The Beat Goes On
by Brenda Shannon Yee

The following is an excerpt from "The Beat Goes On" originally published in the Jan/Feb 2000 SCBWI-MI News.

There are few among us who can name many previous Regional Advisors (RAs), but I'd bet you know who was Michigan RA when you joined SCBWI. "Mine" was Ellen Howard. My fondest memory from my very-first-ever SCBWI-MI event is a late night kitchen counter chat with Ellen at the 1994 Almont retreat. Dressed in pj's and robes, we sipped tea. She--well published, experienced, welcoming, honest. Me--brand new in every way. I was a dry sponge, ready to soak up every drop of knowledge and support I could gather. Ellen was rain. I remain ever grateful to Ellen for making my initial SCBWI experiences positive and enriching. I'd obtained much information from how-to articles and SCBWI and Writer's Digest books. But the human touch had the greatest impact on me. Yet, what if Ellen wasn't there when I needed her? What if SCBWI-MI was stagnant?

Remembering that kitchen chat helped me realize how our lives--as humans, artists, writers, parents, children--are truly an evolutionary process. We learn. We take. We share. We give. And learn some more. The order varies, but if we are to be fully realized in any area of our lives, evolution must continue so long as our hearts beat.

The beauty is--the chapter evolves as its members do. When you can, give back to SCBWI-MI. The beat goes on.

Brenda served SCBWI-MI as Assistant RA and Newsletter Editor from 1997-1999. She chaired and co-chaired events, developed our mentorship program, and served on our Adcom from 1997 - 2000. She is author of SAND CASTLE (Greenwillow 99), and HIDE AND SEEK (Orchard 2001).

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