October 27, 2022

 

 

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Beverly Stanislawski, Sharon Buckman, Sharon Palmeri, Diane Stratton, Katherine Flotz, Cindy Horgash, Mike Musak, Ruthann Graczyk, Gail Galvan

OLD BUSINESS:

Katherine Foltz and Beverly Stanislawski approved the October 13, 2022, meeting minutes.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Teibels Restaurant (Schererville, IN) was chosen for the Christmas party on December 7, 2022, at 6:00 pm.  A Tiebels gift card will be given to each paid-up WOH member (only) who attends.  Sharon Palmeri will send information to members to register in advance.  A count of members and their guests will be taken at our next meeting on Thur., November 10^th. 

Members also discussed how much they liked the Bulldog Park facility for their meeting.  it was suggested that coffee be supplied at the next meeting on November 10th.

Reminder: On Thurs., November 10^th, we have invited author MARK MARIMEN (Pastor Mark Wilkins) to speak at our WOH meeting.  He will explain how he compiled and published the stories and legends for his Haunted Indiana Book Series, Vol. 1-4, Weird Indiana, and Haunted Travels of Indiana.    

LITERARY NEWS:

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI stated that her poem “Bubblicious” won 1^st Place, with two other poems winning 3 Honorable Mentions in a 2022 Florida poetry contest.  AL KOCH’s article “Hands of Character” was published in The Times newspaper Forum section on October 16.  KATHERINE FLOTZ announced she has a speaking engagement on November 8^th at 10:30 am at Life Point Church (Pastor Bob Neuman’s church).  CINDY HORGASH announced her book signing on November 19^th at Kolas Christian Bookstore (Highland, IN) from 10:00-noon for her “Underfoot” story in Chicken Soup for the Soul book.

READINGS:

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read four poems, three of which won her the previous prizes mentioned above.  The first, “Bubblicious,” tells a man’s battle with blowing bubbles.  The second, “Mac and Cheese,” tells of her love for her favorite dish.  Third, “A Slice of Pie “ is a minute poem about death getting a slice of life’s pie.  Fourth, “Beware the Baba Yaga,” tells about the danger of little children around witches.

CINDY HORGASH read two pages of her short story, “Day-O.” This story tells of the unexplainable knowing and premonitions that surrounded her mother’s death, allowing her to be present to see her mom’s spirit pass from this life to the next.

RUTHANN TODHUNTER GRACZK read two pages from the first chapter of her YA novel “Dawn of a New Day.”  The novel is about a troubled girl who finds herself falling for a stranger that unexpectedly enters her life.

MIKE MUSAK read two pages from what may or may not be part of a screenplay or novel. “The Bank Job,” tells of a stand-off between the bank manager who refuses to open the bank’s vault while the gang members threaten to take one life at a time until he does.  It comes down to who has the last bluff!

SHARON PALMERI read part one of her memoir, “When Doves Cry.”  The first chapter, titled The Big Scare (May 1986), tells of the dreams she began having after leaving the nursing program for education.  Her dreams of dead relatives and her deceased mother’s warning to “Check your breasts” led Sharon to new discoveries.

DIANE STRATTON read two pages of her short story titled “Mercy.”   This true story details the kindness and generosity of friends who reach out individually to help a mutual friend overwhelmed with discouraging troubles.  The results stack up to be an inspirational lesson for all of us.  

 

Respectfully Submitted:

CINDY HORGASH 

OCTOBER 13, 2022

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Beverly Stanislawski, Sharon Buckman, Katherine Flotz, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Al Koch, Amy Brailey, Shirley Hinman, Diane Stratton

OLD BUSINESS:

The minutes for the September 22, 2022 meeting was approved by Bob and Judy Neuman.

NEW BUSINESS:

Restaurants for the December Christmas party were discussed by the various members.  It was decided that the only ones that were acceptable for various reasons were Schoops in Crown Point, the Olive Garden in Merrillvillle and Teibels in Schererville.  The one chosen will be discussed on at the October 27^th meeting.

LITERARY NEWS:

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI stated that she had won 4 Honorable Mentions and second place in an Indiana poetry contest.

READINGS:

KATHERINE FLOTZ read two pages from her husband, George’s, story after W.W. 2 in Austria and then coming to America, his draft into the army and his service in Korea.

BOB NEUMAN read a trio of poems which included, “Where Did You Go, Little Piggy?  Which explored whimsically the place to which a little piggy disappeared. (2) “Four Truths,” a lighthearted poem in which the words in each of the four lines rhymes, (3)”Fife, Barney Fife,” a poem about Barney Fife, the deputy sheriff on the Andy Griffith television program.

JUDY NEUMAN read “A Limerick Duet,” which consisted of two limericks.  The first, “Careless Carol,” was written by her when she was in eighth grade in 1957 as part of a school safety emphasis.  The second one, “A Cat Tail,” was written in October 2022, about their at Rusty.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read her five poems that had won her the previous prizes mentioned above.  The first, “Sea Battle,” concerning the ebb and flow of the sea.  The second, “Promises Fulfilled,” tells of life’s renewal with various seasons.  Third, “Mardi Gras,” concerns the party that’s held every year on Bourbon in New Orleans. Fourth, “Marriage Never Dies,” tells of a husband truly missed even after his death several years before.  Fifth, “Philpot’s Got a Lot,” telling of a Kentucky town and it’s budget friendly community.

SHARON BUCKMAN continued reading two pages from her novel, Running on a Treadmill.  This part of the story told of Sandy and her boyfriend finally finding her  in Seattle without knowing that her ex-boyfriend, who had been following her, is close behind.”

AL KOCH read two pages of his short story, ”Saga of Dicky Duck.” Casablanca is a film about love, intrigue, adventure and a surprise ending, as is the saga of Dicky Duck.

AMY BRAILEY read two pages of her partly unfinished short story entitled, “ #10 Maple Street.” The story tells of a cop in a normally quiet neighborhood that is assigned to check out an abandoned house.

SHIRLEY HINMAN read her poem which depicts the events surrounding Grandpa’s death, including the “Old Clock.” This is a fictional poem followed by a sequel entitled, “The Empty Chair.”

 

Respectfully Submitted:

 

SHARON BUCKMAN

September 29, 2022

 

 MEMBERS PRESENT:

Katherine Flotz, Sharon Palmeri, Beverly Stanislawski, Amy Brailey, Diane Stratton, Cindy Horgash, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Al Koch, Ruthann Graczyk, Shirley Hinman, Gail Galvan, and Mike Musak.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS: Beverly Stanislawski won two 1^st places, one, 2nd place, and one, 3rd place awards for poems sent to Massachusetts poetry contest. Amy Brailey working on her second novel. Al Koch had a column about term limits printed in “The Times.”  Members were also asked to check possible restaurants where we can hold our Christmas meeting, first week of December. 

READINGS:

KATHERINE FLOTZ continued “The Boy at the River’s Edge.” The winds of war blow toward the boy’s hometown. The family leaves their home, traveling with a relative toward Hungary, but she leaves them behind. Their travels take term to Dresden, Germany where they experienced the firebombing on Feb 13, 1945.

CINDY HORGASH  brought her story,” Set up to Fail.” Each person can sabotage their goals by trying the impossible. Lucky for me, I received some advice that would change my life.

AL KOCH presented his “Hands of Character.”  Using the hands of character as an opportunity to improve the times of one’s life.

SHIRLEY HINMAN read her poem, “It is Time.”  Time is elusive. No one can put their finger on time or change it.  

RUTHANNE GRACZYK recited her poem, “Another Day.”  Her poem was about a child’s failed attempt at taking her own life.

SHARON BUCKMAN brought her “Memoir.”  This work tells of the repercussions of not always telling the truth and other plans gone awry.

JOHN NEUMAN presented “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” This was an anecdotal travelogue.

JUDY NEUMAN told of “The Birds and the Bees—Rated “P.G.” This was a brief account of Bob and Judy’s courtship and marriage. The article includes a Biblical view of how to have a strong marriage.

MIKE MUSAK read his story “See You Later,” about a timer traveler who gets a disappointing surprise

SHARON PALMERI presented “The Lonely Rose” This story told of her mother’s love of roses, especially a single one, and of her love of dancing which she missed. Sharon’s second reading was “Tunnel of Sorrow and Regret.”. Her mother’s surprising death was “the most traumatic event” in her life, especially after they had “just started a new beginning friendship only a few months before.”

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI offered four winning poems, “Can She be my Sister?” which doubted if they were related; “Gramps and Me,” about a boy’s love for his grandfather; “Eyes Wide Open,” a mother’s advice to her daughter; and an Ekphrastic poem, “It’s All in the Game,”

based on a painting by de Caravaggio, “Cardsharps,” about three men cheating at cards.

Meeting adjourned, 7:35 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 Beverly Stanislawski