Dear WiPS Members
It has been quiet as of late. Covid-19 has caused many of us to take new perspectives on life, and those of us in Hong Kong – as well as members overseas – are adapting to and even delighting in the change of pace and time afforded with family.
Zoom is the new place to hang out online and has proved popular as well as effective. Face to face contact is fuel to the soul after all. It has proved invaluable for the WiPS committee.
And now it appears that Hong Kong may well be over the worst of its fears and preparing for the new post-Covid lifestyle.
Having no choice but to postpone the Imprint launch, the committee plans to hold an alternative celebration in the months ahead. We cannot compromise members’ safety, so we are in no rush to confirm a date. While we would like to have the gathering before the summer break, September seems more realistic. The FCC is holding our booking until the end of that month. In the meantime, we are printing the anthology.
Why should Covid-19 spoil all we’d planned? Lewis Caroll was no futurist, but as a dreamer, he would have agreed:
The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done —
“It’s very rude of him,” she said,
“To come and spoil the fun.”
And on this optimistic note, let us introduce you to our modest line-up of upcoming social events.
Imprint 19
Imprint 19 is with the printer. We will mail out one copy to all members, both locally and abroad, by early June. Copies will have to be sent by surface mail to those of you overseas, so please be patient. Normal air mail services have yet to resume. We received a bumper crop of submissions from more than 50 members this year – and what a high standard they were! We are sure Imprint 19 will impress!
If you would like to obtain additional copies, please contact Polly on wipshk@gmail.com. We will ensure certain local bookstores carry stock. Bulk orders can be paid for and collected from designated committee members who have agreed to house supplies.
Informal Get-togethers
Our bi-monthly social gathering will resume on Tuesday, 2 June. This time we will meet at Colette’s, Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central. There’s a bar, including a balcony and tables indoors where you can have a light dinner or just snacks and drinks. The club is air-conditioned, a welcome retreat now that the humidity has returned. Under current restrictions, no more than eight members are permitted for any social gathering, so please email me at miss.m.motivator@gmail.com if you plan to attend. Apologies in advance to drop-ins who may have to be turned away unless we have fewer than eight attendees.
Critique Group
Our group of eight critiquing members, co-ordinated by Jennifer Walker Frisinger, will resume their meetings on Tuesday, 9 June at Colette’s. This 2-hour session will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Dinner and snacks are available. If you wish to join, please email Jennifer through her Members’ Directory listing. Four pieces are submitted each month, and we review each submission and share comments. We would love you to join us. Our first session was a big success.
Members’ Directory
If Covid-19 has forced any change in your contact details or biography, please make the corrections by logging in to your WiPS directory at the WiPS website (www.hkwips.com).
Members’ Showcase
Our Showcase of members’ published work, reached under the MEMBERS tab on the home page of our website, is there for your use. Please forward a picture of any one publication you would like to display along with a review or blurb of no more than 100 words to wipshk@gmail.com.
Woman at Work
If you would like to be featured in this section on our facebook page/website (not more than 300 words), please contact us on wipshk@gmail.com.
Our Facebook page
We are most appreciative of Kay Ross’ posts, which continue to give momentum to our Social Media presence. Please “like” as many posts as possible since the more we have, the more we grow. Also, if you should have any material which you feel is suitable for posting, please email this to Polly on wipshk@gmail.com.
So dear friends, please keep safe and savvy as you return to almost normal routines here in Hong Kong. May Imprint 19 open you up to worlds beyond your own which others in our society have breathed or imagined. Allow the Muses to sweep you off your feet!
And on behalf of our committee, Thank You all for your loyalty and your generosity of spirit.
Suzanne Andrews