I'm pleased to announce that Alma Hromic Deckert, who writes under the name Alma Alexander, has agreed to serve as SFWA's Secretary for the upcoming year. She is a widely published author of both novels and short fiction, and will make an excellent addition to SFWA's Board of Directors. Although Catherine Mintz ran for and won the position of Secretary during the SFWA election, she has chosen not to serve, and I'm extremely grateful to Alma for stepping in to take her place.

In addition, I had the privilege of appointing two other officers to Regional Director positions. Bud Sparhawk is a prolific member of the Analog Mafia, Nebula Award Finalist, and all-around good guy. He will be replacing Diane Turnshek as Eastern Regional Director for the remaining year of her three-year term. Russell Davis, author of many books and stories under his own name and pseudonyms, has been an editor and packager and has a wide-ranging knowledge of the publishing industry. Russell will be serving as Western Regional Director during the two years left on Sheila Finch's term.

This will be a difficult transition period for SFWA. Normally, at least three Regional Directors overlap from one year to the next, providing continuity from one set of officers to the next. This year there will only be one RD spanning the two years, Ian Watson, SFWA's Overseas RD. SFWA was faced with an unprecedented number of resignations from the Board, and the task of appointing their replacements fell to me as incoming President. I'm happy that I have been able to find such good ones on short notice, and am very thankful that these three have agreed to give their time to SFWA.

The remainder of the incoming Board is Andrew Burt, Sue Linville, Paul Melko, and Chris Atack and myself. Despite the lack of overlapping Board members, I feel this will be an extremely good Board, and I'm hopeful that we'll get a lot accomplished in the coming year. There's a lot to do, a lot of fences to be mended, and a lot of infrastructure to shore up. If you give us a chance, we will do our best to live up to your expectations. No virus found in this incoming message.

Michael Capobianco
SFWA President