As a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association and a repeat entrant in their 2010 literary contest I was aghast to learn in response to my e-mail to the contest chair that not only my entry, but others, had been misclassified.

While writers' organizations depend on volunteers, the lack of integrity by the sponsor not to admit beforehand that entrants would be subject to conditions contrary to those expected and relied on when entering is beyound comprehension. That the contest coordinator would not forward a concern to the president of the organization inexplainable. 

Despite the errors by the organization, they've kept 100 per cent of the entry fees.

When the Pacific Northwest Writers Association announces their contest winners at their convention July 22-25, there will obviously be shouts of joy and withheld tears of sorrow.  The question remaining will be whether any person outside the organization can accept the tainted awards. To those who should have been given accolades, but weren't, how can we act but be  sad that an organization said to be devoted to bringing out the true craft of writing belittle authors in such a manner.