(The following is the West Virginia Writers, Inc. Pledge, as penned by founding member Kirk Judd and publicly spoken for the first time during his keynote speech at the 2017 Awards Banquet during the organization's 40th year.)
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I (state your name), promise to do my best, to do my duty,
To Shirley Young Campbell and West Virginia Writers, Inc.
I promise to read Pearl Buck and Davis Grubb
And Mary Lee Settle and Breece D.J. Pancake
And Louise McNeill and Don West
And Irene McKinney and Norman Jordan.
I promise to listen to Mike Morningstar
And Hazel Dickens and Bill Withers
Every chance I get.
I promise to go to readings and signings
And book launches and workshops
And support all writers in WV
Young and old
New and traditional
Always.
To be square
And to obey the laws of the pack.
Kirk Judd, June, 2017