INSIDE OLLI -
"she single-handedly orchestrates almost everything!"
Photo by Kathy Bruin
Photo by Kathy Bruin
Meet Charlene Anderson -
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A lifelong storyteller and writer, Charlene retired from her career as an NIH grant analyst at UCSF in 2011 and a year later joined an OLLI at SFSU writing class. In 2015, she took another class, this one with fellow student Mike Lambert, and the rest is history! At Mike’s instigation, a number of members of that class gathered and formed a Production Team, including an editorial board and web and design group, and in 2015 inaugurated our semiannual online literary magazine, Vistas and Byways.
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Charlene Anderson
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Charlene immediately assumed a leadership role as Chair of the Editorial Board and hasn’t looked back since. An added bonus is the lasting friendships that developed among the group, which was committed to a strict reading and discussion of submissions, immediately setting a high standard for publication.
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Charlene describes her love of writing as being in her blood, much more than a hobby. While herself a published author, she wanted to provide a less formidable opportunity for others to have their work “in print” and read by friends. Indeed, contributors to Vistas and Byways express how meaningful it is to have their work accepted for publication and are most appreciative of the magazine.
Charlene’s behind the scenes contribution to the success of Vistas and Byways is that she single-handedly orchestrates almost everything! Every six months she prepares a flyer announcing the next issue’s theme, deadlines for submissions, along with submission guidelines, sends it to over 100 past contributors and has it posted in the weekly OLLI newsletter. She receives all submissions and responds, keeping in close correspondence with each of multiple contributors, including collecting photos and bios, keeping track step by step. As each submission is received, it is logged in and formatted to a standardized template.
Although no longer Editorial Board Chair, Charlene still prepares the agendas, allocating to each editor their review pieces, and forwarding the submissions to each of the currently 6 volunteer editors. Following the editorial reviews, she sends a letter of acceptance or rejection to each contributor. She does a final perusal herself, for an occasional typo or misquote, and then distributes the accepted pieces to volunteer proofreaders.
Charlene’s behind the scenes contribution to the success of Vistas and Byways is that she single-handedly orchestrates almost everything! Every six months she prepares a flyer announcing the next issue’s theme, deadlines for submissions, along with submission guidelines, sends it to over 100 past contributors and has it posted in the weekly OLLI newsletter. She receives all submissions and responds, keeping in close correspondence with each of multiple contributors, including collecting photos and bios, keeping track step by step. As each submission is received, it is logged in and formatted to a standardized template.
Although no longer Editorial Board Chair, Charlene still prepares the agendas, allocating to each editor their review pieces, and forwarding the submissions to each of the currently 6 volunteer editors. Following the editorial reviews, she sends a letter of acceptance or rejection to each contributor. She does a final perusal herself, for an occasional typo or misquote, and then distributes the accepted pieces to volunteer proofreaders.
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Charlene then moves on to help organize the semi-annual Launch Party, working with OLLI staff on place, date, time, program and refreshments. She also organizes and is a member of the Editorial Board Selection Committee that chooses the prospective readers for the in-person event, all of which is another organizational feat with e-mails flying back and forth. Additionally, each week, throughout the year, she collects teasers from editors, ensures that they are properly set up with the author’s photo and bio, and sends them to the OLLI Office for inclusion in the Friday newsletter. Whew!
While Charlene is so practical, and efficient in the execution and production of Vistas and Byways, she is an imaginative writer with artistry, insights, and a perceptive observer of life and nature. Additionally, she is an avid photographer, often contributing her stunning works to the publication. Plus, she enjoys gardening and acrylic painting!
Many thanks to Charlene for her dedication in curating this wonderful, unique magazine, Vistas and Byways, designed and produced specifically for our OLLI at SFSU program.
While Charlene is so practical, and efficient in the execution and production of Vistas and Byways, she is an imaginative writer with artistry, insights, and a perceptive observer of life and nature. Additionally, she is an avid photographer, often contributing her stunning works to the publication. Plus, she enjoys gardening and acrylic painting!
Many thanks to Charlene for her dedication in curating this wonderful, unique magazine, Vistas and Byways, designed and produced specifically for our OLLI at SFSU program.
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