Volunteers are priceless assets to NOHSCBWI. They plan, develop, organize, orchestrate and spend a tremendous amount of physical energy on every component of our organization. Without them, NOHSCBWI would not exist. Each year, at the volunteer recognition brunch, the executive board honors the volunteer who made the most significant contribution to NOHSCBWI during the previous year. The 2007 award winner is Debbra (Debbie) Beecher Nance. We hope the following interview offers insight into what makes Debbie such a remarkable volunteer.

Although it seems you've been part of NOHSCBWI since its beginning, it wasn't that long ago that your family moved to Ohio. Where did you live before, and what brought you here?
My husband, Cal, was born and raised in Utah. I moved there with my family when I was a junior in high school. We met, married and made our home there for many years. About ten year ago, Cal became a contract programmer and got an assignment with Dana Corporation. He flew to Toledo weekly for almost two years. Then 6 1/2 years ago, he took a full time job with Dana and we moved to Toledo. Recently Cal was able to arrange to work for Dana from home (telecommute) so we're moving back to Utah and he'll work from our home office.

When did you first decide that you wanted to write for children? Did you get involved with SCBWI right away?
One day, nearly 30 years ago now, I was reading a particular rhyming picture book (yet again) to my children and it seemed to me that the meter of one of the rhymes was off and I had the thought that I could write a book better than that one. So I wrote several rhyming books and other stories and submitted them to a few publishers and promptly received form rejection letters. I realized that didn't know what I was doing and needed to learn more about the craft of writing. But I found writing to be all-consuming so except for an occasional writing class at the local community college, I more/less put my writing away until my children were grown. I then took a couple of correspondence courses with the Institute of Children's Literature. Mary Ryan was my teacher for the advanced course and she told me about SCBWI and encouraged me to join.

You've held several positions on the NOHSCBWI Executive Board and volunteered in other capacities, as well. How has volunteering helped with your career goals?
Being on the Board is a lot of fun! It keeps me going to the meetings and focusing on my writing. I've learned so much from the SCBWI meetings and conferences!! And I've gained many lifelong friends. It's also given me the opportunity to meet and spend one-on-one time with editors and authors that I would never have known any other way. The other Board members are very encouraging as well. In fact, one gave me the little push I needed to submit a picture book manuscript to Open Book Press, which was accepted. The King's Lunch, illustrated by Brent Campbell, will be published in the fall of 2008.

Were there other, less obvious, benefits to volunteering for NOHSCBWI?
The monetary benefits of being on the Board are free membership in SCBWI and free attendance to NOHSCBWI conferences and other paid events

For more than a year you battled some serious health issues. Yet you continued to serve on the executive board during that difficult time. Why did your service to NOHSCBWI receive such priority?
I was diagnosed with cancer in January of 2006 and underwent surgery and about 18 months of chemotherapy. I often didn't have the energy to do much physically but I was still able to work on my computer. Continuing to serve on the Board made me feel more "normal" and gave me something positive to focus on.

By the time this interview is posted, you'll have moved to Utah to be closer to your family. Do you plan on volunteering for the Utah chapter of SCBWI?
I hope to get involved but I'm not sure that region is as active as the NOHSCBWI. For one thing they don't have a website, and I don't think they have a listserv. Their chapter covers a huge area which includes Northern Utah and Southern Idaho. I believe they alternate having an annual conference between Salt Lake City and Boise. They do have some meetings at the main library downtown SLC so I'll have to check them out and I have contacted their Regional Advisor to get more information. In the meantime, I'll continue on the NOHSCBWI Board--I will just send the quarterly postcards from Utah :)

What advice do you have for NOHSCBWI members who are thinking about volunteering?
Our region is amazing! If you're thinking of volunteering just do it--it's definitely worth it!

Your NOHSCBWI family will miss you on many levels, Debbie. You're a friend, a co-worker and, above all, an amazing inspiration. Do you have a website and/or your new email address so members can keep in touch?
I have a new blogsite:debbranance.blogspot.com and my email address is debbiebnance(at)gmail(dot)com. I would love to keep in touch! In fact, I hope to see you all at the fall conference in Cleveland.

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