Here's wishing Dr. Venis a superb transition into an exciting and fulfilling retirement. Cheers! She shepherded the Writers Program into a truly professional education opportunity for thousands of on-ground students and thousands more online students from all over the world. What an amazing accomplishment. I hope she can take time to reflect on how many people's dreams she helped to move a few miles closer to reality. I remember Dr. Venis' warm welcome to writers attending a weekend workshop a decade ago. Her talk buoyed all of us and set the mood for the adventure ahead. And I specifically thank her, Scott, for giving you the green light to create the Program's first advanced screenwriting course. I still use my great notes and treasure the writer friends I met there.

I remember, Judy, you and your cohorts in some of the very first Writers' Program classes I taught online as well as those 4 day workshops at UCLA (I was invited to do 4 of them before moving on to Screenwriting Master Class). Hard to imagine what my life would have been without teaching. Certainly this blog wouldn't be in existence! And it all started with that meeting with Linda Venis! Here's to you, Judy, and all your creative efforts. Onward!