Date:     January 1, 2008

To:        North Carolina Songwriters Co-op Members

From:    Dwight Sullivan, Interim NCSC Coordinator for 2008

Greetings Fellow Tunesmiths and Partners-in-rhyme.  Welcome to you all, newcomers and veterans alike.

In October we held our 10th Annual Song Writing Contest. A talented field of competitors faced off at the Holly Springs Cultural Center and while there could only be one First Place winner, clearly all were winning Singer/Songwriters. It was a fine finish to 2007 for the Co-op.

As we enter 2008, there have been a couple of changes in the Board. Mark Easley, last year's Coordinator, has left the board to allow time for other interests. Sheena Morris, who has been our Publicity Chair, also left the Board after the contest. Greg Blumenthal and Steve Vincent left the Board earlier in the year. We want to thank Mark for the time and energy he put into the Coordinator position and the Contest. Greg, thanks for all your work as webmaster. Sheena and Steve, it was a pleasure to share the gig with you. Best of luck to all of you in your future gigs.

The Board is now comprised of the following individuals:
Eileen Batson
Jon Batson
Louise Bendall (Secretary)
Tammy Griffith (Webmaster)
Pete Leary
Dwight Sullivan (Interim Coordinator; Treasurer & Membership Chair)

I've accepted the position of Interim Co-ordinator while we make a few decisions about the focus of the organization. Our most popular programs will continue as is:

• Our extensive live performance programs (Carrboro Music Festival, Eno River Music Festival, 36 Open Mics at 3 locations and our usual Open Mics at the Annual Meeting).
• Our website is being revamped with a new look and organization. The new site will still provide the opportunity to promote your CDs via a link to your own website from the Co-op site.
• If you haven't already, please register for our Yahoo! Group email list, the primary communication tool we use to provide you with information about Co-op activities.

As for our remaining activities, over the next couple of months we will be doing some work to identify the programs most valued by our members. As we find them, we'll make plans to focus our energy on those things going forward. I'll be coming to you with some questions by email in coming weeks to collect that information. Please take part in this process by responding promptly to those inquiries. This is a Co-op. It's is nothing without the participation of its members.

Thanks,

Dwight Sullivan
Interim NCSC Coordinator
coordinator@ncsongwriters.org