MEMBERS PRESENT: Amy Brailey, Sharon Buckman, Ruthann Graczyk, Shirley Hinman, Cindy Horgash, Katherine Flotz, Al Koch, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Sharon Palmeri, Beverly Stanislawski, and Diane Stratton.
MINUTES. Several had read the minutes which were approved.
NEWS: REMINDER…NEXT MEETNG ON TUESDAY, JUNE 27, DOWNSTAIRS BDPark.
NEW BUSINESS
Members welcomed back Sharon Buckman and Ruthann Graczyk·
Sharon Palmeri shared two concerns. (1) The need for the return of Pre-Covid protocol in our meetings with a ratification of minutes, a treasurer’s report, etc. since we are a 501c3 organization and (2) that the group be concerned with critiquing the writings of the members. Otherwise, she said, it’s just a sharing group.
Amy Brailey shared that in the fall, she will be teaching a creative writing class, in addition to history.
Sharon Palmeri Shared that she will be teaching a Fall class on Writing Children’s Books at the Crown Point Library this Fall.
Al Koch shared about a group in Whiting, IN., that he regularly attends. At their luncheon, three men at a nearby table, anonymously paid for the group’s $380 meal. Sharon Palmeri also shared about times when someone “paid it forward,” and how, while in a fast-food line, she did likewise. She found out later that 15 of the patrons behind her vehicle did the same.
READINGS:
SHARON BUCKMAN shared a true story, “Our Guardian Angels,” about an almost-drowning accident, and its after effects.
AMY BRAILEY read “Disappearances.” It was about strange disappearances in a small town the led two teenagers to go and search for one of their missing siblings. This was another in her stories that leaves you with the question, “What Happens Next?”
BOB NEUMAN read “My English Class ‘Whoas’!” which dealt with grammar guffaws.
JUDY NEUMAN shared two poems she wrote. The first was “A Colorful View” which expressed appreciation that God did not make the world in black and white. Her second poem, “Creation Revisited” presented our need for God’s forgiveness.
CINDY HORGASH read, “Cinderella at Starbucks,” a true story about her first visit to Starbucks.
KATHERINE FLOTZ continued her article, “The Journey.” It was Christmas time and Michael went to the city of Ulm, in Germany, to look for a warm coat and gifts for Peter in America. He met a man from Los Angeles that worked for Tom Wilson. And so it goes….
BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read three poems. The first one, “Poop Scoop,” was about a colonoscopy. Her next one, “Friendly Felines” was a clever one about cats. The last one was a sonnet titled, “Overcoming.”
SHARON PALMERI continued reading from her memoirs. This selection was titled “Transitions 1989-90.” Sharon wrote about a change in her career from nursing to Education, majoring in English and minoring in Journalism. She came to that decision for many reasons, one of which she chose literature or writing classes for nearly all of her electives. She thought this was a “not so subtle” hint to switch careers.
AL KOCH shared “Mind Drift” His summary was moments in time, images from yesteryear, wistful remembrances of once-upon-a-time drift across the mind like gossamer, webs displaying treasures from the gift of days that captured the heart.
SHIRLEY HINMAN read a poem titled “Empty.” Summary: It was so lonely, empty, and frustrating to find the town so bare, for no reason. Where was everyone?
MEETNG ADJOURNED at 7 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Neuman
