April 3, 2023

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sharon Buckman, Beverly Stanislawski, Katherine Flotz, Diane Stratton, Amy Brailey, Bob Neuman, Sharon Palmeri,  Shirley Hinman,  Cindy Horgash.

NEW BUSINESS: Minutes approved, SHARON BUCKMAN and KATHY FLOTZ

BEVERLY STANISLAWASKI reported that three of her poems won awards in Oklahoma’s poetry contest. AMY BRAILEY will be attending the 29^TH Southern Illinois University Literary Festival, and also be visiting Egypt this summer.

READINGS:      

SHARON BUCKMAN offered “Going Home,” two kidnapped kids were forced to live on a farm with an “uncle.” Turns out that man was caught and sent to prison.

DIANE STRATTON brought “Go to the Hospital,” a humorous reflection on her long-time hobby of faithfully watching the tv soap opera, “General Hospital.”

AMY BRAILEY read another of her “finish-the ending” stories, “The Box of Predications.” This story was based on a poem by Tim Phillipart. What would this old box labeled “Predictions” have in store for the young boy who bought it for $8?

KATHERING FLOTZ continued with a selection from her book, The Journey. Michael Brenner is finally on his way to Germany from the Russian labor camp. He is remembering the days of his life with Martha and hoping to find her in Germany.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI wrote a play, “The Fishing Story.” Was a character murdered or did he simply fall overboard in a storm? Would the truth be told?

BOB NEUMAN’s “The Sound of Silence” was a study of times when we should speak up versus when we should clam up.

SHIRLEY HINMAN presented her poem, “Two Paths.” Her siblings and she would often stay at Ann’s farm on Sunday. Her house was on one of two close, contrasting  paths. Both paths became very interesting to her as a child.

SHARON PALMERI  continued her memoir  with “Changing Course in More Ways Than One – the Calm Before the Storm : 1985-86.” After noticing that all of the electives she chose for her nursing program were writing or literature classes, she realized that she needed to change her major from Nursing to Education focusing on Creative Writing and Journalism – which she did -- and life was good til….

MEETNG ADJOURNED at 7:10 p.m

Respectfully submitted,

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI

MARCH 23, 2023

MEMBERS PRESENT:

KATHERINE FLOTZ, JUDY NEUMAN, BOB NEUMAN, DIANE STRATTON, AL KOCH, BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI, SHARON BUCKMAN, CINDY HORGASH, SHIRLEY HINMAN, AMY BRAILEY

 

 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

The minutes for the March 9, 2023 meeting were approved by BOB NEUMAN and KATHERINE FLOTZ.

NEW BUSINESS:

It was announced that there is a possibility our meetings will be moved from Bulldog Park to the Merrillville library due to parking difficulties at our present location.

LITERARY NEWS:

CINDY HORGASH announced that she had received a notice from Simon & Shuster that stated she had been chosen to have free editing for her non-fiction picture book.

KATHERINE FLOTZ stated that she has just recently placed an order for another 100 copies of her book, Pebble in My Shoe.

AMY BRAILEY announced that her book, Behind the Veil, has been chosen as the “2023 Quill & Ink” award winner in the self-published category.  She will get to teach a workshop in a self-publishing class in Carbondale on April 29^th.

READINGS:

KATHERINE FLOTZ read two pages of her story, “The Journey.”  The story, which took place in 1949, found Martha still waiting for her husband, but finally agreed to go to America with Tom Wilson’s help.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read two poems, “St. Pat’s Tricks,” the truth about St. Patrick, and “I Wish I Were Irish,” believing that being Irish is everyone’s wish.

CINDY HORGASH read two pages of her short story, “A Bit of Heaven.”  The story told of Grandma and granddaughter, Bella, sharing bits of heaven and everyday adventures.

SHARON BUCKMAN read three pages of the ending of her short novel, “Running on a Treadmill.”  The final ending told of Eric finally locating Sandy only to discover that her newest boyfriend was an FBI agent, and would not take well to find Eric was stalking his girlfriend.

AMY BRAILEY read two pages of her uncompleted short story entitled, “Apocalypse Forgotten.”  The story told of two children finding evidence that there had been a civilization destroyed near them.

BOB NEUMAN read “IT,” a pastoral anecdote about the night a strange thing happened in the church where he served as pastor.

JUDY NEUMAN read her 20-stanza poem entitled, “The Colors of Easter,” and Easter poem that she had shared at a Write On Hoosier meeting last year.

SHIRLEY HINMAN read her six-stanza poem entitled, “Casual Cats.”  It told of all the outdoor cats she feeds and loves and which are obviously well fed.

AL KOCH read two poems.  The first poem, “Together & Alone,” a rhyme story about human relationships. Little things mean a lot. They serve to bond and unite heart, mind and spirits.  The second poem, “The Boss of Floss For a Smile” so bright to ripen bananas, heed the advice of The Boss of Floss.”

The meeting ended at 7:00 P.M.

Respectfullly submitted,

SHARON BUCKMAN