MEMBERS PRESENT:
Al Koch, Katherine Flotz, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Bev Stanislawski, Sharon Buckman, Cindy Horgash, Diane Stratton, Shirley Hinman.
READINGS:
AL KOCH shared wisdom and insights with his story entitled “TEACHABLE MOMENT”. He showed through his true life examples how teachable moments become the currency for conveying concepts, attitudes, and strengthening bonds of tolerance, acceptance, appreciation and approval.
In the nonfiction story “A SENIOR MOMENT”, a shopping experience is detailed by KATHERINE FLOTZ. She tells us that a senior moment comes along every once in a while. She realized that she just had to pay more attention to where she was. Finally, she accomplished her goal of purchasing the package of raffle tickets she needed when she first became unexpectedly sidetracked.
A collection of anecdotes entitled “GOD ‘FLESS’ AMERICA … AND ROBERTA, TOO” was presented by BOB NEUMAN. This also inspired some final thoughts with which he closed his article in tribute to the people he had mentioned. These individualized anecdotes are about some of the developmentally disabled people that he and his wife had the privilege to serve. Special memories are shared about a young lady named Roberta who has both Down syndrome and a speech impediment.
JUDY NEUMAN read the article “KISS AND TELL” that described an episode from her eighth grade year and what she felt reflecting back on it as an adult. It tells about her first romantic kiss by a new student at her school. She wondered if there was any truth in rumors that surrounded the new boy. It told how Judy treated him and what remorse she now wrestles with in regard to her actions. This occurred after the full story and facts were revealed about this boy and the realization of what he unfairly endured due to the public mistrust and assumptions.
Her fiction story “THE PUZZLE PRO” was shared by BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI. In this story, Beverly demonstrates that puzzles are fun to do, but this particular Puzzle Pro challenger was quite unique, as the main character comes to learn through a lively competition that culminates in a surprise realization.
CINDY HORGASH entertained with her short story “ANY OTHER NUTTERS” which describes amusing accounts of events with her whacky, sometimes outrageous, but loveable family.
The poem “SINK OR SWIM” was read by SHIRLEY HINMAN. In her poem, she tells how we have to make choices in life, and whether we will “sink or swim”. Oftentimes, the best choices we make are difficult ones. But we learn through those choices – how to develop strength and character and learn to complete the race and possess our land!
The meeting adjourned at 7:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Stratton