Story Circle Network's
  "Stories from the Heart"
  National Conference e-Letter
  December 2007, Vol. 3, No 3

In This Issue

Stories from the Heart IV Program Registration (early registration ends December 15) Scholarships (deadline December 15) Women's Words from the Heart

Stories from the Heart IV

Once Upon a Time... This familiar phrase has an emotional impact on us all, for we are natural storytellers—we love telling them; we love hearing them. Stories of the Heart IV is a coming together of women from across the country to rejoice in the stories from every woman's heart. Beginner or seasoned, there is a place for YOU at the conference. Come and make new friends if this is your first conference. You'll find warm, friendly and interesting women who are interested in the stories you have in your heart. Story Circle Network is 10 years old this year. Help us celebrate our anniversary by registering for this, our fourth National Women's Memoir Conference, held in Austin, TX, Feb 1-3, 2008. It may be snowing and blowing a gale up north, but Austin's February average temperature is 62 degrees, with less than an inch of rain during the average month. The daffodils, iris, and forsythias are all in bloom, and around town, the native redbuds and Mexican plums are glorious. We hope you'll plan to spend several days in Austin, enjoying not just the conference, but also our city's famous Texas hospitality! See our conference website for more information.

Program

Our keynote speaker will be author and writing teacher Nancy Slonim Aronie. She has stated often: "I don't think anyone can really teach writing." The conference organizers agree, and this conference is not about teaching—it's about creating a safe place where the creative aspect of oneself can feel safe and write from her heart. Again, to quote Nancy, "[I]f you feel safe, you can do anything. You can take the risk of saying this is who I am, this is what terrifies me, this is what moves me, this is what makes me laugh. When you take that risk, you dig deep. You will access your innocence, your truth and your vulnerability and then you cannot miss." Presentations: There are 20 to choose from—as well as one pre-conference workshop, presented by Story Circle Network founder Susan Wittig Albert. Sessions are divided into four simultaneous tracks of Creativity, Nuts & Bolts, Putting Our Hearts on Paper, and Myriad Methods of Storytelling. However, participants are not locked in to any one track. They can pick, choose and change their mind if they wish. The purpose of the conference is to provide women a venue to delight in themselves and share stories as they wish. Open Mike: You've got a story, and we have a place for you to tell it! On Saturday night, we'll continue the tradition we began at our first Stories from the Heart conference: A Saturday Night Open Mike. Come and share your story! Story Wall: Bring your story, pictures, and other life writings to post on our Story Wall. Our Super Scrapbook Sisters will include as many as possible in our Stories from the Heart IV Conference Scrapbook! See program overview for more details.

Registration (early registration ends December 15)

Ready to register? Use our online registration form. You can mail your check to the Story Circle office, or pay with your credit card online, via Paypal.com. Hurry: early registration ends on December 15! If you join Story Circle Network (see below "Who We Are & How to Join Us"), you get a member discount for the conference plus all the benefits listed below. Want us to "snail mail" you a brochure? Email us your request and we'll send you one! (Be sure to include your full name & mailing address!)

Scholarships (deadline December 15)

If you are a member of SCN and have an annual family income of $50,000 or less, you may apply for a scholarship. These will be awarded in amounts ranging from $75 to the full conference cost, depending on need and the availability of funds. Additionally, we may be able to assist with travel/lodging (but we can't confirm the availability of travel/lodging money until January, 2008). Deadline to apply for a scholarship is December 15. See the registration form for details.

Women's Words from the Heart

"7 days without a laugh makes one heart weak." ~Abigail November~ "In your heart, keep one still, secret spot where dreams may go and sheltered so may thrive and grow." ~Louise Driscoll~ Have a "heart" quotation to share? Email it to us, and we'll add it to our growing collection.

Who We Are & How to Join Us

Our mission: The Story Circle Network is dedicated to helping women share the stories of their lives and to raising public awareness of the importance of women's personal histories. We carry out our mission through publications, a web site, classes, workshops, writing and reading circles, and woman-focused programs. Our activities empower women to tell their stories, discover their identities through their stories, and choose to be the authors of their own lives. If you're receiving this e-Letter but aren't a member, please join us. [Learn more about how SCN can help you tell your story: click here, or go to our website & click on "How SCN Can Help You Tell Your Story" in the "Who We Are" section of the left frame.] We offer a quarterly newsletter with features on women's lifewriting opportunities to publish your work workshops, classes, on-line courses an Internet Chapter Speaker's Bureau much more Membership categories: Member: $35; Canada & Mexico: $45; International $50 Supporter: $70 Sponsor: $125 Patron: $200 Benefactor: $400+ Chapter memberships: (To join the Internet Chapter you must also be a member of the national organization; chapter dues are in addition to the national dues): Internet Chapter: $18/yr To join, click here, or go to our website & click on "Join SCN" in the "How to Join / Enroll / Pay" section of the left frame. You can pay on-line, or send a check to Story Circle Network, P.O. Box 500127, Austin TX 78750-0127