE to view our liability release. We ask that you read this ahead of time and be prepared to sign it when you meet our staff at Shepherd's Inn. Though we have event insurance, we are still required to ask you to sign a liability and conduct release AND SPEAKING OF CONDUCT, we are all adults and it is important that our behavior reflects that. Please do not put yourself in a situation that could be misunderstood or if you feel as though someone has acted inappropriately toward you, notify myself, Eddie Jones or Terri Kelly immediately. Do not wait for months. These situations can only be handled as they happen. We trust things will be perfect because we know God has only sent us angels! Seriously, I shouldn't have to say these things but I am required to do so.
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February 17, Newsletter Update
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January 29th Newsletter
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January 20, 2024 Newsletter
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January 6, 2024, Letter 2
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January Newsletter
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December Newsletter and Updates
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November Newsletter #2
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November 2023 Newsletter
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Newsletter FEBRUARY 23
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Assighment 5 - From Larry Leech
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February 3, Assignment 4 NEWSLETTER
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January 17 - Week Two Assignment and Newsletter
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January - Week 1 - Extended Training
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End of December Newsletter
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December Newsletter
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NOVEMBER UPDATE AGAIN
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October Update
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10/11/2022
IT'S TIME ONCE AGAIN
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February 13, 2022 - UPDATED NEWSLETTER
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February 12, 2022 NEWSLETTER - Assignment 7
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February 4, Week 6 Assignment
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January 28 - Week 5 Assignment
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Week 4 - Newsletter for January 23 - ASSIGNMENT 4
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January 16, Assignment 3 - Bring Your Characters to Life
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Week 2 - Newsletter January 8
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January 5 Newsletter
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December 17 Newsletter
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December 2021 Newsletter
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October 2021 Newsletter
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August Newsletter - WELCOME TO ACWC
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One Final Note
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February 24 - Final Newsletter
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February 22 - FINAL INSTRUCTIONS
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2/22/2021
February 15, Assignment 6
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2/15/2021
February 6, 2021 - Assignment 5
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January 31, Week 4 Assignment
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January 21 - Assignment 3
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January 11 UPDATES
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1/11/2021
January 10, Assignment 2 (1 or 2 assignments)
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1/10/2021
January 5, Assignment 1 - Let's Begin with a Bio
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December 26 Newsletter
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December 5 Newsletter
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November 2020 Newsletter
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September Newsletter - Regarding 2021
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MP3's Available Sunday, March 29
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DEBRIEF - AFTER THE 2020 CONFERENCE
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February 19 - Final, Final, FINAL update
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February 19 - Final, Final, FINAL update
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February 16 Final Newsletter & Roster
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February 7 Newsletter - Assignment 7
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February 1 Newsletter - Assignments 5 & 6
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January 26 Newsletter - Assignment 4
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1/27/2020
January 18, Assignments 2 & 3
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1/18/2020
January 11, Update and Assignment 1
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January 8, UPDATE
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1/8/2020
I DIALED 911 and God Answered - VITALLY IMPORTANT NEWS
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December Newsletter
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November Newsletter
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October Newsletter
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2020 Asheville Christian Writers Conference - Welcome - August 2019
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8/24/2019
WE'RE STAYING IN PILGRIMS INN
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February 10 and Assignment 7
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January 27 - Assignment 5
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January 13, 2019 Newsletter - Assignment 3
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January 6, 2019 Newsletter - Assignment 2
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January 1 Newsletter - Assignment 1
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DECEMBER UPDATE - WE ARE SOLD OUT
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December 2018 Newsletter
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November Newsletter
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November Special Note
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October Newsletter 10/24/18
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OCTOBER Newsletter
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September 5, 2018 Asheville Christian Writers Conference - And the Fun Begins!
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2018 Writers Charge
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February 11, 2018 - Assignment 7 - Final Assignment and Roster
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Newsletter, February 4, 2018 - Assignment 6
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January 28, 2018 NEWSLETTER - Assignment 5
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January 14, 2018 - Assignment 3
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February 7, 2018 Newsletter & Assignment 2
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Newsletter, January 1, 2018 ASSIGNMENT 1
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Newsletter, December 21, 2017
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Newsletter, December 4, 2017
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Newsletter November 14, 2017
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Newsletter - October 28, 2017
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Newsletter September 26, 2017
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Newsletter - Assignment 5
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Newsletter - Assignment 4
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Newsletter - Assignment 3
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Newsletter - Assignment 2
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Newsletter - Assignment 1
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Newsletter December 8
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Newsletter November 23
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Newsletter November 12
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Newsletter October 29
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Newsletter October 9
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Newsletter October 1
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Newsletter August 23
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Newsletter Assignment 5
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Newsletter Assignment 4
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Newsletter Assignment 3
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Newsletter Assignment 2
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Newsletter Assigment 1
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