. >> i am now joined by sarah owen from the writer's forum. >> welcome to our meeting, and thank you so much for thinking of us and coming to join us today. we're honored to have you here. >> first, start off with, what this writers forum? >> the writers forum is an organization that had its early begins in the early 'nights a when we -- early '80s who were people who were writing and wanted to meet with like-minded folks. we eventually became a larger organization and more formal, and when we decided we needed a mission statement, what we decided was that our mission is to promote the craft of writing as an art and profession and we felt that covered all the needs our community would have and we have a far reaching community. we good beyond redding redding d beyond shasta come. we have people from as far away as maybe even southern oregon, sacramento, and to the east and to the west, up in the foothills and some of the mountain communities. >> how did you get involved and what is your role. >> going back to so many years ago if can't believe i'm old enough to tell you the whole stor