Dear friends,
We love this month and the beginning of the holiday season that it brings…anybody else starting to crave pumpkin pie? Our students have caught the spirit, and their holiday cheer brings a smile to our faces. And from what we’ve discovered in the past month, the number of students roaming our writing centers is larger than ever. Read on for more news of what’s happening over the coming weeks.
NOVEMBER BY THE NUMBERS
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At 826, we’ve been improving our evaluation methods to better track our impact. That’s why each year we conduct detailed surveys of teachers, parents, and students at our eight 826 chapters. After double-checking and re-double-checking our spreadsheets, we’re thrilled to announce that during the last school year we served 29,060 students, 21% more than the previous year! Thank you to everyone who made this possible – we couldn’t do it without you. For more information about our impact last year, including information about volunteers, teachers and schools served, and number of programs offered, please visit our website.
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Speaking of exciting numbers, we’ve offi
 cially launched our two-volume Don’t Forget to Write curriculum books featuring 100 creative writing lessons for the elementary and secondary grades. In honor of the release, we’ve also launched one promotional film (featured right) starring Daniel Handler and Lisa Brown, and held three launch parties at 826 Valencia, 826NYC and 826DC to celebrate the over 120 lesson contributors around the country. A special thanks to our editor, Jennifer Traig; the cover designer, Oliver Munday; and to the publishing team at Jossey-Bass. Don’t have a copies of the books yet? Order a set for yourself, or as a gift for a friend here!
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And, what would November be without a re-cap of our annual 826 National Board meeting? This year our board members gathered at 826DC on November 11th and 12th for two days of meetings, workshops, and celebration. Highlights from the meeting included welcoming our newest board member, Terry Wit, a spirited dinner at The Heights restaurant with local 826DC board members and 826DC staff, and of course, an opportunity to explore 826DC’s Museum of Unnatural History. A big thank you to the 826DC team for hosting the meeting and to our board members who provide vital support to 826 National. We are honored to work with such a dedicated group of people!
HEY NANOWRIMO WRITERS, STOCK UP ON MOTIVATIONAL SUPPLIES
 The despair of characters who teeter on the edges of oblivion… the perils of plots that might never reach an audience… notebooks with hopeful beginnings left unfinished… fingers sore from hitting ‘delete’ too many times… this is the life of an unfinished novel’s author. Take heart, we feel your pain! With so many writers scribbling away on drafts during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), let 826 come to the rescue with some surefire pick-me-ups. Our shelves are stocked with the classy Motivational Postcard For Writers Who Are Feeling a Little Unmotivated and the “Are You Absolutely, Positively, Wholeheartedly Ready to Publish Your Novel?” poster. Or get the ultimate combination for struggling scribes, 826’s Emergency Novel-Finishing Kit (complete with poster, postcard, instant coffee, and unchewed pencils). Grab yours today and finish NaNoWriMo strong!
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHT: 826MICHIGAN’S ONE-ACT PLAY FESTIVAL!
Do you like oatmeal? Most likely. So do we, and so does 826michigan—enough to feature oatmeal in a festival of five one-act plays written by 826michigan students to be held this evening, November 17th. Five Bowls of Oatmeal: The Return of Oatmeal will be presented in conjunction with the University of Michigan MFA Program in Creative Writing. 826 co-founder Dave Eggers will also honor the students’ achievements. We’re not sure if brown sugar and raisins will be provided, but if you’re in the area and want to attend the festival, look for more information here!
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT: WELCOME 826 NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER, TERRY WIT
 This month we would like to introduce you to Terry Wit, 826 National’s newest Board member. Terry is a partner in the law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan. In 2011, Super Lawyers Magazine named him as a “Northern California Rising Star” in business litigation. Over the past several months he’s spent countless hours helping improve 826 materials. In addition to helping us with all things contractual, Terry is also a musician, and his band has jammed in 826 Valencia’s nautical writing lab. We are grateful to have Terry join our work, and very honored to ask him a few questions…
826: What about 826 National interests you?
TW: It’s rare to have the chance to get involved with an organization that has both such a strong foundation, having built on ten years of great success, and such exciting prospects for the future, as more and more public attention is drawn to the wonderful work 826 does for students across the country. Also, as the father of a five-year old who has recently started “writing” books about superheroes, evil chefs, and robots, I want to do whatever I can to help out an organization that brings that same love of books and writing to kids everywhere.
826: What is your background in nonprofit work?
TW: Prior to becoming a litigator, I spent roughly four years working in grassroots organizing and membership development as an outside consultant to a number of nonprofit citizens’ groups, like Clean Water Action, Government Accountability Project, Planned Parenthood, and 9to5.
826: You’re in a band. Please tell us more about it!
TW: The band’s name is Feckless, and we’ve been playing together (in one variation or another) for seven years. I play drums, banjo, and occasionally guitar (poorly). We play a range of music beyond our originals, including songs by Wilco, The Black Keys, The Decemberists, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Cliff, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Grateful Dead, and The White Stripes. Like writing, music is a great diversion from the conflict-driven life I lead as a litigator.
826: What is one quirky idea that you have for 826 National to spruce up our new office space?
TW: Two words: half-pipe. We can build one that has a doghouse under one rail for Rooney (the 826 National dog) and a removable tabletop you can use as a conference/ping-pong table. I even have a table saw in my basement we can cut and shape it on, just say the word.
826: You have already offered a lot to 826. Looking forward, how do you hope to contribute in the future?
TW: Thus far a lot of my work has concentrated on the legal aspects of 826’s internal documents, policies, intellectual property, and relations with third parties. I no doubt will continue working on that front, but also anticipate bringing some of my prior experience to bear on growth strategies as 826 expands its reach to more students around the US and (hopefully) the world. I’m very excited to be helping on growth projects and strategic planning for 826’s future in addition to the legal aspects of the 826 universe.
Thank you, Terry, for all your support!
THREADLESS T-SHIRT DESIGN WINNER: WORDS CREATE WORLDS
 After receiving a boatload of brilliant submissions to the 826 National/Threadless T-Shirt design challenge, one has emerged victorious. The design “Words Create Worlds” is beautifully crafted and represents the inspiration we feel each day when we see 826 students telling their stories. The shirts are available now in girls’ and guys’ sizes, and 25 percent of each sale goes to support 826 National! We are grateful to Threadless for the opportunity and the many talented designers who submitted their work.
THANK YOU TO SHE & HIM
 For some holiday music that will make you feel good and support 826 National, pick up a copy of A Very She & Him Christmas. The duo She & Him, made up of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, has created a beautiful album full of Christmas classics, including “The Christmas Waltz” and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” A portion of the proceeds from each album will benefit the 826 National writing centers. Thank you to She & Him and Merge Records for all your support! Don’t forget to order yours today.
EVENTBRITE SUPPORTS THE JANUARY 826 NATIONAL 101 SEMINAR
A big shout out to our friends at Eventbrite, for making events easy to create, find, and attend, including our 826 National 101 Seminars! Visit here for more information on the upcoming 101 Seminar on January 20th and 21st in San Francisco. Register through our Eventbrite page.
WISH LIST
Want to help out? Sure you do! Here are some ways you can. We are in need of some basic equipment to helps us grow:
· New or used Apple Thunder Bolt Display or Macbook compatible monitor/screen
· Two MacBook Pro Laptops
· Upgrading to the new iPad? We’ll take your old ones!
· A paper shredder for our office
To help out with any of the listed items, email mariama(at)826national(dot)org or call (415) 864-2098.
Check us out on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+!
Yours truly,
All of us here at 826 National
We’re honored to have you among our supporters and we thank you for staying involved in our work. Feel free to share this email with your friends and family. Please consider joining 826 National in our work. A contribution of any size will allow us to continue to enrich and develop programs for students across the country.
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