With nominations complete the first election of the Operating Board began in earnest and ran for the entire month of January 2002.

During that same month Kathleen Y'Barbo announced the first annual ACRW Noble Theme Writing Contest for unpublished authors. The name of the contest was taken from Psalm 45:1: My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer - Deadline for all entries was June 12, 2002, with the winners announced at the National Write From the Heart Conference in Kansas City in October.

February rolled around with more than Valentines. ACRW had a new Operating Board. The results of the January election were announced as follows:

• President - Christine Lynxwiler
• Vice-President - Tracey Bateman
• Secretary - Lynette Sowell
• Treasurer - Kathleen Y'Barbo
• Volunteer Coordinator - Patty Hall

On February 12, 2002, a "Changing of the Guard" joint on-line board meeting took place between the incoming board and previous board members who were about to move to the role of Advisory Board. At the time of the historic meeting, ACRW had 160 members.

Other changes in volunteers also took place during this time. Sandra Moore announced that Lianne Lopes would be her new website administrator assistant, Linda Mae Baldwin was named as the new Birthday Greeter, and Gayle DeSalles agreed to be the new loop List Hostess.

As participants in the email loop increased with the membership roles, the need for it to become less a place for chit-chat and more a place to discuss writing also increased. The Operating Board announced in July that every Saturday was designated as "Free Day." On that day the loop was open to discussion about anything, not just writing. ACRW's oldest member, Ruth Seamands, debuted her weekly Free Day e-mail column, "Tidbits of Truth by Ruth," on July 20. Everyone looked forward to the anecdotes, words of wisdom and stories from Ruth who had spent many years as a missionary in India. Not only was she ACRW's oldest member, she also was mom to ACRW's own Brandilyn Collins.

As the summer drew to a close in August, published authors were encouraged to publish their personal newsletters to the loop each month.

ACRW's membership had leaped upwards to 283 members.

With the October conference coming closer the Book of the Year contest for published authors was announced and Patty Hall, Volunteer Coordinator, informed members that a prayer group to focus on praying for the conference was forming.

October was a very special month for ACRW. Prior to the National Conference starting, both boards met for the first ever face-to-face combined meeting in Kansas City on October 17, 2002. The meeting's goal was to guide ACRW toward the future God intended for the organization.

Later that day, the conference officially began with 100 attendees. Coordinator Dorothy Featherling and the Conference Committee of Meredith Efken, Aisha Ford, Rachel Hauck, Carolyn Scheidies, Carrie Turansky, and Allison Wilson received kudos for a great job. Karen Kingsbury's keynote addresses on writing with emotion inspired everyone. And who could forget Brandilyn's green sequined dress? This was the first time most members had ever met each other in person. Having only met by e-mail, the hotel lobby was filled with squeals and laughter as people saw each other for the first time.

In addition to the workshops, fellowship, appointments and worship, excitement centered around announcement of winners for the Book of the Year and Noble Theme contests.

Lynn Coleman announced the winners of Book of the year as follows:

WOMEN'S FICTION
HISTORICAL
Linda Windsor - RIONA, Fires of Gleanmara #2

CONTEMPORARY
Brandilyn Collins - COLOR THE SIDEWALK FOR ME

LONG ROMANCE -- 80K AND UP
HISTORICAL
Tracie Peterson - ASHES AND ICE

CONTEMPORARY
Sunni Jeffers - FLOWERS FOR VICTORIA

SHORT ROMANCE 45K to 75K
HISTORICAL
Tracey Bateman - TARAH'S LESSONS

CONTEMPORARY
Gail Martin - A LOVE FOR SAFEKEEPING

NOVELLAS
HISTORICAL
Tracey Bateman - A LENGTH OF SILK

CONTEMPORARY
Christine Lynxwiler - BENEATH HEAVEN'S CURTAIN

E-BOOK AND SELF-PUBLISHED
HISTORICAL
Lianne Bruynell Lopes - SHADOW OF THE WOLF

CONTEMPORARY
Robin Bayne - THE ARTIST'S GRANDDAUGHTER

OVERALL FAVORITE
Brandilyn Collins - EYES OF ELISHA

Kathleen Y'Barbo announced the Noble Theme winners as follows:

HISTORICAL
1st - Lisa Tuttle - JASMINE BY ANY OTHER NAME
2nd - Diana Locke - TELL ME NO LIES
3rd - Pam Hillman - MARRYING MARIAH
4th - Tammy Alexander - AS HIGH AS THE HEAVENS
5th - Candy Gruner - SONG OF THE WESTERN WIND

CONTEMPORARY
1st - Pam Hillman - THE MISSIONARY & THE MERCENARY
2nd - Jennifer Johnson - RESTORED REST
3rd - Nancy Crum - BITTERSWEET AUTUMN
4th - Martha Rogers - LESSON PLAN FOR LOVE
5th - Debbie Young - THE COURAGE TO LOVE

WOMEN'S FICTION
1st - Maureen Schmidgall - PIECES OF SILVER
2nd - Jessica Ferguson - PSALMS OF THE SISTERS
3rd - Jill Nelson - A TALE OF TWO SISTERS
4th - Tammera Ayers - A LOVE NOT FORSAKEN
5th - Kaye Dacus - WHAT MATTERS MOST

Before everyone departed for home, President Christine Lynxwiler announced that the 2003 ACRW National Conference would be held in Houston, Texas in September 2003.

As the year closed out, Martha Rogers took over as the Verse of the Week person. Her first verses for meditation was Philippians 4:12-13, - I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Jennifer Johnson agreed to become the Topic of the Week Coordinator.

In December 2002 Vice President Tracey Bateman announced the need to step down from her post on the Operating Board. The Advisory Board asked Rachel Hauck to complete Tracey's term of office.

Continue to 2003