To help you get the most out of your SCBWI membership, we have provided the following information about how to get involved in our chapter while taking advantage of our numerous member offerings.
Meet the team!
The RMC is led by a team of dedicated volunteers:
Susan Wroble – Co-Regional Advisor (Co-RA)
Stan Yan – Co-Regional Advisor (Co-RA)
Hilary Faith Hickman – Illustrator Coordinator (IC)
Lisa Trank – Assistant Regional Advisor (ARA)
We also have many other wonderful volunteers who help keep our chapter running, listed on our Volunteer page.
Benefits of Membership in the RMC
SCBWI has many benefits for writers and illustrators from the newest beginner to the published veteran. Below is a quick overview of what the Rocky Mountain Chapter offers local members:
Connects
These are small, informal local gatherings across our region, run by volunteers who are writers and illustrators just like you. Connects are a great way to network while improving your craft. We have seven Connects based on geographic region, an Illustrator Connect, and one special interest Connect for those writing and illustrating for the LGBTQ community. We’re actively working on expanding our areas and special interest groups. All Connects are open and free of charge to SCBWI members. Check out the Upcoming Events page on our website to see what’s happening near you.
Private Facebook group
The Rocky Mountain Chapter hosts a private Facebook group for members only. Here you can connect with other members, share good news, and keep up-to-date on chapter and industry happenings. To join, visit the Group Page and request to be added. If your Facebook name is different than your membership name (i.e. membership is “Robert” but you use “Bob” for Facebook) please contact our Director of Member Communications & Publicity, Shelly Steig, at kitetales.rmc.scbwi@gmail.com and let her know.
Connect with us to stay informed on local and regional gatherings, educational opportunities, member promotional opportunities, and other SCBWI news and events. Follow @SCBWIRockyMtn and send us a message letting us know you are a new member and we’ll follow back. Tag us @SCBWIRockyMtn in your writing or illustration posts and we will share eligible tweets with our followers!
Are you an illustrator? Industry professionals are constantly browsing social media to find new talent, which is why RMC wants to help promote your work. Follow @illustration_scbwirockymtn, send us a message letting us know you are a new member and we’ll follow back. Tag @illustration_scbwirockymtn in your illustration post and we will share your work with our followers!
Kite Tales quarterly newsletter
Enjoy our online newsletter filled with craft articles, messages from the regional team, interviews with industry professionals, and so much more. This is a great way to stay informed about goings-on in our region!
PAL benefits
PAL means “published and listed.” Rondi Frieder works tirelessly as the PAL Laison to provide outreach, support and opportunities to connect with readers, bookstores, and the reading community. You can connect with her on the Volunteers page.
Annual Events
Our regional conference, Letters & Lines, is typically held in early to mid-fall at the Denver Marriott West in Golden, CO. In 2022 the Letters & Lines Conference will take place September 10th and 11th.
In spring we often also host an intensive for illustrators and a workshop for writers. SCBWI members enjoy discounted rates on all these events! Click here for more info and to register. Check out our website at rmc.scbwi.org for more details about what we offer!
*Conference and workshops fill up fast so if you are interested in attending be sure to secure your spot as soon as possible.
Critique Groups
Would you like to improve your craft while spending time with like-minded people? Join a critique group! Please click on the “Critique Groups” Link in the Green menu bar on the right side of this page. Then fill out the form so that our Critique Group Coordinator, Rachel Funez, can assist you in finding a critique group.
Lastly, we want to stay connected with you!
E-News
Keep an eye out for our monthly UPCOMING EVENTS and GOOD NEWS emails. We communicate with our members largely through an email service that pulls from the most up-to-date member information. As long as your membership is active and you haven’t opted out, you should receive these emails. That said, follow the guidelines below to ensure our emails don’t get lost somewhere in cyber-space:
* Make sure the email address listed in your SCBWI.org profile is the address you wish to receive our correspondence from, and one that you check regularly. This way you’ll receive updates on events and chapter happenings on a timely basis. Our events can fill up fast, and it’s a bummer to miss out on registration because you missed an email.
* Set your inbox filters to receive email from rmc@scbwi.org. Otherwise, our emails could go directly to spam, or get deleted altogether.
* Keep your membership up-to-date! Your membership is good for a year, but if it lapses you will automatically stop receiving communication from us (after a few gentle reminder emails). Never fear, SCBWI headquarters has made it easy to renew. Visit scbwi.org for more information on renewing.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need any assistance. We’re so happy to have you here, and we look forward to joining you on your writing and/or illustrating path!