Writer’s Guild of Acadiana board meeting minutes of Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
1st item: Members Meeting:
Tonight, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, poetry pealed resoundingly through the auditorium of Lafayette South Regional Library as seven poets recited their work on the theme of ‘Summer Dreams.’
Chris Fontenot and Mark Bornstein tied for first place once the votes were counted, both receiving a gift card from Amazon. However, the voting was close all around for each participant because every poem was a resounding success. Well written verse that all thirty-two attendees applauded for. The board of directors even held a flash meeting afterwards and decided that all the contestants poems would be published in our anthology.
And then other non-members rose and red their equally entertaining stanzas. What a night for poetry. That said, it would be a good idea to arrive at Writers Guild meetings with writing utensils available: paper and pen/pencil, computer, phone, tablet, etc. YOU might be asked to create something great right then and there. Join us for writing fun.
Now back to Board meeting items:
2nd item – Treasurers Report:
The guild started off 2026 with a balance of $4086.56 in our coffers. By mid-year, with this meeting, we’ve added income of $2428.07, paid out expenses of $1610.74, and now enjoy a balance of $4903.89. Tonight the board also agreed to spend $1000.00 on advertising between now and December 31, 2026. We’re solvent.
3rd item – Treasury anthologies:
Both volume 1 & 2, are available at Amazon and at Ingram Spark in both paperback and hardcover. We are now in planning for Treasury volume 3. Beth Davis will head it up. So, if you have something you’re working on, submit it. You might get published!
4th item – Quality standards for submissions:
The board has developed a quality standard for all written submissions to the guild. This criteria will be applied to all submissions to the Treasury, and to other future writing projects the guild might take on. This criteria list as currently developed will be displayed on our website and will be sent by email to our members. IF a member or non-member submits a written submission that does not meet the criteria, the submission will be tactfully rejected. What is published in our treasury reflects on the quality of writing our guild produces and represents. If you’re interested in contributing to development of this criteria, or have comments, please contact a board member.
5th item – Website:
Our website is WritersGuildAcadiana.org. Andre Guirard is in charge of the website and is handling ongoing improvements. What we might expect soon: discussions of membership being done through the website, a new store to sell our merchandise and Treasuries, and where non-members might be able to sign up as new members and pay their dues. Any board member or regular member can consult with Andre Guirard concerning posting information onto the website. Reach him at 763-458-6897 or aguirard@tylertork.com
6th item – Writing competitions:
Every other month, our guild sponsors a writing competition on an assigned prompt.
Please consult our website, WritersGuildAcadiana.org for the writing prompt for September.
Rules of our membership writing competition:
· Members must be the author of the piece and must be present to read their submissions.
· The author is allowed one submission only. The reading time limit is 5 minutes (strictly enforced).
· The writing prompt must be stated within the text of the submission.
· There is a limit of 500 words, and the word count should be stated on the printed copy.
· Participants must bring a printed copy which the guild may keep.
· Reading from a cell phone or computer is NOT allowed.
· After all submissions have been read, our members vote to decide the winner.
· Those authors submitting and reading are not allowed to vote.
· The winner will receive a prize, usually a cash card from a local big box store.
· Non-members are welcome to read their work after the competition.
· Authors are responsible for accuracy, grammar, spelling, and all final editing.
· The 1st and 2nd place winners of Writers Guild creative writing competitions may have their work published in a booklet anthology in the future.
7th item – Speaker for August:
Join our members on August 25, 2026 to welcome our speaker for that evening, Sharon LaCour. She’ll give insights and advice centering around Point of View, an essential element of good writing. And she might even give us a peek at her new novel.
8th item – Membership fees:
Don’t worry, the board decided to not follow inflationary trends. The $25 membership will remain unchanged. Easy to join, doesn’t cost a lot, tell your friends and spread the word.
9th item – Moncus Park Vending:
Sales at Moncus Park Saturday morning farmers market occur on the second and last Saturday of each month. Summer weather is here and sales have held steady. Chris and I sold 13 novels last weekend. Here’s an excellent chance to vend your book directly to customers. Keep in mind that the booth fills up quickly. A total of four authors are allowed to fill the booth, sorry, no more than four.
Members will need to contact our secretary, Ed Gauthier to schedule a date for vending. He sends out an updated schedule about every 10 days, or more often.
10th item – WGAcadiana Critique group
Our critique group was formed by members of our guild. It meets online using Google groups and Google Meet. These meetings occur on the second and fourth Thursday evening of each month at 7:00 pm. Our purpose is to assist writers in discovering the strong and weak points of their writing styles. If you need and want assistance on a piece you are writing, we can counsel you. Genres eligible for critique are chapters of a novel, short story, poetry, fiction or non-fiction, memoir, and others. Our critique group follows a careful format to develop trust amongst its members. If interested, contact our secretary by text (337-945-5718) or send email to eggchess@gmail.com. Joining this group will require that you have an active Google account, which is free.
11th item – Art Walk:
The Lafayette City Art Walk continues to occur on the second Saturday of the month, every month, and so far early Summer has brought crowds and good sales. If you wish to vend your books at Art Walk, free space is available. This occurs on Jefferson Street, from the underpass to the corner of Lee Street and Jefferson. It begins around 4:00 pm and goes to 8:30 or 9:00 pm. (Or until you are tired) Ed Gauthier recommends setting up on the sidewalk in front of a store that is out of business, or that doesn’t charge a fee. There is plenty of walking traffic, lots of customers. Basically, no one will oversee your location. This is available to anyone, whether a member of the Guild or not. Ed sets up near the science museum. Come by. Text Ed and he’ll give more explanation. (337-945-5718).
12th item – Grant Writers:
Writers Guild is still looking for grant writers to assist us in receiving grant money. Once again, the LCG Grand applications are being accepted by Acadiana Arts Council. We’d like to take a shot at getting grant money if some enthusiastic member wants to take that on.
13th item: – WGA tote bags:
The board has been wrestling with the notion of tote bags, and a possible new logo to go on the new tote bags. If you have suggestions, ideas, concepts, or preliminary sketches, we want you to bring them to the meetings.
14th item:
New Writers Guild pamphlets have been printed for advertising to new members. Grab one to get the new look.
15th item:
If you guild members would like to have more workshops offered on various writing topics, please consult with board members.
16 item – Promotions:
Jade Landry, our publicists, wants member to contact her with their book for ad promotions. Contact her at 337-277-2696 jwlandry@excaliberpublishing.com.
17th item – Poetry Slam anyone?
The board has discussed having Poetry slams. No decision yet; more on that later.
18th item – Ed
Ed Gauthier will be out of Louisiana from August 15 to October 15, 2026. The guild plans to continue vending at Moncus Park in his absence by setting up in the new pavilion. He will continue to handle the scheduling. No change there.
Motions Tabled for further discussion and later decisive action.
NONE
End of Motions Tabled
Board Meeting was adjourned at 5:55 pm. The members meeting began at 6:00 pm.
Number of members attending the 7-28-2026 regular meeting: 32 people
Board Meeting began at 5:00 pm at South Regional library, Lafayette, LA.
Current Board Members are:
President John Comeaux. 337-257-8665 john.comeaux@gmail.com
Vice President Chris Fontenot 225-936-2736 christopher.jfontenot@gmail.com
Past President John Francois 337-237-8665 jfrancois1@earthlink.net
Secretary Edward Gauthier 337-945-5718 eggchess@gmail.com
Treasurer Beth Davis 337-962-5426 dreamwriterjed@gmail.com
Newsletter Brandon Russell 979-900-0781 Brandon.Scott.Russell93@gmail.com
Webmaster Andre Guirard 763-458-6897 aguirard@tylertork.com
Publicist Jade Landry 337-277-2696 jwlandry@excaliberpublishing.com
Historian James McDonald 337-654-7217 jimmcdonaldeieio@gmail.com
& 337-988-1139
Absent from this meeting: Brandon Russell & John Francois (Brandon did make the members meeting)
End of Board meeting minutes.