A warm welcome to our new subscribers! This is the GAB Gazette, a highlight reel from the world of Guided Autobiography.
In this Newsletter
Announcements: GAB Fest/Book Release
Board Update: website and community platform
Featured GABBER: Flora Brown
Booklist: Large Print editions of Onward and Homeward
the Business: Find your Students, Fill your Classes
Article Roundup: Memoir benefits and adapted GAB
Collaboration Opportunities: board members and graphic designers
Community Poll: Branding status of GAB instructors
Announcements: Early Bird Ends Thursday
Early bird pricing for GAB Fest ends February 15. GAB Fest is a one-day catered meet and greet for GAB instructors, students and friends. The Birren Center is sponsoring GAB Fest and will launch our third book the Gift of a Long Life at the event. All attendees will receive a copy of the book and the editor will be onsite to sign them.
Registration link here: https://www.gabseattle.com/event-details-registration/gab-fest-glendale-pasadena-ca
Board Update:
The new Birren Center website is underway. The website will include a community forum to replace the current Google Group, and give instructors an opportunity to be linked directly to the website’s directory so that potential students can find them easily.
Booklist: Large Print Anthologies
In honor of Low Vision Awareness Month, The Birren Center Press released Large Print Editions of our first two books, Onward! and Homeward.
We are asking our readers to help make the world a more accessible place by requesting our large print books at their local library for low-vision patrons to enjoy.
Onward: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1737929643
Homeward: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1737929651
the Business:
Our polls indicate that most GAB instructors struggle with marketing and promotion. If that’s you, you may be interested in the upcoming “Find your Students, Fill your Classes” workshop with Sarah White. Contact Sarah for details at sarah.white@firstpersonprod.com
Article Roundup:
Brevity Magazine released an article titled “Why Writing your Memoir is Good for Us” (https://brevity.wordpress.com/2024/01/08/why-writing-your-memoir-is-good-for-us/)
The International Journal of Reminiscence and Life Review released an article on a pilot study for adapting GAB for older adults: Feasibility of a Simplified Version of Guided Autobiography in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Pilot Study
Calls for Collaboration:
The Board welcomes individuals who want to volunteer for tasks or for board service. For example, we’ll be working on a new logo and members with graphic design experience would be welcome to join the committee for evaluating designs.
Please contact Bill Marsella (bmarsella50@gmail.com) if interested in contributing their talents to support the Birren Center.
Community Poll
Last month, we asked how many students the GAB instructors served in 2023. An overwhelming 82% said they served between 10-50 students last year, followed by the remaining 18% who said they had ten or fewer students.
This month, we’re asking about the brand strategy of GAB instructors.