Hello Drafters, By now you’ve likely seen the email or video sent out by NaNoWriMo. As you know, we originally started as the Detroit region of NaNoWriMo, so we certainly have a lot of feelings wrapped up in the shutdown. We, the Board of Directors for First Draft Detroit, are saddened by the shuttering of an organization that meant so much to us–and a lot of you–for so long. Despite the controversy of recent years, NaNoWriMo was ultimately responsible for bringing this community together. It gave us the opportunity to find our creative voices, and for many, it gave us a community and a path to service. The relationships we’ve…

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86763375943?pwd=Qt3vGIjnorfxbStG2blMDj7Y1hLFsh.1 That’s the link to the event starting RIGHT NOW Meeting ID: 867 6337 5943Passcode: frenzy

Oh my goodness, November is SO CLOSE! We’re hard at work getting all the last minute logistics settled, including getting this website updated so that you can use it to find event information and updates. The Events page is your most important stop, and it will be continuously updated through November. For now, you can find the calendar, as well as a link to all of the big event descriptions. Please be patient with our ramshackle little space here. It’s going to get better, I promise.

We’re only a few steps away from filing for 501(c)3 determination! We have to get a bank account, complete a proposed budget (done!) complete a narrative of activities (in draft form), and file the actual IRS1023. So we’re coming along. At this rate, we should be ready to file by November. The events page exists and is linked to our calendar. It should be filled out with all the events by November. Team Championship is in the works, and if you have participated in the past, you should soon be getting a survey about your writing plans for this year. It will also ask if you want to join our…

Where we are on our nonprofit journey! As of our most recent board meeting, we have: submitted articles of incorporation to the state of Michigan. We exist! Gotten our EIN. Elected officers. Drafted bylaws. Next steps: getting an attorney to give the bylaws a peek. Submit paperwork to be able to fundraise. Keep working on 501(c)3 documentation. We are continuing to organize for the November slate of programming. Events are coming along swimmingly. A mailing list is in the works. Logistics for this year’s team championship is soon to be tackled. General reminder that board meeting minutes and financials must be publicly available! And they are! When this website is…