CLWC Mustache-a-Thon

If you haven’t read about the mustache-a-thon Mike Scalise and Ben B. have embarked upon and Mike’s call for donations to the Capitol Letters Writing Center in DC, well, now you have. It’s a great cause: 

Capitol Letters Writing Center believes that within every student lives a writer. We support and challenge those writers through workshops, tutoring, and student publications that complement the classroom goals of educators in a safe and creative environment.

DC students will greatly benefit. And, of course, there’s the mustache ...

Observe their progress here. (Thanks Ben!)

Fall for the Book Help

The Fall for the Book festival is only a week away, and Wade has asked for volunteers this week (September 15–19) at the kiosk in the Johnson Center to promote the event and remind students what's going on. Even an hour or two will help in these times: Monday (9/15), 2-6pm; Tuesday (9/16), 12-3; Wednesday (9/17), 2-6; Thursday (9/18), 2-6; Friday (9/19), 12-3.

If any MFAers can help, let Wade know at fftbvols (a gmu.edu address).

Read for Phoebe

GMU MFAers: joining Phoebe as a fiction reader is a great way to get involved with a literary journal (on a smaller scale, or as a toe-in-the-water now if you think you'd like to become an editor later). It also offers an inside view to the kind of work submitted to journals, among other lessons . . . and it can take care of those required fiction project hours! If you're interested or would like more information, contact Fiction Editor Regan Douglass.

Volunteer for Fall for the Book

MFA students! Fall for the Book, GMU's annual celebration of the literary arts held this year September 21–26, needs your help. Wade Fletcher, recent poetry MFA alum and Assistant Manager/Volunteer Coordinator for the festival, needs tons of volunteers to help before and during that week. Volunteers help drive authors, welcome attendees, oversee individual events, and assist with various other logistical tasks. The festival is especially in need of drivers to take authors to and from the airport, hotel, and events. This is a good way to meet individual authors and have an opportunity to chat with them. Wade said he’s happy to try to oblige requests to drive specific authors (or staff specific events). If you're interested, email him (fftbvols [at] gmu.edu), and he'll send a list of current needs. You can volunteer for as little or as much as you'd like. A list of needs follows. (This notice will be updated as needs change; it's linked to the right under “Volunteer for FFTB 2008.”)


Info Tent: 

Sept. 22–Sept. 26, mid-morning to late afternoon
Got time between classes? 30 minutes? 2 hours? This is the job for you: volunteers at the info tent answer questions, direct confused students, and promote events throughout the day. The tent will be centrally located outside the Johnson Center (if it rains, it will be inside).

Venue Managers: 

Sept. 22–Sept. 26
Each event needs a representative to greet the author and be there as the audience arrives. Venue Managers will be in the room before and after each event to answer the author and audience’s questions.

Drivers: 

Sept. 22–Sept. 26
Many authors are coming from out of town. They need to be met at airports and train stations, driven to the festival hotel, picked up at the hotel, and brought to events. This is a crucial role. If you're interested in meeting a writer and driving him or her to one place or another, please email Wade ASAP. Include information, if you would, please, about dates and times you are available.

"I Want to Help but I Don't Know What to Do": 

NOW until Sept. 26th
If you just want to meet and greet people, or are willing to help out with anything and everything, email Wade with your availability and he'll let you know what is open.

Further questions? Email Wade at fftbvols [at] gmu.edu.

A Call to Volunteer in DC

Help DC students become better writers at the Capitol Letters Writing Center (CLWC). An orientation is being held on Tuesday, September 9, 5 pm, above Kramerbooks near Dupont Circle. You have to RSVP the director (see link) to attend. (Thanks to recent alum, receiver-of-Bread-Loaf-waitership, and CLWC volunteer Mike Scalise.)