I’m running for SFWA president in 2017

I’ve withdrawn from the race, because I didn’t realize Cat Rambo was running again. Whoops!

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Dear SFWA members:

I’m running for the position of President. For four years, I was privileged to work with an extremely active and committed board, first as Secretary of SFWA and then as Vice President. I stepped down because I believe that new voices are vital to a service organization such as SFWA. But there are still things that I want to see accomplished, particularly trying to find affordable health care for our members.  I feel that after five years off the board, the time is right to run again.

I believe that SFWA is an important organization and that volunteering for it is a way that we can each help to pay it forward by making the field stronger.  As a group we can improve things within the industry in ways that individuals cannot, but we are dependent on our volunteers. We are dependent on you. I would very much like to help SFWA move forward so that it can continue to inform, support, promote, defend and advocate for our members.

Besides health insurance, what else am I interested in accomplishing?

  • New opportunities to help our members diversify their income streams
  • Strengthening the Nebula Conference as a professional development conference
  • Protecting our rights for free speech
  • Outreach to underserved and underrepresented writers in the SFF community
  • Taking full advantage of our 501c3 status to apply for grants that will allow SFWA to be a more active and useful organization for our members

For those of you that I have not yet met, here is a little about me personally.

  • I have been an Active member of SFWA since 2007 and served on the board from 2008-2012
  • In addition to my Board duties, I also supervised the team which built your new website, sourced the membership management software, and researched options for health insurance.
  • I was the 2008 Campbell Award Winner for Best New Writer, won three Hugo awards, and the RT award for Best Fantasy Novel.
  • Besides writing, I am a professional puppeteer and voice actor and have worked in the arts for the last twenty-five years. I served on the Board of Directors and as the Vice President of UNIMA-USA, the American branch of the international puppetry organization.
  • I’ve had a 25 year career in the arts, which has given me experience in how effective non-profits function, as well as grant-writing and volunteer management.

Thank you for your consideration.

Mary Robinette Kowal

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8 thoughts on “I’m running for SFWA president in 2017”

  1. Humor first: My condolences.

    Ok, that out of the way; WHOA! Very cool! I’m just a fan who reads several books a month and I wish you well in this endeavor. Some sound concepts in what you want to accomplish.

    1. I have been considering letting my membership lapse. There are a lot of reasons why, mostly political. I have no desire to engage in the petty and divisive politics that appears to consume most SFWA members who are active.

      But if you can seriously get the membership affordable health care, I’m going to stay.

      Walt Boyes

  2. Annalee Flower Horne

    While we’re discussing your credentials and accomplishments: you’ve also worked on two(?) very successful Nebula Awards conferences that improved the conference’s reputation and standing in the pro-con community.

  3. Long time reader here. how do you plan to solve the rampant google problem in the sf community. I feel that needs to be adressed.

    Best regards

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