Pipestone Flyer
Colleen Thiessen, Executive Director of the Wetaskiwin & District Community Literacy Program, receiving a copy of “Pens in Motion” from Lori Feldberg.
“Pens in Motion”, the compilation of the winning entries from the 2013 Wetaskiwin Writing Competitions, was launched at a joint meeting of the three local writing groups at the Mission Church. The writing groups have chosen to support S.P.E.L.L., the governing organization for the Wetaskiwin & District Community Literacy Program, with proceeds from sales of the book. “Pens in Motion” is available to purchase at Farmers' Markets and at the Wetaskiwin Literacy office at 5010 - 50th Ave.
The writing groups involved in the project are the Lone Ridge Ink Shedders, the Wetaskiwin Word Weavers, and the Writer's Wellspring, a member of the national Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship. Credit is given to each group for being responsible for particular aspects of the project. The Wetaskiwin Word Weavers conducted the writing competitions, Lone Ridge Ink Shedders put the book together, and the Writer's Wellspring hosted the Appreciation Night and Book Launch for all the writers, sponsors and hard workers. However, the hard worker involved at every phase was Lori Feldberg, a member of all three writing groups. Thank you, Lori, for giving so much of your experience, expertise, time, and effort to make this project a success.
The charming sketches by Donna Legris also add considerably to the appeal of “Pens in Motion!” They are so appropriate.
All of the writing groups and writers involved also wish to express their appreciation to the many individuals and businesses who contributed to the running of the competitions, the prizes, the compiling of the winning entries into an anthology, and the printing. These include the City of Wetaskiwin, the County of Wetaskiwin, many of the competition judges and other individuals significantly involved, and a number of local businesses: Royal LePage Parkland Agencies, Creative Design Denture Clinic, Dyck Insurance, Royal Bank of Canada, Taylor Printing, WONK, Chapman Electric, David Hewko Professional Corp., Hong and Sandy's Family Restaurant, Vision Care Plus, Value Drug, Harken Enterprises Window on Nutrition, Adams Chev Buick GMC Dealer, Pioneer Chrysler Limited, Denham Ford Sales Ltd., the Wetaskiwin Credit Union, and the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge #1559.
The writing competitions focused on the themes of four local events: the Trade Show, the Rawhide Rodeo and Pioneer Days, Harvest Days, and Alberta Culture Days. Residents of the City and County of Wetaskiwin, residents of the area First Nations communities, and members of the writing groups were all welcome to compete. The resulting anthology has wide variety of styles and approaches to these topics, and would make a unique Christmas gift for that person who has everything. It is truly a gift which gives twice: once to S.P.E.L.L. and literacy, once to the person receiving it.