The Willamette Writers Board of Directors is happy to welcome current members to join us at our Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, June 29, 2023, from 6:30pm – 7:30pm Pacific Time (via Zoom, as authorized by the Board of Directors).

Members will be invited to vote on the slate of directors and will be presented with the Annual Report.

The Zoom link will be sent out to active members one week prior and a reminder will go out the day of the meeting.

About the Board of Directors

The Willamette Writers Board of Directors is a volunteer board that is elected by the Willamette Writers membership. The board slate is posted below.

Please note: your membership must be updated as of June 29 to participate in the Annual Membership Meeting.

We look forward to seeing you at our Willamette Writers Annual Membership Meeting!

2023 Willamette Writers Board of Directors Slate

Curtis C. Chen (陳致宇) is the author of the KANGAROO series of funny science fiction spy thrillers, and lead writer on
the Realm original podcast show Echo Park. His short fiction has appeared in many places, including Playboy Magazine. From 2017-2021, Curtis served as Secretary of the Board for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA). In 2010, Curtis co-founded Puzzled Pint in Portland, Oregon, then oversaw its growth into a global charity and served as President until 2021. He joined the Board of Willamette Writers in early 2022 on the Governance Committee, and is doing his best to help build a resilient community.

Bobbie Calhoun holds an MBA in General Management, BA in Mathematics, and is a certified Project Manager. She has over thirty years of experience as a global leader in finance and tech industries. She is a produced playwright, published poet and essayist, and is a member of the Dramatists Guild and Authors Guild. Bobbie is currently writing a fiction novel series about war photography, propaganda, and family politics. She cares about local writers and shares the desire to connect, learn, and practice craft. Bobbie joined the Board of Directors in 2021. She is an active member of the Finance Committee, dedicated to ensuring that the organization is fiscally responsible and able to meet the changing needs of its members.

Kathleen Colvin, a long-time Willamette Writers member, joined the Board of Directors in 2020 and currently serves on the Finance Committee and Development team. Kathleen started the Vancouver chapter in 2019 and served as its Chair. Kathleen brings her experience working in the private sector areas of business and law. She has extensive experience in finance and believes in the organization’s financial sustainability. She has written two books on Oregon’s history and architecture, both published by an academic press. Kathleen is currently writing a mystery series involving a strong female protagonist.

Jodie Fish serves as the Treasurer of the Board. Jodie works closely with the Executive Director and the board to maintain the finances and records of Willamette Writers, including leading the Finance Committee, overseeing regular financial reporting, handling the filing of annual tax returns, and guiding the board on various financial matters. In the coming year, Jodie will work to ensure financial sustainability and transparency for the organization. Jodie is a licensed Oregon CPA, writer, and artist.

Jalyn Gilmore started with Willamette Writers as an intern when they were an undergraduate. They have since served in many facets of the Willamette Writers organization, including co-chair of the Portland Chapter. They are now completing their master’s degree in library sciences. Jalyn has always enjoyed reaching out to other writers and helping them connect with the Willamette Writers community. They took on the role of Assistant Secretary earlier in 2021. Jalyn fell in love with storytelling as a young child and never looked back. Their writing has grown and strengthened over the years, and one day, they hope to share her stories with the world.

Gail Pasternack has been a member of Willamette Writers since 2010 and joined the Board of Directors in 2015. Since 2019, she served as President of the Board and has worked closely with the Executive Director and the board to run the daily business of Willamette Writers. She serves on the Governance and Finance Committees to build stronger support systems and ensure financial sustainability of the organization. A writer and storyteller, her fiction focuses on characters in the arts at crossroads in their lives.

Kathy Saviers had been a Chair for the Salem Chapter of Willamette Writers for about a decade before she joined the Board of Directors in 2019. After retiring from forensic investigations for law enforcement agencies, Kathy started writing police procedural novels with heavy emphasis on forensics. Also after retiring, she joined another non-profit where she embraced the role of maintaining their financial records. Now, she offers advice on the budget and fiscal responsibility of Willamette Writers as an active member of the Finance Committee.