May 12, 2022

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: AUDREY WARZNIAK, KATHERINE FLOTZ, SHIRLEY HINMAN, JUDY NEUMAN, JOHN NEUMAN, AL KOCH, DIANE STRATTON, BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI, SHARON PALMERI, GAIL GALVAN, SHARON BUCKMAN, AMY BRAILEY, CINDI HORGASH.

MINUTES OF APRIL 28, APPROVED BY JUDY AND JOHN NEUMAN

 

NEW BUSINESS: Reminder of new meeting hours, 5-8 p.m. at library and Pappas.

SHARON PALMERI suggested that we might have speakers during our extra time at the library.

 

READINGS:

 KATHERINE FLOTZ   related the true story of a relative, Tobias Brandt, taken by force to Ukraine as slave laborer on Dec. 28, 1944. With others he was imprisoned, transported in a cattle car, endured hardships and infections, and witnessed many punishments and deaths Years later, he was finally able to come to America.

JUDY NEUMAN told what her kitty was thinking in her poem, “Rainy Day for Kitty.”

It appears the cat was just sleepy and listening to the “musical refrain” of the rain.

SHARON BUCKMAN   stated quite poetically that “Procrastination” could wait until tomorrow. She added a true account of her procrastination concerning her daughter’s church attire. Although Linda did wear a lovely ruffled dress, Sharon forgot to give her daughter the matching ruffled underpants. Linda ended up “mooning the congregation.”

AL KOCH remembered his many youthful days with some “Essential Lessons” that he related.  Along with his lack of “bodily self-control” in school and dropping out of kindergarten, Al recalled some life lessons he learned along the way. His advice was “At times, only by becoming lost do we truly discover the pathway and destiny of life’s journey”        

SHARON PALMERI read her story, “Sign of The Times #2.”  A couple met online and were planning to meet in person on a particular day at a particular place. Only problem seemed to be that they might be living in different, yet parallel, universes. Would they ever be able to meet? Uniquely, Sharon’s story had two possible endings.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI told of a wonderful day on beautiful “Lake Holiday.” From the fisherman looking for a meal to the water skiers plowing through the waves, the lake afforded a variety of activities. An angelic girl with water wings and a would-be little king also played in the water and in the sand. Even the sun enjoyed seeing its reflection in Lake Holiday’s mirror.

BOB NEUMAN shared some good advice in just “Twelve Words.” His saying was “If we would pause to think, we would have cause to thank. He relayed a story of an 82-year-old man who said, “I haven’t’ had a good day in 60 years.” A store employee set him straight about how good his days really were. Bob also told of his father-in-law, Pete who was a blessed man. Oncvem, Pete suggested the congregation should sing, “Count Your Blessings, Name them ‘Ton by Ton’.”

CINDY HORGASH relayed “The Squirrel Whisperer,” a short Story about her father-in-law’s obsession with his lush green lawn and his unrelenting rivals of the invasive squirrel variety and nosey neighbor type, Gladys Kravitz. Paul tried a catch and release program, finally painting different colors on the captured squirrels’ tails. He caught and released 528 animals, but none returned with rainbowed tails.

SHIRLEY HINMAN had an “Alien Dream.”  In her poem, the creature had beady eyes,wiggled from  her hand, hopped around her deck, jumped so high and so far. Can you guess that the alien was a grasshopper?

Meeting Adjourned 7 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, 

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI

 

April 28. 2022

 

 

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sharon Palmeri, Sharon Buckman, Shirley Vaughan, Kathy Flotz, Al Koch, Shirley Hinman, Sue Becherer, Ruthann Graczyk, Judy Neuman, Bob Neuman, Gail Galvan, Beverly Stanislawski, Amy Brailey,  Diane Stratton, Trent D. Pendley, and Mary Tubis (pending).

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval for the April 14th, 2022 minutes were approved by Shirley Vaughan and Katherine Flotz.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:  

After everyone left after our last meeting at the restaurant, Sharon had a discussion with one of the owners of the restaurant about the problems we were having (annoying loud music during meeting time). He assured us that it would not happen again, and even suggested that we meet at 5 pm instead of 5:30 pm and that would give us more time. It seemed to be a good idea. That way we can get our orders in and start eating by 5:30 pm. Those who cannot make that time can order when they get there at 5:30 pm. So hopefully the problem is resolved.

Another bit of good news is that the Lake County Library will allow us to meet from 5 pm till 8 pm. This will allow us more time in case we want to just chat or perhaps have education sessions or speakers. Sharon will supply hand sanitizer. Note that REFRESHMENTS ARE BACK!

 So now we will meet at both the Lake County Library and Pappas restaurants from 5-8 pm.

Lake County Library 5-8 pm the second Thursday of the month.

Pappas restaurant 5-8 pm on the fourth Thursday of the month.

The Creative Arts Summit will be held at the library on May 21, Saturday, from noon until 4:00 pm. 

Authors and other artistic people will be displaying their work. The deadline to sign up has passed. (Amy Brailey will be there, so come out and say hello!) 

LITERARY NEWS:  

Beverly Stanislawski won the following poetry awards: “Cardinal Rouge” 2ND PLACE, Haiku about an autumn tree (3rd place), and “Marriage Never Dies,” “Hungry Boomerang,” and “Curtain Time” all 3rd place Honorable Mentions. Congratulations Bev!

Sue Becherer is working with an agent (Dupree Miller Associates—World Affairs Council) for her memoir story Dogtown. She has worked with them before and had short stories published with them.

Trent D. Pendley is working on a sequel to his book Toys in the Closet. The story picks up in June of 2011 with the Franklin bachelor brothers continuing to embrace the cause of saving the Indiana Dunes, just as their grandmother, Rose Lewry, did. The title is Lewry Lurie. This book covers a week in their lives while “schlepping from their penthouses atop Chicago’s Hancock and Olympia Center, and venturing to the Indiana Dunes to raise money for saving parcels of wetlands, swales, prairies, forests, and the dunes.

Katherine Flotz received a copy of her now completed StoryWorth Memoir book, which her family encouraged her to do. They asked her questions about her interesting life, and Katherine responded.

READINGS:

SHARON BUCKMAN continued reading from Running on a Treadmill.  In this part of the story, Eric decided to follow Sandy’s mother, hoping to find where Sandy was living. He followed her to an apartment building that he was sure was hers, but later had doubts. In the meantime, Sandy is very happy with Mark, her new life, and even dreams of running her own bookstore someday.

SHIRLEY VAUGHAN read Chapter 2 (Joining the Club) from Sometimes It’s Good to be Brave.  The challenges of being married to a possessive husband often made it difficult for Mary to make good decisions. Prayers helped with what was most important, to make sure her children were safe and to write the story that had been coming to her. Mary resigns after 8 years as a lab technician, spends more time with her kids, and focuses on her writing. She finishes the first draft of a two-hour movie script (a sci-fi fiction story). She also attends a writers’ workshop and finds some literature about a literary club (Write-on, Hoosiers) which started three years prior. She signed up right then and there as a new member!

KATHERINE FLOTZ read two (Diamond) poems. “The Proposal” is about walking together “in harmony with life’s journey”…and “dancing together a slow waltz holding you close.” The second poem was, “Evening Glow” about a sunset, “a crimson palette” on the shores of Lake Flambeau, and “awaiting twilight to come.”

AL KOCH read “Teenage Endearment: A Remembrance.” which is a poignant true story of affection, appreciation, and remembrance. A time when the gift of each day arrived brimming with newness, adventure, challenge, and coming-of-age experiences. It begins with Al kneeling at his high school classmate’s gravesite as he remembers her birthday on May 10th. They had been close, went to prom together in High School, then went separate ways but remained dear friends. He then shares many heartfelt memories of the past from sixty years ago. (He remembers Bobbie Beach, moonlight glistening and dancing on Lake Michigan, dreamy music on the car radio, and on post prom day at Dunes State Park.) “The years of first-time experiences that capture the heart and leave indelible reminders of youthful times that—over the years—become treasures of the heart.”

SHIRLEY HINMAN read “You’ve Arrived” which tells the short tale about a G.P.S. that didn’t hear Shirley correctly and she arrives in the wrong area! And this says it all…”I finally just parked by someone’s yard. I approached the front steps, almost in tears. The man at the door confirmed my fears as I asked, “Where is Indianapolis?” He said, “Deary, this is Minneapolis!” 

SUE BECHERER read from her work, Breacha: A Story of Stonehenge. Sue visited England and knew Stonehenge was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is a prehistoric monument and one of the most famous landmarks in the United Kingdom. Sue writes about the history and how she came up with the idea for writing a novel about the “stone circles”. For historical facts, “usually my research ended at a blind alley. Then one day, I was touring the North Central states along the Missouri River and met up with the Lacota Tribe of the Sioux Indians…My contacts with the folks at UNESCO and the Lacota Sioux have brought magic to the novel, an understanding of the marvelous nature of humankind.”

BOB NEUMAN shared “An Alarming Experience,” citing several types of alarms: home security, airport security, etc., and compared them to God’s alarm—our conscience within us. In the first story, Judy is asked to check in on a neighbor’s sick cat, Diddles, only to learn that the home alarm had not been turned off. When the police show up, Judy had to convince the officer that she was a cat chauffeur (to the Vet), not a cat burglar. In a short titled “Airport Insecurity,” Bob and Judy experienced a different type of incident involving an alarm system at Midway Airport. Alarms blare as Bob tried to walk through the gateway. Magnetic strips on his credit cards seemed to be the “Achilles heel,” but Bob says it was his “magnetic personality.” In “Bob’s Final Thoughts,” as Bob and Judy travel again, Bob suffers a Pavlovian-like response, fearing hearing alarms again, but this time he passes.

JUDY NEUMAN read “Caught Red-Handed” about Johnny, getting caught stealing a cookie before supper. Noting that an “alarm” went off inside of—his conscience— warning about consequences since he had been warned and it was wrong. In the next shot, “ALARM—Doesn’t That Word Tell Us Something?” again, it’s pointed out that alarms are meant to protect us from danger and its related consequences. She notes that “God’s built-in alarm system, our conscience, is of vital importance to our day-to-day living. If you feel like your spiritual batteries are dead…prayer may help.”

GAIL GALVAN paid tribute to National Poetry Month and read three poems related to poets and/or poetry. “Poetic Poison” stresses how poets see many people conforming but, “the alienated poet refuses.” Poets hang onto “keepsakes of magic lanterns, internal figments” as “imagination grows wild.” 

“A Poet’s Honor” brings to light how certain truths often damage innocence and “weakens the romantic’s gift.” Yet, poets persist, “as life’s tone of merriment possibilities continues to exist.” And finally, in “Poetry Palace,” she paints a picture of a palace gallery full of poems, anthologies, and folk stanzas where “exhibited literary-spun images sparkle on elegant glittery walls fit for kings, queens, and Renaissance peasants…in a Poetry Palace of Hoosier origin—a historical legend in transcendental time.”

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read five poems: “Cardinal Rouge,” an Italian Sonnet that tells how a Redbird woos a mate. 

“Marriage Never Dies” is a Shakespearean sonnet about missing a spouse. A haiku poem is about an unashamed, denuded autumn tree. In “Boomerang” quatrains show how hate returns like a boomerang. In “Hungry Boomerang” Bev writes: 

“Hate recalls just where it lives

Returns again so it can feed.

When you aim your hate, my friend,

Better duck when it comes back.

It’s grown to be a glutton now

So, on its owner it may snack.” 

And finally, a free verse poem titled “Curtain Time” expresses anxiety by actors before a play’s stunning performance. Ten minutes before curtain time, she writes about:

“Chaos behind stage

Lost costumes

Missing actors,

Sore throats,

Sets unfinished”

Even stage fright sets in, but in the end “fear conquered, voices survive, Broadway hit.”

SHARON PALMERI read from her memoirs “Vacations and Complications—Alien or Alien?—1978-1979.” Sharon writes about how her daughter struggled with schoolwork in 3rd grade and how an actual change of schools was the answer. As a result of all of the stress with Renee and school changes, Sharon struggles with weight gain. While preparing for a trip to Europe Sharon ran into problems getting a Passport because she was adopted and had no original birth certificate. The city or state had no record of her birth. Sharon begins to have ludicrous thoughts. “After all, I was born in 1948, and the Roswell incident with an alien spacecraft happened in 1947.” But eventually, a birth record was found, the extra pounds came off in time for the European trip, and all was okay. 

TRENT D. PENDLEY Due to the annoyingly loud music and time factors, Trent did not get a chance to read. He is writing a sequel to his first 800+ page book…and hopefully, we will hear from him soon.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 P.M.

Respectfully submitted: GAIL GALVAN