SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING:

Sharon Buckman, Ruthann Graczyk, Judy Neuman, Bob Neuman, Cindy Horgash, Diane Stratton, Katherine Flotz

 

 

 

PREVIOUS MINUTES:

The previous meeting’s minutes were read by Ruthann Graczyk and Diane Stratton.

NEW BUSINESS:

St. Mary Catholic Church in Crown Point, IN, will have KATHERINE FLOTZ speak about her book, “A PEBBLE IN MY SHOE” on a future date yet to be determined per Suzie Hartman, Parish Life Director at St. Mary’s.

The Altar & Rosary Society of St. Mary Catholic Church will also be arranging for Katherine to speak at one of their upcoming monthly meetings as well.

BOB & JUDY NEUMAN shared the good news that their book, ZZZZZAPPED AND OTHER ENCOURAGING WORDS has been published.  They had copies of their book available with them and were able to display it to fellow WOH members.  The book is available on AMAZON for $11.00.  The authors noted humorously that there was a misspelling on the back cover and that Seniors’ Group was mistakenly printed as Seniors’ “Gorup”, actually adding an opportunity for jokes and mirthfulness!

SHARON PALMERI (PRESIDENT) received news from WOH member, TRENT PENDLEY, via email that he had just recently been awarded the HOOSIER JEWISH LEGENDS AWARD for 2023 by the Indiana Jewish Historical Society.  Sharon was unable to attend tonight’s WOH meeting and can provide more details at a future meeting.  The award is given to people who have made significant and lasting impact in their profession and community and faith based and civic life in Indiana.

TRENT PENDLEY has included local Jewish history in books he has written and published.

READINGS:

SHARON BUCKMAN shared her poem entitled, “MY WISH FOR AMY” which is a loving tribute to her granddaughter for her wedding day.

JUDY NEUMAN sang her song, “GODLY HOMES” which expresses a prayer for the creation of homes that truly please God!  Judy wrote both the music and lyrics.

BOB NEUMAN recited his poem, “THE SAME/DIFFERENT GAME”.  This poem is designed to teach children, migrants, or ESL students (English as a Second Language) about homophones.  It features a match-up of a great many homophones (words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings).

CINDY HORGASH entertained with the reading of her story, “GREEN BEAN WRINKLE CREAM”.  The story animatedly describes the folks and their social activities at the assisted living community where Cindy volunteers.  Among the amusing comments and actions described, there is one gentleman who reveals a home health remedy that Cindy decides to try on another cause – wrinkles!  She details her trial of two different uses and the outcomes and the further advice humorously given by the gentlemen when he hears her results.

(Note:  This story was shared at the previous WHO meeting to the small group in attendance and repeated at this meeting for those who had been absent.)

KATHERINE FLOTZ read her short story/reflection entitled, “A DAY IN A LIFE!” in which she remembers the tragedy to America of 9/11 (September 11, 2001) – looking back upon it 22 years later.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:15pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

DIANE STRATTON

August 22, 2023

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING: 

Sharon Buckman, Shirley Hinman, Diane Stratton, Cindy Horgash, Amy Brailey

 

PREVIOUS MINUTES:

Sharon Buckman and Diane Stratton had read the minutes from the previous meeting, and thus they were approved as correct

 

 

NEW BUSINESS: 

The group members noted the recent passing of David Graczyk, the husband of longtime 

WOH Member, RuthAnn Graczyk, and expressed their thoughts of sympathy.

There was a brief discussion about future meetings.  One of the employees from Bulldog Park notified a group member that future Tuesday meetings would be held in a “downstairs” room rather the room on the 2^nd floor due to a larger group needing the room on the 2^nd floor.

The group had meeting on Tuesdays due to the availability of the room, but the WOH schedule lists the meetings returning to the original meeting day of Thursdays, beginning in October.

(No meeting site location is currently listed yet for October and November.)

Diane Stratton shared information with the group that an “Author/Illustrator Convention”

(for local and aspiring authors) is scheduled at the Lowell Library on Saturday, Sept. 16^th,

From 9am to 3pm.  It will feature nine local authors and is focused on both young readers and adults.  Workshops for youngsters will be in the morning. There will be workshops for the adults beginning at 12 noon.  There will also be open floor panel time before that and open discussion time in the afternoon.  It is free and open to the public. 

The Lowell Library is located at 1505 E. Commercial Ave., Lowell, IN  46356

Contact them at 219-696-7704 or at their website:  www.lowellpl.lib.in.us

More info and the convention schedule can be found on the library’s Facebook page.

Diane Stratton shared that someone had mentioned to her that they had interest in attending a WOH meeting and were looking for information about when and where meetings take place on the WOH website.  Contact information does exist on the website to gain details on meetings by emailing their inquiry.  However, Diane noticed that the area “about us” on the website still lists meetings as occurring on the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays, while the the “information”part of the website lists meetings as being on the 2^nd and 4^th Thursdays, and so some updating will be done to reflect current situation.

Members agreed that readings shared at tonight’s meeting would also be read at the next meeting due to the fact that so many of the other members were unable to attend this meeting and would otherwise miss the readings and opportunity to share their critiques.

READINGS:

AMY BRAILEY shared her story, “The Persistent Bullfrog”.  The descriptive story goes interestingly back in history to tell of two very different families of next door neighbors and the strain that is caused between them when a loud, persistent bullfrog disturbs them both repeatedly and the wife in one family demands that it is the responsibility of the other family’s husband to rectify the situation. It details the challenges he encounters and the unique solution he finally employs to kindly treat the frog while also solving the neighborhood difficulty.

Her humorous short story, “Green Bean Wrinkle Cream” was read in entertaining, storytelling fashion by CINDY HORGASH.  It humorously depicts the interesting and diverse personalities playing Bunco together and the conversations that ensue at the assisted living community where Cindy volunteers.  From the sharing of “old wives’ tales, Cindy learned of a helpful homegrown recipe that proved useful in one way.  But she then got some reproving “common sense” advice from the gentleman who shared the tip when she endeavored to extend the recipe to an entirely different use toward beauty rather than health.

SHIRLEY HINMAN read her heartfelt poem, “I Will Never Forget” which pays tribute to her late, close cherished friend with whom she grew up.  The poem lovingly refers to activities, teachers and experiences they shared through the years as well as special things that brought them happiness.  She sentimentally acknowledges how she will never forget those times and all the memories they shared and experienced together through the school years.

“OLD MAC” is the true short story written and read by SHARON BUCKMAN.  It depicts the childhood events of Sharon’s husband just as he has told them to her.  It details the moves the family made while he was growing up and the challenges he encountered in each new location due to enduring embarrassment over a slight speech impediment.  The story tells of his emotions and the different situations he experienced through that era of time while growing and maturing. It happily describes the life changing experience and precious lessons learned from “Mac” an old friend of his parents with whom he gets to stay and visit in their former hometown during one summer that helps him to grow immensely.

MEETING CLOSING & ADJOURNMENT:  Due to the shorter reading time with tonight’s attendance being smaller, Amy Brailey was able to share description of experiences and photos of her recent trip to Egypt. 

The meeting was then adjourned at 7:20pm.

Respectfully,

Diane Stratton