: About Me

I have been a contract writer for the Huerfano World Journal, a Class II weekly newspaper in Walsenburg, CO, for three years. I do beat reporting, mostly agricultural, and the weekly humor column "Despite This We Stay."  In December 2011, my column "Snot" was named top humor column of the year by the Colorado Press Association.  In 2010, I was a member of a writing team on a series about Bovine Tuberculosis, which was named best agriculture story by the Colorado Press Association.
As part of my career over the past thirty years I've also written and published: news releases, brochures, report narratives, speeches, newsletters, DVD scripts, corporate funding appeals, grant applications and a family recipe book.
I served as editor-in-chief of The Colorado Conservator (Denver-based) newspaper for five years.
My memberships include: Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (past), four years; Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (past), two years; Colorado Farm Bureau; Huerfano Basin Stockgrowers Association; Colorado Association of Conservation Districts.
I have successfully completed two courses with the Institute of Children's Literature.
I have completed three in a series of five children's books on unusual foods. I am currently assembling my first humor book, "The Best of Despite This We Stay."

My passion is ...

Flowers.

I know too much about ...

chickens.

My parents always told me ...

to work hard.

My childhood ambition ...

See the world.

My favorite memory ...

Having tea with my Mom.

Why I write ...

Writing has always been my emotional outlet.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Bluegrass music. Reading "Killing Lincoln." Watching action movies.

My first job ...

Manager of a Conservation District in Pennsylvania.

My best moment ...

finding out I was pregnant with our miracle baby.

My inspiration ...

the Bible.

Business > Business Issues How a meeting agenda can ensure a meeting is successful

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If your meeting involves more than two people, it should always have an agenda.  When a group of people assembles, it is inevitable that social chatter ensues.  Using an agenda to structure the meeting cuts down on wasted time if and when this happens.  For instance, when a person gets off on a tangent, the chair can remind that person that the group needs to focus its discussion on the specific agenda item at hand.  While the subject matter of this tangential discussion may be interesting, and possibly even important, it may not be germane to the subject of the meeting...

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• Professional Journalist
• Creative Writing Bronze
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