August 1, 2019

The Meeting began at 6:15 P.M.

MEMBERS PRESENT: 

Sharon Buckman, Marilyn Kessler, Dennis Mclean, Tim Phillapart, Gail Galvan, Beverly Stanislawski, Katherine Flotz, Caron Von See, Sharon Palmeri, Al Koch, Amy Brailey, Diane Stratton, and Bob Philpot

OLD BUSINESS: 

A vote of approval for the July 18, 2019, minutes was first given by KATHERINE FLOTZ and seconded by DIANE STRATTON.

LITERARY NEWS: 

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI received several awards for poems entered in the Ohio Poetry Society contest.  Her poem “Just a Paris Friday Night” won a first place prize of $60.  She also received three Honorable Mentions for her poems “Sisters,” “When We is Just Me,” and “Tribute.”  Congratulations, Beverly!

CAREN VON SEE received a publishing contract from Balboa Press to publish her novel My Treasure Chest.  She is currently in the revision stage.  Congratulations, Caren!

TIM PHILLIPART has had several poems published in an Anthology, and has also been selling books of his poetry at Wisconsin Craft Fairs.  Congratulations, Tim and Savoy Inc. Publishing Company.

READINGS:

MARILYN KESSLER read Chapter 4 entitled “Damned Fool” from her currently untitled novel.  In this chapter, Papa is still working his claim and missing his family.  Having to bail out his younger and more irresponsible brother helps make his decision on a date to return home.  A roommate of his has been killed for working another man’s claim.

TIM PHILLIPART read four free verse poems.  The first, “There Will Be Fireworks” plays on the holiday theme in looking at things that cause conflict, which, whether intended or not, will lead to “fireworks.”  “Rocking the Church” takes a humorous look at the thinks people do to stay awake in church.  “Tassels and Silks” gives corn a fun personified life-cycle.  Finally, “Sad I Don’t Live” looks at what life would be like if the beauty around us that is so enthralling were commonplace instead of magical. 

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI  read three of her award winning poems (Ohio Poetry Society prize winners).  “Just a Paris Friday Night” (first place!) is a pantoum poem written in remembrance of the terrorist attacks in Paris.  “When We is Just Me” is a truly poignant poem expressing the feelings one experiences in the loss of a spouse and the difficulty of getting used to saying me instead of we.  “Sisters” is a Dorsimbra poem which contrasts two siblings.

  

AL KOCH shared “August” which highlights the highs and lows of this month that is the tail end of summer and not quite the beginning of fall.  Woven with memories of seasons past, he helps us enjoy the fleeting, changing seasons.

CARON VON SEE read Chapter 15 pages 3-7 of My Treasure Chest.  In this section, Antonio tries to solve the problems between Angelo and Uncle Lorenzo.  Angelo wants to develop new wines while Uncle Lorenzo is stick in the past (Albeit with an award winning wine).

KATHERINE FLOTZ read a free verse poem entitled “The Golden Years” in which she compares our process of growing older with the growth of trees at a cottage.

DENNIS MCLEAN read the pages 18-21 of his novel entitled The Eye of the Gift Horse.  In this section, Spook agrees to stand in the “Snap up tree” (a plot created by Maddie and Gretchen, to “rescue” the kidnapped Andrea.)  Sidney wishes he’d had the courage to volunteer.

DIANE STRATTON read “Garden Growing” in which she considers the fact that all of the trials (weeds, being sabotaged by animals, etc.) actually makes the gardener grow almost as much as the plants!

The Meeting Adjourned at 7:50 P.M.

Respectfully submitted by Amy Brailey