President’s Message: Summer is Here!
Today marks the longest day of the year, officially ushering in the summer season! Fortunately, California continues to boast some of the most stunning outdoor landscapes and opportunities in the country. While other regions battle oppressive heat domes and extreme humidity, California offers a refreshing escape with its moderate climate.
And for all of us like-minded writers and photographers, California’s outdoors are beckoning us to get out and enjoy our state’s endless adventures and opportunities!
Recently, OWAC hosted the Annual Excellence in Craft (EIC) Awards Contest, celebrating outstanding achievements in eight writing and photography categories. This prestigious event, open to all OWAC members in good standing, awarded winners with certificates and cash prizes. We are thrilled to announce that Matt Johansen was honored as the 2024 OWAC Writer of the Year. For a full list of winners, please visit this link!.
Following the EIC awards, OWAC also proudly conducted the 2024 Pat Vachini Outdoor Writing and Photography Achievement Awards Contest for high school students. This year saw a record-breaking turnout, with over 40 entries submitted by juniors and seniors from across California. This contest, now in its fifth year, continues to grow, showcasing the talent and passion of our state’s young writers and photographers. Certificates and cash prizes were awarded. For more details on this inspiring event and to read all about it, please check out this link.
I know everyone is eagerly awaiting our next full conference. We are still working on securing a destination venue, which we hope to hold in the fall. At this point, dates and locations are TBD. Stay tuned for updates!
In the meantime, I encourage everyone to savor the summer season, enjoying quality time with family and friends. Remember, we are always seeking fresh content for our website. If you have experiences or stories to share, please consider submitting them here: https://owac.org/submit-a-post/. Our webmaster is also available at [email protected] to assist with any questions you may have.
Wishing you all a fantastic summer filled with outdoor adventures and memorable moments!
~ Carrie ~
President, OWAC
