I need to drop a note of congratulations here, along with a hefty word of gratitude. Last night, being night 3 of my 5 days off, I stayed up past midnight—a feat rarely accomplished since I turned 40—to check on the incoming Sheila Contest entries. Robin Kaye and I are the contest coordinators, and the deadline was last night at midnight. For a while there, after the contest opened up in January, I thought, “No way in this economy are we going to get more than 100 entries.” We got 116 entries last year but that was then, this is now. Who’s got $30 to drop on the vague hope that they MIGHT get read by an editor? (So says the woman who’s already entered The Marlene and the GH, and will be entering NJRW’s contest the moment they announce that it’s open. Not quite Contest Slut material, but I’m working on it.)
Anyway, I had hoped we’d top 116 entries but I didn’t expect to, so imagine my surprise when we’re 20 minutes from deadline and 4 entries short of 116. Tick, tick, tick. Flash-forward to 12:01 when our very last entry straggles in, and our new total is 118 entries! A new record! We can honestly say that even in spite of the current economy (or maybe because of it; people are “desperate”, I’ve been told, to get read by an editor), we outdid ourselves.
Major huzzah to Laura Graham-Booth, without whom this contest success would not be possible. She came up with the idea of going electronic (save those trees!), which we took a step farther this year and went all-electronic. She also put the VFRW website together and developed the entry process for the contest. She is the goddess of the computer keyboard and one of my favorite knitters of all time.
Also a thoroughly hearty round of applause for Robin. Sure, she was buckling under deadlines, but she was always there when we had a “what do you think of this?” situation to present her with.
Let us not forget Judi Fennell, cheering us on from the sidelines, (probably) all the while worrying, “What have I done? I’ve put our chapter’s future in the hands of those two? Yeesh!”
And last but never least, our five category coordinators (Anna, Teresa, Andi, Leslie and Jen!) who will be picking up the baton and carrying it through the first round. Whatever you need, ladies, I’m here. Unless, of course, I’m not here, but I promise I’ll be back. At some point. Probably. Yeah, definitely maybe.
Anyone want to take bets on breaking 118 next year? 🙂
Knit & Run! 