Dash Kitten Certificate Winners at the Cat Writers’ Association

We celebrate Thankful Thursday with wins in two categories at the Cat Writers Communication Awards for 2018. As certificate winners let me tell you about them and introduce you to the Cat Writers Association, if you have not met them before.

Our focus on photography, video and science has paid dividends with certificates for posts about New Zealand’s cutting edge science for tracking pets, and our post encouraging volunteers and bloggers to believe they can create smartphone videos to make a difference.

Judging for the CWA Awards is demanding and standards very high. There are three judges for each category and every judge has to give a high mark for a certificate to be awarded.

CWA Certificate Winners Posts

Filming Solo for Your Rescue or Cat Blog (Hands Free Movies)

I wanted to encourage rescue volunteers and bloggers who don’t believe they have the video skills to make a smartphone movie. They can do it, so can you.

I used a genuine cat blogger as an example. Emily and her cat Plush at Life & Cats, who attend cat shows. With a real role model people can relate to I set out a plan of action with plenty of tips and equipment ideas.

Facial Recognition Technology Helps Find Lost Pets

It is every cat parent’s nightmare. A cat goes missing. How do you find it? Who do you need to call for help?

The post spotlights New Zealand’s adoption of cutting edge technology to help unite missing pets of all kinds with their owners. Two critical elements are necessary. What these are and how effective the system being covered in the post.

Who are the CWA

For those of you who may not know this fine organsation let me introduce you.

In November 1992 a small group of ‘cat journalists’ gathered in Fort Worth, TX USA. They wanted to get good, quality information about cats out to the general public. They also wanted to support writers dedicated to cats as part of this effort.

The CWA may be professional writers but they welcome and mentor newer writers. The Awards are part of this program and allow ‘kitten’ members to grow their skills. Some members have gone on to win awards and get book contracts.

The Cat Writers want to improve the quality of cat information that the general public gets to read both online and in print, So the annual Communication Awards cover printed articles, blogs and their posts, photographs and fine art. No cat creative is left out.

The CWA is a writers’ organisation founded to encourage professionalism amongst cat writers, photographers, artists and broadcasters.

CWA

Non-CWA Members are Welcome to Enter

You will be surprised and pleased to know that non-members of the CWA are welcome at both the Conference and to enter the Annual Contest.

Yes, you may a few dollars more for your entry but you are allowed to enter and will be considered as fairly as any other candidate for a category.

CWA 25th Anniversary Conference 2019

The annual conference is a celebration of cat creatives with the Association partnering with quality sponsors and cat organisations every year to bring visiting members insight, inspiration and encouragement.

2019 sees the CWA in St Louis. Mo. This is the mid-west and not too far from where we visited the BlogPaws® conference in Kansas City 2018. The mid-west gives the warmest welcome in the whole USA, and yes, I am biased. Our blogging visit to Kansas City was one of our best overseas trips ever.

Cat Writers Give

One of the most important events at the 2019 conference will be the fundraising book signing that will benefit the Humane Society of Missouri.

There will be books on cats, dogs, pet mysteries, animal care, veterinary issues and breeds, science fiction adventure and fantasy. Authors will be signing so this will be the perfect place to grab a book gift for a friend.

CWA Conference dates: May 116-18th, 2019 – Drury Plaze Hotel. St. Louis.

Details here.

I wish I could be there but last year’s final BlogPaws conference took our holiday savings right down to zero. I will be following CWA members online as they report from the conference and maybe the awards ceremony too.

ConCATulations to all of the Certificate Winners for 2018.