AUGUST 20, 2014

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sharon Palmeri, Beverly Stanislawski, Sharon Buckman, Bob Moulesong, George Miga, Marjorie Peterson, Denise Taylor, Tom Spencer, Ruthann Graczyk, Victor Marmolejo, Paul Mulligan, Neil Bedeker, Janice Beier

GUESTS PRESENT:

Kay Depel

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval for the August 6, 2014, meeting was first given by BOB MOULESONG and seconded by JANICE BEIER.

NEW BUSINESS:

SHARON PALMERI announced changes in the format for our meetings:  When responding to the e-mail for our meetings, members are asked to state if they will be reading, if so, how many pages (single or double spaced), and if they wish to be critiqued.  This will help to save time and keep the meetings running more smoothly. 

Sharon also mentioned that our annual Christmas party will be on Wednesday, December 3^rd at the LOFS clubhouse.  The meal will be a family style rather than a buffet, and there will be entertainment. A bottle of wine will be complimentary at each table. Members will have a $5.00 discount and will pay $25 dollars. Non-members will pay $30 for this three meat/fish meal with dessert and coffee. Once again we will have a gift exchange (gifts geared toward writers, excluding books by members.) We will again have free-of-charge tables for members and guests to sell their books, and to display information (flyers, cards etc) on any other writers groups they attend. We ran out of time last year, but this year we will once again have other groups talk about their projects and successes. 

More information will be given when it becomes available.

LITERARY NEWS:

JOHN BOUFIS, who was not in attendance, e-mailed Sharon Palmeri a copy of what he stated was a “real neat” app entitled “Snap Attack,” a brand-new, fast paced word-building tournament that challenges your brain in 2 ½ minute rounds.  (http://wordament.com/)

SHARON PALMERI stated that she and BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI attended the Blank Slate Writers Group in Valparaiso this past week. After inquiring about the group’s new anthology coming out in December, they were told that our members may submit their writings to the Blank Slate Writers Group to be considered for publication in their new anthology.  The guidelines and entry form will be e-mailed to members. Deadline is Sept. 16^th.  

READINGS:

BOB MOULESONG continued with the second part of his three part story, “Planters’ Moon.”  In this part of the story, Emma continued with her errands which included plans for her annual garden which needed to be planted before the Planters’ Moon.  While witnessing the unusual behavior of her husband, she began to realize he was becoming unfaithful.  

MARJORIE PETERSON continued with four pages of her novel, The Bitter Ballet.  While blaming herself for the disappointment of her son, and his “so-called” wife, Rose continued raising her granddaughter on the few funds available.  When her granddaughter asked to be allowed to attend Madame Abbott’s school for ballet, she realized how impossible it would be.

JANICE BEIER read four pages of her suspenseful short story entitled, “Midnight Caller.”  When being called to the prison where his “midnight caller” had been imprisoned, Reginald realized that the lunatic had lured him there only to continue his harassment of the DJ.  

VICTOR MARMOLEJO brought three pages of his Shakespearean Blank Verse Screenplay entitled, “The Life and Times of Tsar Ivan IV.”  The conflict between husband, Tsar Ivan IV and his wife, Anastasia, was related by the various members as they played the parts of the different characters.  The play was enjoyed by all the members.

TOM SPENCER brought his nine stanza poem entitled “A Six-Pack Serenade.”  In this delightful descriptive poem Tom told of a chaotic neighborhood where neighbors fight, have late night rendezvous keeping their other neighbors awake, and later deciding they should move to a better neighborhood.”  

PAUL MULLIGAN continued with his novel, Be Brave-Now Die.  In this part of the novel, Carl and Darlene decide to go bowling and are forced by Darlene’s mother to take her younger brother, Eddie, along.  The bantering between Darlene and her brother continue throughout the night until they learn of a shooting involving a friend.  Carl witnessed the true closeness between the brother and sister.

NEIL BEDEKER continues with Chapter 4 of his novel, Early Retirement.  This chapter begins with Special Agents Malloy and Mapes sitting in their car on a stakeout in South Phillly.  As they sit watching the third floor apartment of a recently released prisoner, they ponder what he did with the three million dollars that was heisted several years prior.  

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read an essay, "Apple Seeds," which compared a person's character to the seeds in an apple. It was not the external parts of an apple or of a person that showed their worth, but their essence was in their internal makeup instead.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M.

Respectfully submitted:

SHARON BUCKMAN