Lana Hendershott has resigned as representative for Netwest and NCWN.
She served the writers in Henderson County since 2008 and proved to be a loyal volunteer for our western region. Her conscientious efforts to sell the Netwest anthology, Echoes across the Blue Ridge, to book stores and other retail shops in her area made her a role model for others. Lana participated in a panel discussion by Netwest at the Blue Ridge Bookfest and at other times, she sat at the table at the bookfest and signed and sold Echoes. She enabled her fellow writers to meet and stay connected.
I met Lana when I was Program Coordinator in 2007 – 2009. The leadership of Netwest had decided to make Henderson County a part of the NCWN West region because we had heard from numerous people in that area wanting to know if there was a writers’ group or were there any other writers in Hendersonville, Fletcher or Flat Rock. They had no way of connecting to each other and therefore did not know of other poets and writers in the area.
As Program Coordinator, I talked with Ed Southern about holding a meeting at the library and sending out invitations to all members of NCWN that lived in Henderson County. I asked Nancy Purcell and J.C. Walkup to come to the meeting and talk about their duties and responsibilities in Transylvania and Haywood Counties. We needed a representative for Henderson County, but we had no volunteers. Susan Snowden suggested that I ask Lana. Susan said Lana was one of the most serious writers she knew.
It took some persuading, but Lana agreed that evening to become a representative for her county. She has been one of the easiest people to work with and once her name was known to the members there, she was available to them when they had questions or needed her advice. Even though she felt on several occasions that she would have to resign because she was needed to care for elderly parents, she persevered and, once she reached out and asked others to help, she was able to continue.
Last year when she and Pat Vestal began the open mic event they hold each month, it immediately became a success. At the present time, I believe Henderson County has more writers and poets who are members of NCWN than any county in the far western region.
I am confident that those writers would not have become the community they are now had it not been for the efforts of Lana Hendershott and Netwest.
I met Lana when I was Program Coordinator in 2007 – 2009. The leadership of Netwest had decided to make Henderson County a part of the NCWN West region because we had heard from numerous people in that area wanting to know if there was a writers’ group or were there any other writers in Hendersonville, Fletcher or Flat Rock. They had no way of connecting to each other and therefore did not know of other poets and writers in the area.
As Program Coordinator, I talked with Ed Southern about holding a meeting at the library and sending out invitations to all members of NCWN that lived in Henderson County. I asked Nancy Purcell and J.C. Walkup to come to the meeting and talk about their duties and responsibilities in Transylvania and Haywood Counties. We needed a representative for Henderson County, but we had no volunteers. Susan Snowden suggested that I ask Lana. Susan said Lana was one of the most serious writers she knew.
It took some persuading, but Lana agreed that evening to become a representative for her county. She has been one of the easiest people to work with and once her name was known to the members there, she was available to them when they had questions or needed her advice. Even though she felt on several occasions that she would have to resign because she was needed to care for elderly parents, she persevered and, once she reached out and asked others to help, she was able to continue.
Last year when she and Pat Vestal began the open mic event they hold each month, it immediately became a success. At the present time, I believe Henderson County has more writers and poets who are members of NCWN than any county in the far western region.
I am confident that those writers would not have become the community they are now had it not been for the efforts of Lana Hendershott and Netwest.
Personally, I want to tell Lana how much she is appreciated by me and by all the members of NCWN West. Caring writers like Lana make a big difference in the lives of others. We need more members like Lana throughout NCWN West to become leaders and supporters of writers in their counties.
My thanks to Lana Hendershott for all she has done in the name of NC Writers Network West to serve the writers of Henderson County. I first came to know Lana through her excellent writing. When i chose poems, stories, and essays for Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, I chose not one but two of her stories: "The Third Floor Window" and "Vision." I am sad to see Lana give up her position as Netwest Rep., but at the same time, I hope she will find new time to write her stories. --Nancy Simpson
ReplyDeleteThank you, Glenda, for your kind words. It's been fun meeting the varied writers in our community as they've shared their work at Open Mic and I know Pat Vestal and Nancy Jane Zellman will bring fresh ideas to Henderson County as they take the reins. Pat was a wonderful co-rep and I know I'm leaving the organization in good hands.
ReplyDeleteI don’t live in Henderson County, but was fortunate to be in several writing classes with Lana. Not only is she a lovely person, she was always ready to be the liaison between writers and opportunities for readings, workshops, and simply keeping us connected. I’m certain she’ll be sorely missed.
ReplyDeletePeg Bresnahan
Lana, I'd like to add my thanks. It was a joy to work with you. Ellen
ReplyDelete