MEMBERS PRESENT: Sharon Palmeri, Kathy Flotz,
Suzy Stueben, Sharon Dorelli,Donna
Douglass, Bob Moulesong, Denise Taylor,
Jackie Huppenthal, Luneil Morrow, Paul Mulligan Ruthann Graczyk, Michelle
Vargas, Mary Ellen Beecher, Tom Molnar, Mike Musak, Neil Bedeker, Beverly Stanislawski
Sharon Palmeri opened the meeting suggesting we forgo the usual
updating the members’ news due to a very large attendance and limited reading
time. Chapel Lawn mixed up our date with another group and did not expect us
tonight. While they allowed us to meet, we had to leave by 8:15 p.m.
OLD BUSINESS
Minutes were approved by Donna
Douglass, seconded by Bob Moulesong, with two corrections noted.
READINGS
Paul Mulligan continued reading from his work, Be Brave, Now Die. The part of Chapter 2 concerned
the young couple meeting “the parents” and beginning to enjoy the growing love
for each other.
Michelle Vargas (story still untitled) explained the use of a
form to aid writers in creating protagonists and antagonists. There were
columns to list their “goals and behavior” before their “vice” occurs, event that causes the characters a “moment of grace,” and “behavior after virtue practiced.” Many
members found the form helpful.
Bob Moulesong is in the process of creating 13 short stories all
centered around the names of the various full moons. The name of each moon as well as the full moon itself plays a
role in each story. The collection is to be titled, Lunacy.
Beverly Stanislawski read her short
story, “The Puzzle Pro.” It told of a crossword puzzler and his
accidental meeting with a man who appeared to be a real pro at finishing puzzles
quickly, in ink. We learned that the pro wasn’t the wordsmith he pretended to
be.
Donna Douglass’ offering, “A
Woman’s Soliloquy” introduced us to a college girl and told of her growth
into an older woman. Her life seemed filled with several personal, tragic episodes
caused by a variety of people who wanted to hurt her, emotionally and
physically. If people finally judge her, she wanted them to see the “real me.”
Suzy Stueben read
more of “Mrs. Walter’s New Neighbors.”
This episode dealt with some strange, magical tea and some evil, hard choices
Mrs. Walters had to make. All the time, she keeps trying to her special
abilities secret and controlled.
Denise Taylor continued reading Chapter 2 “It’s Not Fair” from her
work, All the Little Secrets.
Sisters Kathy and Beth have angry words about Kathy eating “junk” food, especially
in front of her. Being a diabetic, Beth is aware that she cannot eat that type
of food. Her dad has to reprimand her about her attitude toward her sister and
remind her to take her blood sugar test.
Sharon Dorelli presented a part of her rather unique story, “The
Hitchhikers.”
Charles doesn’t quite know
what has happened to him as he awakens, but he “felt her presence.” Ana, who
looked like an angel just might be a witch or something else. He wasn’t sure.
As she seduced him, Charles began to die and felt himself fading into the void.
Neil Bedeker continued with Chapter 2 of his work, Early Retirement. His character, Mitch Baden, thinks he was
called to Principal Baxter’s office because of an inadvertent
Indiscretion. Instead, Baxter
introduced him to FBI agent Berman. The agent wanted to know about Mitch’s
association with radical Diana Dorn, 30 years ago at Woodstock.
Mitch hardly remembered
her. Now Dorn had escaped from prison,
having sworn vengeance on another man for double-crossing her group. Would Mitch
fit into the FBI’s plan?
Jackie Huppenthal read her poem, “Enough
Already” which brought to everyone’s mind the damages that human kind has
done to our world, “from the ocean floor to deep outer space” She asked us to be
an advocate for our Earth, “do more than your share, be an example, and
educate, so others will care.”
With the time limited, there
were some members who did not get a chance to read. They will go first at our
first June meeting: Tom Molar (Welcome
back!), Mary Ellen Beecher, Ruthann Graczyk, and Mike Musak.
W.O.H. welcomed Sharon
Dorelli back from her illness and presented her with a floral arrangement in a
watering can.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:15
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Beverly Stanislawski
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