MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 21, 2009 MEETING

Members present:

Sharon Palmeri, Sharon Buckman, Tom Wilson, Tom Molnar, George Miga, Beverly Stanislawski, Audrey Warzyniak, Janice Beier, Francest Burkett, Michael Musak, Katherine Flotz

Guest: Don Mach

Announcements:

Sharon Palmeri reminded us all about the Christmas Party at the Lake of the Four Seasons and took payment of the dinner advance of $15.50 per person. The party will be on December 2, 2009.

After the members exchanged introductions and news, we proceeded to the readings as time is short at Borders Cafe, which closes its doors at 9:00 P.M.

Readings:

Sharon Buckman read "The Final Sentencing" which is the finale to the long awaited sentencing of the killers of her nephew.

Beverly Stanislawski won third place in the 2009 Tennessee State Poetry Contest with her poem titled

"Yesterday's Album". The style is called "Pantoum" which seems quite hard when you follow a series of six quatrains with four lines of definite instructions.

Katherine Flotz had written a seasonal poem called "Autumn Snapshots", representing the colors of the Wisconsin nature palette.

Audrey Warzyniak wrote an untitled essay about a man and his wife and the health questions which arise when one spouse becomes severely handicapped. Do we "pull the plug" or not?

George Miga continues with chapter 8 of his "Medal of Dishonor." This chapter takes place in Waycross, Georgia in 1967. The journey takes us to a nursing home where Bobby Geary is living. He is a possible witness to a heroic deed performed by Corp. Cordell Jackson at the Battle of the Bulge.

Frances Burkett wrote a story entitled "Vicky's Coffin" a supernatural piece about a woman who cried by the river, searching for the children she'd drowned to spite her unfaithful husband.

Tom Molnar wrote a query letter to an agent about his story "Dark Age Maiden" and wanted a critique from the members. He also wrote "She wanted to be a famous novelist" about a young girl named Jasmine who wanted to become a writer and be famous. Things did not happen as fast as she expected.

Michael Musak read part of his play "Katie", letting some of the members take the character readings and use their imagination with accents, etc. Katie is shopping for Halloween and has entered a store where she finds a gypsy costume. We will finish the piece at the next meeting. Please bring the pages you were given.


Janice Beier (using the pseudonym J.C. Yester) wrote "Fragile Lives" a story about a girl's dream in which she was pursued by a frightening figure. It turned out that it was her mother. As she awoke, she screamed so long that a sedative had to be administered by the nurse.

Sharon Palmeri did not read but gave valuable advice.

Tom Wilson did not read but had much to add to some of the stories.

At the last meeting, Rose Ann Ross attended and returned again this evening with a beautiful and moving poem dedicated to our group. She cannot join the group due to other commitments, but wanted to let us know how much she thought of us.

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 P.M.

PLEASE NOTE THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON NOVEMBER 4, 2009.

Respectfully submitted,

Katherine Flotz