Writers Victoria is a wonderful organisation which supports and connects all types of writers at all stages of their writing careers. I’ve been a member for more than ten years – attending courses and workshops, and enjoying the monthly magazine. Writers Victoria also offers mentorships, a manuscript assessment service, and lots of support, advice and information.

So, in an effort to give something back, I’ve decided to stand for a place on the Committee of Management. That is, I’d like to become a Board Member of Writers Victoria.

But to do that, I need your help.

In fact I really, really need your help.

This year, in an outstanding expression of confidence in the Writers Victoria organisation, 16 people have nominated for four vacant positions on the Committee of Management.  And because I failed to change my name by deed poll to Alice Aardvark, my name is last on the alphabetised list! Therefore, frankly, I definitely need your vote.

It’s very easy to vote BUT YOU NEED TO VOTE THIS WEEK.

Oh, and you also need to be a member of Writers Victoria.

If you are member of Writers Victoria, click here. You might need to login, if you haven’t done so already.

If after you’ve logged in, you need to find the appropriate page again, go the Writers Victoria home page, click on The Writing Life tab, and then select 2017 AGM and Committee Selections.

Download the proxy voting form (it is a Word document), fill it in (page 1) and nominate the four people you’d most like to see on the Writers Victoria Committee of Management (page 2).  Did I mention that my name is the last on the list?

Then send your form back to Writers Victoria by email or post, so that it is received no later than 6pm on Tuesday 4 April 2017.  VOTE NOW!

A brief statement for each nominee is provided on the subsequent pages of the proxy voting form. Here’s mine… it’s hardly my best prose but there was a word limit!

Michelle Scott Tucker

I live in regional Victoria and work as an Executive Director of ACIG, a specialist consulting firm (www.acig.com.au). I provide services to government and not-for-profit (NFP) clients in the areas of governance, process improvement, evaluation and review, change management and policy development. My clients include all three levels of government within Australia and organisations from health, education and NFP sectors. I also work internationally, with governments from around the world.

Business qualifications:
• Bachelor of Arts (BA, English and History)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

I am finalising a biography of Anglo-Australian colonist Elizabeth Macarthur (1766-1850), to be released by Text Publishing in 2018. My agent is Jacinta Di Mase Management.

Writing qualifications:
• 2015 – selected, HARDCOPY Professional Development Program
• 2012 – shortlisted, Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship
• 2012 – Varuna Fellowship for Writing
• Piece recorded for ABC RN’s 360 Documentary program
• Blog – AdventuresInBiography.wordpress.com
• Member Writers Victoria since 2007

Statement:

Writers Victoria continues to expand and enhance the services it provides to regional writers and, as a regional writer myself, I would like to be part of that process. As a result of my career in government and business, I believe the skills I could contribute to the committee of management include:
• Expertise in governance, review and process improvement.
• Extensive experience in managing and writing grants and government tenders
• A track record of achieving positive outcomes in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Thorough understanding of marketing and communications processes (my role at ACIG encompasses all our marketing and business development activities, including the development and maintenance of the company website and social media strategy).
• A career spent working with and for government agencies (I speak fluent bureaucrat and am happy to liaise with Writers Victoria’s government partners and stakeholders).
• A friendly, pragmatic and practical approach, and a genuine desire to foster a supportive and collegial working environment.

 

So, have you voted yet?  Go on – get to it! And feel free to encourage your Writers Victoria friends to vote too.