MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 10, 2022

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Shirley Hinman, Sharon Buckman, Amy Brailey, Sharon Palmeri, Corri Stephenson, Paula Stephenson, Shirley Vaughan, Cindy Horgash, Diane Stratton, Gail Galvan

 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval was given for our last meeting, November 11, 2021, by Sharon Palmeri and Sharon Buckman

READINGS:

GAIL GALVAN read her two-page “Tribute to the Late Betty White.”  In her tribute she told of Betty’s fascinating life, her funny philosophy, her candid spirit, and all of the T.V. shows, game shows and Emmy awards she had won over the years.  Gail ended the tribute by saying “We’ll keep your legacy of laughter alive and vow – never let it die.”

SHIRLEY VAUGHAN read two pages of the continuation of her published novel, The Will of God. This newest novel, Their New Beginning, begins in prehistoric earth when dinosaur’s bones were still more easily seen by Iris.  She is in the spiritual realm and likes to view the world while remembering what made the dinosaurs extinct.

SHARON BUCKMAN continued reading three pages of her novel, Running on a Treadmill.  In this part of the story (Chapter 3), Sandy decides to accept Mark’s invitation to stay with him at his parent’s house.  Afraid that her ex-boyfriend would find her and the fact she was beginning to run out of money, she also decided to look for a job in that vicinity.

SHIRLEY HINMAN read her two poems, the first titled, “Delicately Detached,” and the second poem titled, “Roots.”  In summarizing her poems she wrote, “Life is too short, getting too wrapped up in temporal things, or situations.  We should learn to take each days positive, or negative situations with a grain of salt.  We need to learn to appreciate life, forgive and move on.”

CINDY HORGASH read two pages of her novel, Magic of the Blue Hour, beginning with Chapter l, “Muddle of Pud.”  The story told of a middle grade 10 yr old boy who is trying to navigate through a tragic loss.  He finds himself on the other side of a magical place known as the Blue Hour.

AMY BRAILEY continued reading two pages of her novel, Jon Everett and the Hall of History. In this part of the novel, Chapter 32, Jon is heading back to camp after a bitter defeat at Fort Duquesne with George Washington’s army.  He has just retrieved the items that he will need to get him back to his own time.

SHARON PALMERI read three pages of her memoir entitled, “A Seasonal Change, Welcome to Four Seasons.”  This part of the memoir took place from 1973-1976 and began with her daughter Renee’s fourth birthday in their new home at Lake of the Four Seasons. She told of getting involved in organizing social events, setting up a dance studio in her basement for Hawaiian and belly dancing, and eventually her and John building a darkroom to enjoying their hobby of photography.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 P.M.

Respectfully submitted:

SHARON BUCKMAN

 

NOVEMBER 11, 2021

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sharon Buckman, Katherine Flotz, Shirley Hinman, Diane Stratton, Bob Philpot, Audrey Warzyniak,

Darlene Barron, Sharon Palmeri, Corri Stephenson, Paula Stephenson, Cindy Horgash, Amy Brailey

 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

SHARON PALMERI checked with the group to see if everyone wants to continue status quo for the schedule of meetings.  That would be to meet once at the Lake County Library on the second Thursday of the month from 4:30 to 6:30pm and once at Pappas Restaurant  in Crown Point from 5:30 to 8:30 pm on the fourth Thursday of each month.  It was agreed to continue this schedule.

NEW BUSINESS:

All of the members introduced themselves and told what type of writing they do.  This was to acquaint the new member in attendance, Darlene Barron, with the rest of the group.

READINGS:

SHIRLEY HINMAN read two of her poems.  “THE GRINCH BRUNCH” (22 lines) was about Christmas and winter festivities and activities , and “EVERY SOUND” (16 lines) which was about her experiences being in a community band and the members interacting together to create music.

KATHERINE FLOTZ read her one page short story entitled, “WHAT WERE YOU LIKE WHEN YOU WERE 50?!”  This is another title in the series of questions she is given each week as writing prompts which will then be published into a collection of memories for her family at the end of the year.  She described the city and neighborhood from that time and also named where the generations of her family from her grandmother to her grandchildren were at in that stage of her life.  She also fondly recalled the activities of the social “Batschka Club” which she and her husband organized and enjoyed with friends who also originated from Yugoslavia near her hometown located there.  The club name “Batschka” referred to the county area in Yugoslavia where the group members all used to live.

SHARON PALMERI read a chapter from her memoir dating from 1971-1973, that is entitled  “A NEW BEGINNING –ARROWHEADS AND OPPORTUNITES”.  In this feature she details her family life in their home in Hobart and the daily activities and adventures when her firstborn daughter was a toddler.  The chapter includes a stretch of career time for Sharon at the hospital and concludes when she and her husband build a house in the Lakes of the Four Seasons.

AUDREY WARZYNIAK read her one page short story entitled, “MAGGIE’S REUNION”.  The story travels backward in time to the beginning and details an experience she encountered while working at a retirement home.

AMY BRAILEY continued reading from her novel, JOHN EVERETT and the HALL OF HISTORY focusing on Chapter 31.  In this part of the novel, Jon travels back toward camp with his regiment and encounters George Washington who hears Jon voicing concerns on evading the enemy and then counsels him.

BOB PHILPOT read a chapter from his novel, STRANGE FRIENDS.   The chapter entitled “CHAPTER DINNER” describes Zeb escaping death in his work investigating the kidnapping of a scientist who is working for the Navy.   Zeb is targeted in a sneak attack in a diner after henchman follow orders of “the Boss” who has learned from his crew that Zeb was just spotted there. 

CORRI STEPHENSON read Chapter 1 from her novel entitled, BELLFAST.  The story takes place in the present time with “watchers” in it as a strange text message is sent one by one to each person in the town of Bellfast  and one young woman is then mysteriously discovered dead, hanging from a tree in the central park.   Chase, a local young man who has not yet received the text, suspects a sinister connection between the text and the death and struggles to search for a clue to solve the mystery.

CINDY HORGASH read her short story entitled, “TWO REDHEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE.”  It is a humorous tale of the lively pre-school antics of two red-headed brothers.

 

Respectfully Submitted:

DIANE STRATTON