CLW POLICIES
CLW’s mission is to assist and encourage writers, in all genres and experience levels, to improve writing skills and move toward publication, if desired. CLW provides reading, critiquing, and creative writing sessions to help writers improve their craft. Experienced guest speakers are featured monthly to educate, encourage, and inform. Information talks are also provided by CLW general membership on various topics. Opportunities are provided to socialize and network with others who share the grand passion of writing.
CLW members (authors, writers) will be notified of CLW activities via electronic publication and electronic distribution to registered members.
CLW membership is open to writers/authors of all genres and experience levels who wish to improve writing skills. In keeping with CLW’s initial founding principle of being a “family friendly” writing organization, Works provided for publication or posting in/on CLW media should be family friendly, i.e., no Rated X submissions. If a submitted Works comes into question, it will be discussed by the board members; however, final determination of appropriate content rests solely with the Executive Director.
New members must complete and sign an application for membership. Membership application will be provided by the Executive Director and must be executed and returned by the prospective member with the one-time registration fee.
A one-time registration fee of $35.00 is due for membership at the time of registration. The registration fee includes membership dues for the balance of the calendar year in which registration is submitted. If a member/potential member cannot pay due to financial hardship, they may speak to any board member about the situation to explore possible options. The $35.00 registration fee serves as the annual membership dues until March of the year after becoming a member (author, writer). Annual dues of $35.00 per calendar year are payable on or before the 31st day of March yearly.
Meetings are held weekly, currently on Thursdays beginning at 7:00 PM. Meetings are generally at a designated location. One meeting per month is dedicated to a guest speaker and this meeting is usually at a local restaurant. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, meetings are held virtually using Zoom, Facebook, or other virtual mediums. When Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, CLW’s meetings will resume in a designated location.
To obtain maximum benefit of the CLW, members are expected to attend meetings and support the CLW’s programs. Members are also expected to provide an info talk annually on subject(s) of their choice that supports CLW’s mission. The info talk should be approximately fifteen minutes in duration on a subject that enhances the knowledge of other members.
CLW strives to provide a myriad of writing opportunities for its members by sponsoring various events such as the flash fiction contest, anthology submissions, short story contests, articles for posting on CLW media or blogs. Some of these opportunities have more specific guidelines or “rules” which will be provided at the time submissions or entries are solicited by CLW. Some may even have a nominal entry fee in order to pay for judges and obtain prizes.
Works submitted to CLW should be the Author’s sole intellectual property and not infringe on copyrights, trademarks, public domain, or other intellectual rights of any third parties.
Membership may be revoked in the event a member fails to comply with the CLW bylaws or policies.
Members whose dues are not current may not vote on any issues coming to the general membership for vote. Member approval is required for approval of the by laws, amendments to the by laws, and appointment of board members.
CLW writers/authors are to exhibit and maintain a high degree of professional integrity and promote a positive image of the writing profession by not participating in plagiarism, misrepresentation of their Works, or any other commissions or omissions which cast a negative image on the writing profession.
Be professional, be honest, be clean.
The governing body of CLW shall be composed of an Executive Director who oversees CLW operations; interacts with the Board; calls meetings; and promotes the interests of CLW. Advisory Board members are:
4.1(a) President. Assists the Executive Director with CLW Board Meetings and Operations. The President has the authority to sign documents approved by the Advisory Board on behalf of CLW . The President may vote on all issues brought before the Board.
4.1(b) Secretary. Takes meeting minutes, maintains business records, and manages membership. Maintains written records of all formal actions and votes of the general membership and the Advisory Board including attendance, votes, and discussions. If the Secretary is not present, the Advisory Board shall designate a temporary Secretary.
4.1(c) Treasurer. Drafts budgets, plans spending, and maintains financial records. Responsible for the supervision of the collection, disbursement, and deposit of all monies of CLW. and overseeing the accounts of CLW. The treasurer is required to provide a written report to the Advisory Board on the financial condition of CLW annually and as otherwise required by the Advisory Board.
4.1(d) Director of Events. Plans and sets key milestones for CLW sponsored events.
4.1(e) Member at Large. Represents the general membership, has no vote, and is appointed for one year starting in January 2020.
Corrective actions may include a range of actions including, but not limited to, chastisement, revocation of membership, and any other actions available in law or in equity.
Terms of the initial membership of the Advisory Board of Directors shall begin January 1, 2019 and last for 18--24 months depending on the position. The initial term for the Director of Events and the Treasurer will be for 18 months and will terminate July1, 2020. The initial term for the President and the Secretary terms will be for 24 months and will terminate January 1, 2021. Incumbent board members may stand for re-election, but may not serve more than two consecutive years in the same position.
The Executive Director and Advisory Board of Directors are responsible for the following:
4.3(a) Policy and Procedure. Creation, implementation and enforcement of policy and procedures for CLW.
4.3(b) Budget. Develop an annual budget for CLW.
4.3(c) Funds. Collect and disburse funds as necessary to maintain CLW.
4.3(d) Committees. Establish and guide committees working on behalf of CLW.
4.3(e) Record keeping. Maintain a written record of actions, votes, and decisions of the Executive Director, Advisory Board and general membership.
4.3(f) Board Meetings. Conduct and attend bi-monthly (i.e., every other month) business meetings of the Executive Director and Advisory Board. Meet as required to conduct the business of CLW. Meetings may be held in person, via video or audio conference call or any other means deemed appropriate and acceptable by the Executive Director and Advisory Board.
4.3(g) Special and/or Ad Hoc Meetings. Special or urgent need meetings may be scheduled by the Executive Director or a majority of the Advisory Board members. Special and/or Ad Hoc meetings require a minimum of three days’ notice to all Board members; said minimum notice may be waived upon agreement of a majority of the Board members. Special and/or ad hoc meeting may result in approval or requests for committee chairs and/or members to facilitate specific CLW activities or events.
4.3(h) Quorum. A quorum is a simple majority of the current Board of Directors.
4.3(i) Vacancy. A board position is considered vacated through written resignation or after three consecutive and unexplained absences. A vacancy may be filled through an appointment to the vacancy by the remaining Board members. The appointment will be announced to the membership via electronic publication and electronic distribution to registered members for comment and approval by the membership.
4.3(j) Board Voting. Decisions of the Executive Director and Advisory Board shall be made final by agreement of a simple majority of the voting Board members provided that a quorum of the Board members is present at the time the business is conducted. In case of a deadlock or tie, the Executive Director shall break the tie.
4.3(k) Open Records and Meetings. CLW records will be open for review by any CLW member in good standing upon request and agreed upon time and location. CLW will respond in accordance with the applicable Texas openrecords and open-meetings statutes.
4.3(l) Audit. An internal audit of CLW finances shall be made periodically by the Advisory Board.
4.3(m) Authorization. CLW’s name, property, logo, and funds shall not be used or committed without prior Executive Director and Advisory Board approval.
4.3(n) Disputes. Should disputes arise, CLW shall pursue mediation ahead of litigation.
4.3(o) Officers. The Executive Director and Advisory Board of Directors shall select from within its membership the Advisory Board members.
4.3(p) Board Member Appointments and Elections. Elections by the General Membership for open Advisory Board positions will be held beginning in 2020 at least one month prior to the expiration of the Board positions.
4.3(p)(i) Qualifications for Board Membership. Advisory Board members must currently be a CLW member in good standing.
4.3(p)(ii) Nominations for Board Membership. The Advisory Board of Directors may convene a nominating committee of three to five members in good standing to recruit nominees for Advisory Board Membership. The committee shall agree on a Chair for the committee prior to recruitment of nominees. One member of the nominating committee must be a current Advisory Board member. Alternatively, the Advisory Board may appoint individuals who are members in good standing to Advisory Board positions. Appointments require a vote of approval by the general membership.
4.3(p)(iii) Board Approval of Nominees. The nominating committee will present nominations for Advisory Board positions at an Advisory Board meeting for approval.
4.3(p)(iv) Candidates. Candidates may be interviewed by the Board at an Advisory Board meeting prior to a vote on appointment and/or approval.
To provide policy guidelines for the order of succession in case the Executive Director or a board member is temporarily unable to perform duties.
The mission of the CLW is to assist and encourage writers, in all genres and experience levels, to improve writing skills and move toward publication, if desired. CLW provides reading, critiquing, and creative writing sessions to help writers improve their craft. Experienced guest speakers are featured monthly to educate, encourage, and inform. Information talks are also provided by general membership members on various topics. Opportunities are provided to socialize and network with others who share the grand passion of writing.
This policy applies to the organizational structure and governance of the CLW.
CLW. may be dissolved upon a majority vote of the current membership present and voting, upon minimum 60 days’ notice.
All assets, after satisfying all outstanding financial obligations shall be distributed to other nonprofit writing organizations as voted by the Advisory Board.
CLW is an advisory board-operated organization with an Executive Director and a minimum of four board members (also referenced as officers) and a non-voting Member-atLarge. Additional board positions are possible as defined, deemed necessary, and appropriate by a majority of the current board members.
CLW’s mission is to assist and encourage writers, in all genres and experience levels, to improve writing skills and move toward publication, if desired.
If the Executive Director is temporarily unable to perform duties, but is capable of making sound decisions, the Executive Director may appoint a board member to perform his/her duties. Normally, the Board President would be one appointed. If the President is also unable to assume the duties of the Executive Director, another Board member may be appointed by the Executive Director. “Temporary” may mean one meeting or up to six months.
If the Executive Director is temporarily unable to perform duties and is not capable of making sound decisions, the Board President will assume the duties of the Executive Director.
Regardless of the temporary period (one meeting up to six months), the Board will take no action(s) to dismiss or replace the Executive Director. In other words, no coup or seizure/diminishing of the Executive Director’s authority.
If a board member is temporarily unable to perform duties, the Executive Director may assign that board member’s duties to another board member or split the duties among several board members.
While member approval is required for approval of the by laws, amendments to the by laws, and appointment of board members; a temporary adjustment to duties does not require member approval unless a non-board member is assigned duties of a board member or executive director as a temporary adjustment to duties.
Be professional, be honest, be clean.
In event of dissolution, applicable government agencies shall be formally notified of such dissolution.
Corrective actions may include a range of actions including, but not limited to, chastisement, revocation of membership, and any other actions available in law or in equity.
To provide an expectation of the character, professionalism, and integrity of CLW members (authors, writers) in their quest to improve writing skills and in supporting CLW’s image and principles.
“Works” is the overall description of any writing product produced by CLW members (authors/writers) and include, but is not limited to, short stories, novels, books, articles, and any other written documents.
This policy applies to the general behavior, conduct, and actions of members (authors/writers) and for any aspects of Works provided to CLW by its members (i.e., authors/writers).
CLW authors are to exhibit and maintain a high degree of professional integrity and promote a positive image of the writing profession by not participating in plagiarism, misrepresentation of their Works, use of “ghost writers” to enhance their Works, misrepresentation of facts, dishonesty in deed or voice, or any other commissions or omissions which cast a negative image on themselves or the writing profession.
Works submitted to CLW should be the Author’s sole intellectual property and not infringe on copyrights, trademarks, public domain, or other intellectual rights of any third parties.
Generally, the Works provided to CLW by authors should not have been previously published, should not be pending publication, nor currently submitted for consideration for publication to any third party unless specifically disclosed, in writing, at the time of submission and so indicated in the opening line of the submission(s).
The Works submitted by Authors should not be bound to other third parties, including, but not limited to, publishers, editors, magazines, etc. unless a release or authorization/permission to use is provided to CLW at the time of submission by CLW member (i.e., author).
If the Works contain statements presented as fact, the Author warrants that such statements are true and accurate to the best of his/her knowledge.
Be professional, be honest, be clean.
Corrective actions may include a range of actions including, but not limited to, chastisement, revocation of membership, and any other actions available in law or in equity.
To provide policy guidelines for regularly scheduled meetings for CLW’s members.
“Works” is the overall description of any writing product produced by CLW members (writers/authors) and include, but is not limited to, short stories, novels, books, articles, and any other written documents.
This policy applies to CLW’s regularly scheduled meetings.
CLW’s mission is to assist and encourage writers, in all genres and experience levels, to improve writing skills and move toward publication, if desired.
CLW provides reading, critiquing, and creative writing sessions to help writers improve their craft.
Thursdays
Regular Meeting: Social time for fifteen minutes, announcements, Steve McCluer’s Reading Corner (limited to ten minutes), then breaking into writing and/or critique group time, will occur on the first Thursday of the month beginning at 7:00pm. Executive Director presides over these routinely scheduled meetings. In the absence of the Executive Director, a designated board member will preside.
Guest Speaker presentations will continue on the 3rd Thursday of each month, beginning at 7:00pm. Either the Executive Director or a designated CLW member will lead the meeting and introduce the speaker.
The main critique group will meet every 2nd and 4th Thursday at 7:00pm. They will meet without the regular meeting format. Everyone is welcome. Fifth Thursdays are rare but if they do occur, we will announce the format beforehand.
Tuesdays with a Twist
The 1st and 3rd Tuesdays will be InfoTalks/hangout time and will begin at 7:00pm. The 2nd and 4th Tuesdays will be Write-Ins which also allow for hangout time and will begin at 7:00pm.
Fifth Tuesdays are rare but if they do occur, we will announce the format beforehand.
Meetings end around 9:00 PM
This schedule is subject to change as the needs of our group evolve.
*Note: Prior to Covid-19 restrictions, meetings were held at a designated location. One meeting per month was dedicated to a guest speaker and this meeting was usually at a local restaurant. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, meetings are held virtually using Zoom, Facebook, or other virtual mediums. When Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, CLW’s meetings will resume as they were prior to Covid-19.
Be professional, be honest, be clean.
Corrective actions may include a range of actions including, but not limited to, chastisement, revocation of membership, and any other actions available in law or in equity.
To provide general guidelines for participation in the weekly critique group and for Works submitted by CLW members (also referred to as “”writers” and “authors”) for use within CLW.
“Works” is the overall description of any writing product produced by CLW members (writers/authors) and include, but is not limited to, short stories, novels, books, articles, and any other written documents.
This policy applies to the CLW’s members’ (authors, writers) and CLW guests’ participation in the weekly critique group and for any type of Works provided to CLW by its members (i.e., writers/authors) and CLW guests for critiquing purposes.
A vast majority of CLW’s Works are short stories, responses to writer prompts, flash fiction documents, etc., but some of the Works include drafts of novels, manuscripts, novelettes, etc. in which the authors/writers have invested much time and effort. To protect these Works, members participating in the critique group must be more vigilant and careful to safeguard the Works to preclude unauthorized dissemination of these Works or pertinent portions of the Works.
Critiquing is not synonymous with proof-reading or editing, but can be an emotional issue. Care must be taken to not hurt the author’s/writer’s feelings or demean their Works. The goal of the critique group is to get Works ready for the next level in the publishing cycle. Errors need to be corrected and the document “must flow” and be accepted by the reader, but it is not an avenue to demean the Works or the author/writer. Positive feedback or constructive suggestions are also key to critiques. The author should also understand the subjective nature of critiques and that the critique is not directed towards them personally, but towards their Works, and they are free to accept or reject the feedback offered.
CLW authors are to exhibit and maintain a high degree of professional integrity and promote a positive image of the writing profession by not participating in plagiarism, misrepresentation of their Works, use of “ghost writers” to enhance their Works, misrepresentation of facts, dishonesty in deed or voice, or any other commissions or omissions which cast a negative image on themselves or the writing profession. Works submitted to CLW should be the Author’s sole intellectual property and not infringe on copyrights, trademarks, public domain, or other intellectual rights of any third parties.
Be professional, be honest, be clean.
Corrective actions may include a range of actions including, but not limited to, chastisement, revocation of membership, and any other actions available in law or in equity.
