The Meeting began at 6:15
P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Pam
Maud, Hardarshan Valia, Al Koch, Dennis Mclean, Sharon Buckman, Katherine Flotz, Sharon Palmeri, Beverly
Stanislawski, Amy Brailey, Marlene Starcevich, Diane Stratton, and Gail Galvin
OLD BUSINESS:
A
vote of approval for the January 16, 2020 minutes was first given by Dennis McLean and seconded by Sharon Buckman.
NOTE: The banquet will be
held at Innsbrook Country Club instead of Avalon Manor, which will provide a more
cozy atmosphere. Date TBA.
LITERARY NEWS:
April
18, Dennis McClean and Al Koch will be at the Hammond Author’s Fair. Come out and support them (and buy their
books if you haven’t already 😊)
Hardarshan Valia will attend the Big Sur
(Oregon Mountains) and Cape Cod Writer’s Workshop.
Sharon Palmeri mentioned the Midwest
Writer’s Workshop. More information to
follow
Gail Galvan shared about the 27th
Dancing Poetry Contest (Deadline April 15th for entry). If you win, they will dance to a performance
of your poem. Feel free to apply at www.dancingpoetry.com
Al Koch responded to Last
Sunday’s Arts and Entertainment section’s question about what books you’ve
enjoyed. He responded that he has
enjoyed his own book. So have we, Al!
Beverly Stanislawski had three ranking
poems entered in the Texas poetry contest which received two 4th
place awards and one 5th place awards. Congratulations, Beverly!
READINGS:
HARDARSHAN VALIA read a free verse poem
entitled “Audacity of Doves” which
was based on an idea inspired by Dennis
McClean’s writing. In this poem, he
describes how doves dutifully carry on with their obligation of representing
peace.
AL KOCH shared “The Gift of March”—a brief history of
our calendar and its components are presented for the reader’s review. The importance of the third month, March, is
highlighted and presented with insightful personification and appreciation.
DENNIS MCLEAN presented a reading of
“Flatboat.” While drifting on a flatboat down the Ohio River,
Abe Lincoln and Allan Gentry reminisce about their school days. The speculate on the meaning of the story in
the book of Daniel where Nebuchadnezzar casts the three Israelites, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego into the fiery furnace.
GAIL GALVAN read a poem entitled “Born with a bit.” Like Mark Twain, we are writers, “born
with a bit of his wit” and share our stories and poems. “We share his love for life’s sunshine and
thunders.”
AMY
BRAILEY read
Chapter 16 of her book entitled Jon
Everett and the Hall of History. In
this section, General Braddock’s line is attacked by Native Americans, and
Washington’s regiment shoots one of their Indian allies.
BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read her three award
winning poems. “Live for Today” (4th place Texas) is a triolet poem (17th
century French form where there are two rhymes.
The first line is repeated in lines 4 and 7, the second line is repeated
in the 8th.) This iambic
pentameter poem was about not allowing the past to define us. Her second poem was her 4th place
haiku in which a worm tries to escape being eaten. Finally, “Family
is my Hometown” rehearses that there truly is no place like home with
family.
DIANE STRATTON read “What’s That You Say?”—a humorous look
at old sayings and where they have come from.
So many clichés have illusive meanings.
MARLENE STARCEVICH read a selection of George Joseph the Rescue Cat, sharing
her grief about the day her father died.
PAM MAUD wrote a selection
entitled “A New Coat” exploring how
furniture affects humans and how humans affect furniture. She examines the stories our own furniture
could tell.
The
Meeting Adjourned at 8:10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted
by Amy Brailey
