Remembering Prem:
What I remember about working with Prem is that he encouraged us to question our procedures and policies. We experimented with giving membership discounts for those who wanted to pay for multiple years. He was very good at getting a variety of people involved in committees and discussions on policy. Prem didn't just ask why our organization was lacking in diversity, he went out and recruited new members of all ages. He was also very kind and quick to acknowledge the work of others within the organization. He would often surprise members by making an example of them at a meeting or presentation.
Tracy Million Simmons, D2
I was a fairly new member when Prem was first elected president of the Kansas Authors Club. I didn’t even know who he was when he nominated me to be state treasurer. I accepted that nomination and held the post for about six years. During that time, I attended many meetings where he was in charge. I was always impressed with his gentle leadership style. Prem was instrumental in getting a yearly budget incorporated into our KAC operating structure. Another of his interests was the inclusion of younger writers into our group. I was impressed that he encouraged his grandchildren to write and to be members of KAC. I believe the grandchildren won several writing awards over the years; I was especially fond of one poem that John Bajaj wrote called “Brainstorming.” Prem was also very good at paying attention to and complimenting the work that KAC officers and others did. I admired him very much as a leader, and liked him very much as a person.
Cathy Callen, District 2