Present: Anne Spry, Thea Rademacher, Janet Stotts, Duane Johnson, Glory Hemmingway, Reaona Hemmingway, Audrey Bosley, Aimee Gross, Ruth Maus, Fred Appelhanz, Carol Yoho, Barbara Brady, Julie Brin, Max Dunavan, Connie White, and Duane Herrmann.
President Spry welcomed the attendees and introduced our program speaker.
Program
Legal Issues for Writers by Thea Rademacher, attorney and KAC District One member. Thea is an author and attorney working with authors regarding most of the legal issues they have questions about when writing and releasing their manuscripts and works. She started with sage advice–that it’s easier to avoid/prevent a problem than to clean up a legal mess. With that in mind, Thea shared a Power Point relative to legal protections and laws relative to Copyrighting, trademarks, infringement issues and registered trademarks, with examples of each. She discussed images and whether or not they are free for publishing, as well as who actually has copyrights, including the rights of ghost writers and photographers, and contract exceptions. She spent time on intellectual rights and inheritance rights of intellectual properties. Ms. Rademacher offered information on several online resources and reminded people to read and understand the contracts before signing. She has offered a copy of her lecture in book format for free to district one members and those participating in the meeting. Her presentation will be online through on the District One YouTube channel (visit the District One Kansas Authors Club Facebook page.) The book can be requested at [email protected]. Legal concerns for writers is a huge area on information and law. Our speaker recommended that people research and read the many helpful articles online.
Business Meeting:
The business meeting was called to order by President Anne Spry at 2:00 PM.
Secretary’s Report - As posted on the District One website: It was moved and seconded that we accept the report. The report was approved by the members present. Reading these reports will keep readers up to date about what’s happening in District One.
Treasurer’s Report - As emailed to the District One members: Acceptance was moved by Ruth and seconded by Fred. It was approved by a vote of the members present. Anne also thanked Reaona for the new pdf format that makes the report easy to upload and share with membership. Reaona advises that she has received 3 registrations and a speaker sponsorship donation.
Old Business: No Old Business was reported.
New Business: Here we included several updates relative to the 2021 Convention planning. All speakers’ slots are filled, and members have been working with these speakers.
Duane J. discussed the audio and video technical services and how those are progressing.
Max advised of his contacts with Jolene Haas regarding the Youth Awards and the concerns surrounding the hospitality event. We decided on a plan. However, Jolene is also ready to go with a PowerPoint presentation if necessary. She is not expecting many to attend the actual ceremony with the Covid virus concerns.
Max is working on additional partnering and convention possibilities with the area agencies on aging.
Carol advised that her cutoff date for advertisers and receiving the appropriate business cardads is August 31.
Ruth thanked all the state board and local KAC members that have worked so hard to plan this agenda, fund raise and accomplish other planning tasks. Special thanks for Anne taking the leadership to pull so many tasks and people together.
Members voiced concerns and questions about the 2021 Convention, the hotel’s short deadline and need for confirmation of the on-site event versus cancellation deadlines amid the growing Covid virus rates in Shawnee County and the state. Members did a poll of support relative to the on-site portion of the program, further discussed options and our ethical responsibilities to convention participants. A request for a motion was suggested by Max.
Janet made a motion that, due to Covid 19 concerns and other factors, we move to a totally virtual convention. Ruth seconded the motion, and a vote was held with 12 present. Ten voted in favor and two abstained. The President asked for a show of hands of those opposed and no one raised their hands. The motion seemed to have the backing of all the participants based upon their verbal statements and the result of the voting.
Duane J. then shared a convention scheduling backup draft plan for moving fully into a virtual mode. There were comments and discussions. The plan will need some tweaking but looked pretty good.
Carol advised that as the convention will be virtual, eliminating the lag time of a printing company for the program, she is able to adjust the online schedule and program handbook more easily. Please get your business card sized ads into Carol Yoho before deadline so she can include those in our online convention program. We will be looking at additional avenues to thank our advertisers now that we can recognize them during the virtual presentations.
There are many actions that will be required by the local planning committee and the state Kansas Authors Club Board. Anne asked the full membership to come together by suggesting a list of those issues that will require immediate action for our planning committee and a Membership and Marketing Committee was scheduled for 2 P.M. on August 24th, so we can proceed to give vendors and the hotel appropriate notice by early September. Please send your list suggestions to Ruth Maus, Anne, or Max.
District One members were all disappointed that we felt we needed to take this action, but the safety of our fellow KAC members during this pandemic was foremost in our minds. There is no reason we cannot have a superior Convention online. There is an exceptional schedule of speakers lined-up and ready to go virtual. We believe that people will understand that we had little choice.
The next meeting is scheduled for September 18, 2021, at 1:00 PM. and the program will be a read around. Find something to share! Watch for instructions and the Zoom link in the newsletter.
President Spry welcomed the attendees and introduced our program speaker.
Program
Legal Issues for Writers by Thea Rademacher, attorney and KAC District One member. Thea is an author and attorney working with authors regarding most of the legal issues they have questions about when writing and releasing their manuscripts and works. She started with sage advice–that it’s easier to avoid/prevent a problem than to clean up a legal mess. With that in mind, Thea shared a Power Point relative to legal protections and laws relative to Copyrighting, trademarks, infringement issues and registered trademarks, with examples of each. She discussed images and whether or not they are free for publishing, as well as who actually has copyrights, including the rights of ghost writers and photographers, and contract exceptions. She spent time on intellectual rights and inheritance rights of intellectual properties. Ms. Rademacher offered information on several online resources and reminded people to read and understand the contracts before signing. She has offered a copy of her lecture in book format for free to district one members and those participating in the meeting. Her presentation will be online through on the District One YouTube channel (visit the District One Kansas Authors Club Facebook page.) The book can be requested at [email protected]. Legal concerns for writers is a huge area on information and law. Our speaker recommended that people research and read the many helpful articles online.
Business Meeting:
The business meeting was called to order by President Anne Spry at 2:00 PM.
Secretary’s Report - As posted on the District One website: It was moved and seconded that we accept the report. The report was approved by the members present. Reading these reports will keep readers up to date about what’s happening in District One.
Treasurer’s Report - As emailed to the District One members: Acceptance was moved by Ruth and seconded by Fred. It was approved by a vote of the members present. Anne also thanked Reaona for the new pdf format that makes the report easy to upload and share with membership. Reaona advises that she has received 3 registrations and a speaker sponsorship donation.
Old Business: No Old Business was reported.
New Business: Here we included several updates relative to the 2021 Convention planning. All speakers’ slots are filled, and members have been working with these speakers.
Duane J. discussed the audio and video technical services and how those are progressing.
Max advised of his contacts with Jolene Haas regarding the Youth Awards and the concerns surrounding the hospitality event. We decided on a plan. However, Jolene is also ready to go with a PowerPoint presentation if necessary. She is not expecting many to attend the actual ceremony with the Covid virus concerns.
Max is working on additional partnering and convention possibilities with the area agencies on aging.
Carol advised that her cutoff date for advertisers and receiving the appropriate business cardads is August 31.
Ruth thanked all the state board and local KAC members that have worked so hard to plan this agenda, fund raise and accomplish other planning tasks. Special thanks for Anne taking the leadership to pull so many tasks and people together.
Members voiced concerns and questions about the 2021 Convention, the hotel’s short deadline and need for confirmation of the on-site event versus cancellation deadlines amid the growing Covid virus rates in Shawnee County and the state. Members did a poll of support relative to the on-site portion of the program, further discussed options and our ethical responsibilities to convention participants. A request for a motion was suggested by Max.
Janet made a motion that, due to Covid 19 concerns and other factors, we move to a totally virtual convention. Ruth seconded the motion, and a vote was held with 12 present. Ten voted in favor and two abstained. The President asked for a show of hands of those opposed and no one raised their hands. The motion seemed to have the backing of all the participants based upon their verbal statements and the result of the voting.
Duane J. then shared a convention scheduling backup draft plan for moving fully into a virtual mode. There were comments and discussions. The plan will need some tweaking but looked pretty good.
Carol advised that as the convention will be virtual, eliminating the lag time of a printing company for the program, she is able to adjust the online schedule and program handbook more easily. Please get your business card sized ads into Carol Yoho before deadline so she can include those in our online convention program. We will be looking at additional avenues to thank our advertisers now that we can recognize them during the virtual presentations.
There are many actions that will be required by the local planning committee and the state Kansas Authors Club Board. Anne asked the full membership to come together by suggesting a list of those issues that will require immediate action for our planning committee and a Membership and Marketing Committee was scheduled for 2 P.M. on August 24th, so we can proceed to give vendors and the hotel appropriate notice by early September. Please send your list suggestions to Ruth Maus, Anne, or Max.
District One members were all disappointed that we felt we needed to take this action, but the safety of our fellow KAC members during this pandemic was foremost in our minds. There is no reason we cannot have a superior Convention online. There is an exceptional schedule of speakers lined-up and ready to go virtual. We believe that people will understand that we had little choice.
The next meeting is scheduled for September 18, 2021, at 1:00 PM. and the program will be a read around. Find something to share! Watch for instructions and the Zoom link in the newsletter.