Message to members of PEN International, From Executive Director, Laura McVeigh.
09 February 2012
Dear friends,
PEN Protesta
First of all, a huge thank you to all of you who supported PEN Protesta in Mexico in January. Full coverage of the delegation activities is available onwww.pen-international.org including photographs and video footage, links to the many press interviews (on Press Center) and reports of the event (In Focus: Mexico), alongside a blog from Marion Botsford-Fraser, Chair of the Writers in Prison Committee, detailing the daily meetings and happenings. You can also see speech notes, a copy of the signed declaration calling for an end to impunity and the killing of journalists. This historic PEN delegation is one of several ongoing campaign actions on Mexico (one of our focus countries this year) and I am grateful to all of you who also supported online, through the petition and through the Twitter campaign #PENProtesta.
Girona Manifesto
We are appealing to all members - if you haven't already submitted a translation of the Girona Manifesto in your language please do so before the end of February. The Translation & Linguistic Rights Committee is creating a Girona Manifesto publication and we would love to feature as many translated versions of this important document as possible. These are needed urgently - please contact Ruth at [email protected] for further details.
Translation Pool
Staying on the topic of translation - my thanks to all of you who have offered to join the PEN International translation pool or who encouraged colleagues to join - it is wonderful to have your support and involvement on this and will help ensure PEN is truly international. Thank you. If you are considering signing up let Ruth know at [email protected]
Committees - Getting Involved
For those of you new to PEN, here is a brief introduction to PEN Committees and how to get involved. There are four Standing Committees - Translation & Linguistic Rights (working on diversity and translation); Writers for Peace (a space for dialogue and debate on key issues); Writers in Prison (supporting writers at risk and the freedom to write); Women Writers (a community supporting women writers across PEN). As a PEN member you can participate in these committees. Contact details for each committee is available online at http://www.pen-international.org/who-we-are/committees/
There are also two current ad hoc committees (Governance and Digital Rights). These two ad hoc committees were created in response to member requests at the previous Assembly of Delegates for a special focus on these issues and are a way for you to directly engage in shaping key aspects of PEN policy. Governance is chaired by PEN International Treasurer Eric Lax and Digital Rights is chaired by PEN International Secretary Hori Takeaki. The committees will report back to the Assembly at the upcoming Congress in Korea in September.
There are also other PEN committees such as the Search Committee and the sub-committees of the Board - details are available online and you can see Board members here http://www.pen-international.org/who-we-are/board/
News from the office
Funding
January has been a busy month with a continued focus on fundraising proposals and reporting to funders. We are grateful in particular to the Fritt Ord Foundation who have awarded a new grant this month in continuation of their support for PEN International. My thanks also to those of you who have been in touch regarding dues payments - greatly appreciated - dues matter not only at the important level of financial support but they are a crucial indicator for other funders as they demonstrate the commitment of PEN Centers to the shared PEN ideals as an international membership organisation.
Developing the website
Work is also well underway on phase two development of the PEN International website - we are building a literary hub for PEN and developing the community aspects of the website. Paul Finegan ([email protected]) is currently coordinating our literary activity supported by our volunteer Emilia, and he will be in touch with Centres soon to share plans and ways in which to showcase writing through the PEN literary site.
Free the Word!
Planning is underway for new Free the Word! activity for 2012. This year we will be changing the way in which Free the Word! festivals run - working more closely in partnership with other key literature festivals and events. We will also be linking our festival activity where possible to our focus countries for 2012 in relation to freedom of expression campaigning and work on behalf of writers at risk. Follow @pen_int on Twitter, see the PEN International page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/peninternational) or visit http://www.pen-international.org/events-festivals/free-the-word/ for updates. If your Centre has an interest in running a Free the Word! event please contact Paul Finegan for guidance at [email protected]
90th Anniversary - calling filmmakers
Our volunteer Karis is working on PEN International's 90th Anniversary celebrations. We are planning a short film featuring leading writers and PEN members as part of the celebrations. Any filmmakers interested in supporting this project please contact Karis at [email protected] for further details.
Finally, please do share these monthly updates with all of your members - we want to reach as many PEN members as possible with your help.
All best,
Laura McVeigh
Executive Director
Laura McVeigh | Director | Directrice | Directora | PEN International
t. +44 (0)20 7405 0338 | m. +44 (0)7824640527 | s. laura.mcveighPEN
e. [email protected] | t. @lcmcveigh | www.pen-international.org
Celebrating 90 years of promoting literature and defending freedom of expression
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