2011 - 2012 Activities and Social Events
with the Writers' Coop

Coop’s 10th Anniversary Party – on Valentine’s Day

We hope all Coop members have by now received an invitation in their mailboxes for our exciting evening. Please remember to contact Dayna Fesciuc (381-3728) or email party@writerscoop.org by February 1st with your plans to attend. There will be engaging entertainment and great food, always a wonderful combination for a romantic evening.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

The Bassment, lower level (north entrance) of the old Post Office building, across the intersection from the Frances Morrison Library

Free to members, $10 for non-member guests of members. Please reply by the February 1 deadline

Up Close and Personal with Louise Halfe

Cree poet Louise Halfe, the author of three books of poetry, served as Saskatchewan’s second Poet Laureate. The Coop, in partnership with the Frances Morrison Library, is pleased to give you the opportunity to meet and learn from Louise, in the fourth in our series of evenings with popular local authors. We look forward to seeing you.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

7:30 p.m.

Room 3, Frances Morrison Library

Free. Beverages and cookies provided

Fifth Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

The January 12, 2012 Open Mike had 21 persons in attendance with 7 readers, of which 2 were new readers. Gary Chappell covered the MC duties.

Mark Phillips and Welley Lamadine were new readers this time. Returnees included Mike Chouinard, Dale Sands, Sonja Waldheim, Fish, and Gary Chappell.

Fourth Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

On December 8, 2011, 24 Coop members, community members, family and friends gathered in the Gallery of the Frances Morrison Library for the Coop's monthly Open Mike.

The evening had 10 readers, of which two were new. New readers were Kathleen Morrell and Ewald Gossner. Returning readers included Don Reimer, Carol Kavanagh, Dale Sands, Sonja Waldheim, Richard Buffalo, Carmen Davies, Jim Weseen, and Fish.

Gary Chappell and Jo Oliver shared the MC duties for the evening; Carmen Davies managed the registration desk.

Third Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

On November 10, 2011, 23 Coop members, community members, family and friends gathered in the Gallery of the Frances Morrison Library for the Coop's monthly Open Mike.

The evening had 12 readers, of which four were new. New readers were Donna Jean Gerrier, Holly Keeler, Margaret Scott, and Charlotte Garret. Returning readers included Jaime Pinilla, Dale Sands, George Khng, Don Reimer, Sonja Waldheim, Gary Chappell, and Jo Oliver.

Gary Chappell and Jo Oliver shared the MC duties for the evening; Carmen Davies managed the registration desk.

Up Close & Personal with Candace Savage

Candace Savage is Saskatchewan’s most prolific and successful nonfiction writer, with over 25 books to her credit. She was the guest of honour at the Frances Morrison Library Gallery on October 20, 2011 as part of the Up Close and Personal series co-sponsored by the Coop and the Frances Morrison Library. The event, part of Saskatchewan Library Week activities, was attended by about twenty-five Coop and community members, who learned a great deal about the kinds of nonfiction writing as well as about Candace's own work.

Kristina Komendant was the organizer and MC, and FML writer-in-residence Yvette Nolan welcomed everyone and introduced Candace.

Pictures ==>

Second Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

On October 13, 2011, 28 Coop members, community members, family and friends gathered in the Gallery of the Frances Morrison Library for the third event of the Coop's 2011-2012 season, the Coop's monthly Open Mike-- this year once again co-sponsored with the Frances Morrison Library.

The evening had 11 readers, of which three were new. Poet Laureate Don Kerr had a double slot and read first. Don kindly brought five of his books to give away, so we just continued drawing tickets after the door prize until they were all won. Both Jaime Pinilla and Don Kerr displayed books at the back for sale.

New readers were Don Kerr, Krista Winarsky, and James Waldner. Returning readers included Jason Underhill, Art Battiste, Jaime Pinilla, Linda Wood, Nolan Hand, Don Reimer, Dale Sands, and Jim Conner.

Gary Chappell and Carmen Davies shared the MC duties for the evening; Kristina Komendant managed the registration desk.

The Coop at Word On The Street (WOTS)

The Coop was an enthusiastic participant at Saskatoon's first WOTS festival, on Sunday, September 25, 2011. In the company of 43 other participating writer-focused businesses and organizations each with its own booth, the Coop offered a venue providing information about the Coop, showcasing and selling members' books, and offering a free draw for a donated basket of members' writing. Thanks to Dave Schultz for organizing the booth and getting the Coop a lovely new banner for the occasion, and to Jeff Smith for anchoring the booth with Dave.

WOTS

Jeff Smith and Dave Schultz at the Coop WOTS booth

First Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

On September 8, 2011, 38 Coop members, community members, family and friends gathered in the Gallery of the Frances Morrison Library for the first event of the Coop's 2011-2012 season, the Coop's monthly Open Mike-- this year once again co-sponsored with the Frances Morrison Library.

Twelve readers treated the audience to a great variety of work -- prose, poetry, novel excerpt, science fiction, literary non-fiction, kidlit, you name it. New readers included Lew Scott, Steven Thair, Linda Wood, Dayna Fesciuc, Leslie Clark, and Fish (possibly a nom de plume?) Readers who have read before included Carmen Davies, Jaime Pinilla, Sonja Waldheim, Regine Haensel, Dale Sands, and Cailean Bethel-Van Rempelle.

Jo Oliver and Gary Chappell organized the event and shared the MC duties for the evening.

Our thanks go to the readers, the audience, and the Library.