Re: International Thriller Writers Association

**"* B* <g*@otherside.com>**

Rich,
    I think you picked up your trowel and headed for a part of the garden 
where none of us have been working. To best of my knowledge no one has 
implied that judges are taking bribes. I certainly did not. Conversation was 
about the fees for entries. So... the "slur" was never there.
    I belong to quite a few orgs both "pro" and not so pro. Some of them all 
volunteer and some not. Have been for many years on a few. I like to support 
what interests me where I can. There is not way I can be at every meeting of 
every org I belong to. Like most members of this org I have a "real" day 
job. I own a nursery. Garden writing is wonderful but it does not pay the 
bills. My work thus far comes from editors who has seen previous work and 
suggest assignments, or I make suggestions. Contacts thus far thru GWA has 
been something for nothing and then they mostly do not write back and say 
think you or send a copy when requested. If you have had different 
experiences, then good for you. I hope everyone does in this org. But that 
is not what I hear form others in the field who do not belong.
    You're comments about "crap" and "not entitled to work" are a bit out of 
line in a polite conversation with differing viewpoints.. the conversation 
was for an exchange of information.... not strident dismissal of personal 
experiences in the organization in somewhat crude language.

Gene E. Bush
Munchkin Nursery & Gardens, llc
www.munchkinnursery.com
genebush@munchkinnursery.com
Zone 6/5  Southern Indiana

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rich Pomerantz" <rich@richpomerantz.com>
To: <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 3:42 PM
Subject: [GWL] International Thriller Writers Association

>I love the back and forth and honesty of this list. I have learned more 
>than a few good things by being on it. I do feel that I have to defend a 
>couple of the things that have been said about the GWA though. I am just a 
>regular member, a photographer as some of you know. Never been on any of 
>it's boards or committees, except for two stints as a judge for the media 
>awards.  I had a photo shoot two weeks ago for a feature in a national 
>magazine that was absolutely a direct result of my involvement in GWA.  I 
>met the editor at the symposium last year, enjoyed a drink and some 
>socializing with mutual friends, then renewed the contact several times 
>since then with my normal promotional mailings and a phone call. My phone 
>call was well timed, as she introduced me right then to her new Art 
>Director, who looked at my work, and then hired me a few weeks later for 
>the shoot. I know from experience that so much of getting work has to do 
>with being remembered at the right time, and that
> was what my call & mailings were designed to catch.  Other work from other 
> magazines has come also as a result of my developing relationships with 
> editors at GWA meetings and symposia.
>
> Also, I don't understand the comment about winners buying the awards. No 
> one paid me or my fellow judges anything to select the winners we chose 
> when I judged, and I am quite sure none of the other judges receive any 
> compensation for making the choices they did.  That's a slur that has no 
> basis. Can we agree to not repeat it anymore, unless of course you have 
> proof of the bribery you are alleging?
>
> I happen to agree with much of the criticism of the GWA, regarding it 
> being slow to move into the 21st century, and not being as creative as we 
> might like it to be, but these comments are just crap.  The comparison to 
> the thriller writers was a great one, very apt, I thought. It's a shame 
> the discussion devolved so quickly into unjustified allegations of bribery 
> and cronyism. It's easy to bash something when you are not willing to 
> contribute anything positive. If everyone on this list with something 
> negative to say about GWA ran for election to its board next year maybe 
> then some positive changes would come. Maybe. Big maybe.
>
> Here's how it works folks - you are not entitled to work! If you want to 
> get work from your contacts in GWA or anywhere else, you have to make it 
> happen. You can't possibly expect the organization to make editors call 
> you.  It's just like anything else in life, you get out of it just about 
> what you put into it.
>
> Rich Pomerantz
> rich@richpomerantz.com
> www.richpomerantz.com
> (860)355-3356

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