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EnglishHow Does CARWA Hold Its Meetings and Events?
Updated
The Calgary Association of Romance Writers of America (CARWA) holds all of its regular meetings on Zoom, with occasional in-person meet-ups as a supplement. That means you do not need to live in Calgary — or attend anything in person — to take part in the chapter's core programming. The Zoom-first format is what makes the group's stated purpose (supporting, motivating, and educating writers across romance sub-genres) workable for members who aren't local.
What the meeting format looks like
According to the chapter's own welcome page, the structure is straightforward:
- Regular meetings: held on Zoom.
- In-person meet-ups: occasional, not the primary format.
- Chapter-sponsored events: included with membership, alongside the regular meeting schedule.
Because the default is virtual, the practical requirements are a device with a camera and microphone, a stable connection, and a Zoom link — not a commute. The in-person meet-ups function as an optional extra rather than something the chapter depends on.
Why the format matters for participation
The Zoom-first approach has a few concrete consequences:
| Consideration | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Location | You can join from outside Calgary, since meetings are virtual |
| Attendance | No in-person requirement for the regular meetings |
| Scheduling | You attend from wherever you are, which suits writers with day jobs or caregiving |
| Social contact | In-person meet-ups exist but are occasional, so most interaction happens online |
This lines up with how the chapter describes itself: a group that meets to support and motivate each other, study the craft, and learn to promote their books. A virtual room is simply the delivery method for that.
Where the rest of the member interaction happens
Meetings aren't the only channel. Membership also includes:
- An email loop for ongoing discussion between meetings.
- A private Facebook group the chapter describes as being for "water cooler discussions."
- A public Facebook page used for promoting members' books.
- Access to the current membership list for networking.
So if you're weighing whether the meeting schedule alone is enough contact, the answer is that it isn't the whole picture — the email loop and private Facebook group carry a lot of the day-to-day conversation.
Joining and what to check first
The welcome page directs anyone interested to the JOIN tab for instructions, and notes the chapter would be happy to meet prospective members. Before you commit, it's worth confirming two things directly with the chapter, since the public page doesn't specify them:
- Meeting frequency and time zone — the page confirms Zoom but not how often meetings run or when.
- Whether guests can sit in on a meeting before joining.
The page also states that RWA maintains an antidiscrimination and antiharassment policy, prohibiting discrimination and harassment of any sort in order to keep the environment safe and respectful — relevant if a respectful, low-conflict group culture is part of what you're looking for.
The short version
If your question is "do I have to show up in person?" — no. CARWA's regular meetings are on Zoom, in-person gatherings are occasional extras, and the email loop plus private Facebook group keep members connected in between. The main things left to verify are the meeting schedule and guest policy, which you'd need to ask the chapter about directly.