OCTOBER 15, 2015

MEMBERS PRESENT: 

Sharon Buckman, Sharon Palmeri, Kathy Flotz, Beverly Stanislawski, Donna Echelbarger, Bob Phillpot, Adam Sedia, Paul Mulligan, Ruthann Graczyk, Mary Ellen Beecher, Amy Brailey, Luneil Morrow

GUESTS PRESENT:

Pete Iussig

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval for the October 1^st meeting was first given by PAUL MULLIGAN and seconded by KATHY FLOTZ.

NEW BUSINESS:

SHARON PALMERI reminded the members of the upcoming 27^th Anniversary Banquet on Wednesday 2, 2015 at the Lake of the Four Seasons Clubhouse.  The cost, which needs to be paid before November 5 – NO EXCEPTIONS  will be $30 for members and $35 for non-members.  For further information please check the WOH October 1^st blog.  

LITERARY NEWS:

RUTHANN GRACZYK mentioned that she had a short story, “The Best Worst Christmas,” published in the “Magic Hour Family Christmas” magazine.

ADAM SEDIA stated he had three poems published in the Indiana Voice Journal, they included “All Hallows Eve,” “Autumn Leaves,” and “Vespers.”  He also had a short story published in the Liberty Island Publication entitled “Red Sky.”

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI  stated she had two poems that had received 2^nd place awards from Poets and Patrons for “Soldiers of the Corn” and “My Kind of Town.” She will also be speaking (reading poems) at the Downers Grove library on Saturday, Nov. 17.

BOB PHILPOT mentioned that he volunteered to usher at the Buckley Homestead Fall Festival for the handicapped people that attended.

KATHY FLOTZ mentioned that she would be speaking at the Innsbrook Country Club on November 13^th about her book Pebble in my Shoe.

PETE IUSSIG, our guest, stated that he teaches at the Lowell Middle School. He added that he has been writing poetry, at students’ request, for some of his classes. 

READINGS:

DONNA ECKELBARGER read nine stanzas of her newest children’s story entitled, “The Tiny Surprise.”  The story kept asking the question, “what is inside my orange box,” which was relating to the Christmas present sitting under the Christmas tree.  The surprise ending, without giving it away, winked at her when opened.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read her three-stanza free verse poem entitled, “Midwest Theme.”  This poem, written in her mind as she was driving to a poetry meeting, compared the fields of corn she passed on the way to soldiers standing at attention awaiting the enemy.

ADAM SEDIA read his four-stanza ballad poem, written for a relative’s wedding, entitled “A Wedding Toast.”  This sweet poem reminded many of the members of a beautiful ballad and felt it should be set to music.

PAUL MULLIGAN continued with four pages of his novel, Be Brave – Now Die.  In this chapter, “Playing with Fire,” told of the church service Carl and Darlene attended a week after their marriage and the statement the Reverend Tolliver made as he asked them to stand; “for those of you who might be letting that devil do a little work in here – she is not with child.”

AMY BRAILEY read two pages from her short story, “Advice from a Bag Lady.”  The story told of an unlucky young boy named Johnny heading to the park after school to try to get away from his troubles.  When he reached his usual bench, he found a bag lady sitting there.  After being unsuccessful in getting her to leave, he found he enjoyed their conversation and received some useful advice.

LUNIEL MORROW read four pages of her children’s story, “Barty, the Clumsy Vampire.”  This humorous story told of a young vampire, not the scary kind, living in an Alaskan town where for three months out of the year there was no daylight.  Barty felt that he should have been happy living in this remote area but felt he had too many human traits, such as crying and being able to bleed, to be a good vampire.

MARY ELLEN BEECHER read her short story entitled, “Reflections.”  In this story, Mary Ellen reflects upon the choices her son Michael has made and wonders when he will realize that he is substituting one addiction for another.  Mary Ellen also wonders if she, possibly being an enabler, causes part of his trouble.

PETE IUSSIG read his 11-stanza couplet poem entitled, “Two Cans of Green Beans.”  This humorous poem begins with his mother asking him to go into the basement and bring up two cans of green beans.  Believing his basement to be cursed he feels he has encountered the “twin girls” who haunts it and wants him to stay.

The meeting adjourned at 8:00 P.M.

Respectfully submitted:

SHARON BUCKMAN