October 12, 2023

 

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Sharon Bachman, Beverly Stanislawski, Diane Stratton, Amy Brailey, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman,   Shirley Hinman , Cindy Horgash, Kathy Flotz.

MINUTES: Read and Approved, Bob Neuman, and Kathy Flotz

 

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:   Christmas Party was discussed. Teibels was chosen as the location. The first or second Wednesday in December was the possible date. More details later.

 

DIANE STRATTON  mentioned that Woman’s World magazine might accept some stories . Check with the magazine.

READINGS:

JUDY NEUMAN pondered what to do with “My Junk Drawer.”

SHARON BUCKMAN read “All Hallows Eve” about an older couple who sold their farm and moved to a small town where the woman experienced thrilling encounters.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI offered a short story “Build it and They will Come” Two young boys save their town from a flood by trying to erect a brick wall.

BOB NEUMAN presented several anecdotes about writing in “Mad about Writing.”

 SHIRLEY HINMAN told a true account of memories she cherished from childhood up to age 16 in “Memories of Childhood”

KATHY FLOTZ   read two poems: one about “A Rainy Day” at her cabin; the other poem,’ “The Awakening,” told of various birds that proclaimed their praises and their presences.

CYNTHIA HORGASH offered “Ho-hummery is No-Funnery/” A children’s book story about two friends with different interests.

DIANE STRATTON BROUGHT “Neighborliness” a reflection of feelings caused by some of life’s stresses caused by the words and actions of other people. She revealed how to bring calm to such occasions.

MEETNG ADJOURNED at 6:45p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Beverly Stanislawski

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING:

Sharon Palmeri, Bev Stanislawski, Ruthann Graczyk, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman,

Amy Brailey and guest, Sarah Eyer, Diane Stratton

 

PREVIOUS MINUTES:

The previous minutes were read aloud to attending members who unanimously acknowledged them.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

President, Sharon Palmeri, acknowledged the loss of longtime member Ruthann Graczyk’s husband, Dave, and sympathy expressed to her on behalf of the entire group.

 

Bev Stanislawski volunteered to take meeting minutes in October, 2023.

The group welcomed a new visitor, Sarah Eyer, who is a friend of member, Amy Brailey, who introduced her.  Sarah shared that she likes to write for older teenagers.  She is doing a historical piece—written like a diary—that takes place in the Revolutionary War.

For the benefit of members who were absent at the previous meeting, Diane Stratton mentioned that member Trent Pendley had been awarded the Hoosier Jewish Legends Award for 2023 by the Indiana Jewish Historical Society.

 

BOB & JUDY NEUMAN shared the news that they are getting their recently published book, ZZZZZAPPED and other Encouraging Words available for sale on AMAZON.

 

AMY BRAILEY updated the group that her book, “JOHN EVERETT” is completed and that she just needs to query it.

 

SHARON PALMERI (PRESIDENT & FOUNDER) announced that the upcoming class she will be teaching for the public at the Crown Point Public Library is scheduled to begin on October 8, 2023.  The subject of this class is “writing kids’ books”.  She will be teaching another class in the Spring which will be on a totally different subject.

 

READINGS:

BEV STANISLAWSKI read 3 poems which were all award winners in Massachusetts.  The poems were “SMALL ACT OF KINDNESS” (1^st place winner), “SILENT CRIES” (2^nd place winner), and “AROMAS OF GRANDPA” (2^nd place winner) – which was a tribute to her Grandpa, Joe Kemp.

 

BOB NEUMAN shared his story, “SO, WHAT HAPPENED ON YOUR VACATION?”.  The true story detailed the events of a land and sea vacation shared by some of their family in Alaska.

They received news that a murder of one of the employees took place at the lodge where they would arrive the next day.  They viewed humanity come together as they witnessed the pain of the employees who mourned as they tried to carry forward with their work.

 

AMY BRAILEY read her true story, “THE PERSISTENT BULLFROG” which had also been read for the Lilly Conference.  It details the colorful personalities of two families who are dealing with the persistent noise of a bullfrog.  The story unfolds to reveal how one neighbor called on the other and insisted that he needed to remedy the situation in their neighborhood and what actions led to the surprising but frog-safe and innovative solution of the problem.

 

RUTHANN GRACZYK shared her heartfelt memorial she had written for the service for her husband, Dave.  She honored him and their marriage as she shared special songs and stories of events that had taken place in their 30 year marriage, including fun outings with the kids. 

It was a beautiful tribute. 

SHARON PALMERI read a chapter from her memoirs entitled, “NO GUARANTEE”.

The true story details an emergency event she experienced in her work as an O.B. Technician in the hospital delivery room when there was great difficulties as a mother struggled to give birth.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:00pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Diane Stratton