Brevard Writers - Kickoff Meeting

Hello - We probably start out by considering what we want in a meetup, what we will accept and what's a "deal-breaker." Maybe even with the small starting numbers it will be obvious that there's two very different shared goals. My hopes for this kickoff meeting are that it be open to all (no pressure to share information or drafts - no divisiveness between "high" and "low" forms of writing) and that we make some headway in deciding why we're willing to meet together and what we want to gain from doing so.
For those who can't make it () I will send out a recap ("anonymized," I would think) and whatever checklists or diagrams we come up with.

The initial meeting of anything, I would think, is about getting to know the other intrepid "charter members," and discovering through conversation a few of the possibilities that are not universally loved.

Speaking or participation would of course be optional.
I would encourage people to think about the top two or three things they'd hope to gain from this meeting, at least two things that would make them determined not to return (your boundaries / "lines in the sand").
There would be no expectation that you'd share your wants and turn-offs, but I would think the first couple meetings will contain discussion that will narrow our charter and goals down from "pure vagueness."

Now, I'd actually take up arms for our constitutionally protected freedom of expression... but also I don't like to be ambushed with antagonistic speech. If someone's work or feelings run toward highly charged words that offend most members of a nationality or minority I expect to at least be warned beforehand so I can brace myself, or excuse myself. This seems like fundamental respect and courtesy, to me.
In my experience "Us versus them" is hardly ever a pragmatic motivator. There are many ways to take that sentence, one of which is competitiveness (among artists). We'll have to decide what value it has in our group...

It would be nice to "pass the hat" and cover the $15 I shelled out to meetup.com to create a new listing, but I can "eat" that for a few months.

I do not particularly want to "lead", here, but I'll keep myself available to do that - if it gets me in contact with more people who are creative and kind.

In any case, keep writing. The death of print literacy is getting closer, and there's still some unused consonants laying around...

- Chris 'Grrr'
cgrrr@grrr.net
chrisgrrr@yahoo.com
in Satellite Beach (journeying most days to Grant, often to Micco...)
phone # available on request