MEMBERS PRESENT:
Beverly
Biehr, Amy Brailey, Sharon Buckman, Katherine Flotz, Shirley Hinman, Cindy
Horgash, Al Koch, Karen Lauper, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Diane Stratton, Chris
Hasara
OLD BUSINESS:
Six
WOH members attended Trent Pendley’s presentation of Erma Rosenthal Frankenstein’s
book at the Valparaiso Public Library on May 8, 2025.
NEW BUSINESS:
June
10, 2025, the WOH summer schedule begins with meetings to be held on Tuesdays
from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday meetings will continue through September 23, 2025, at
the Bulldog Park building in Crown Point, IN. Meetings will return to Thursday
evenings on October 16, 2025.
Diane
Stratton (V. Pres.) shared information on Cedar Lake becoming Indiana’s First
Heart & Soul Community from the Lake County Legacy Foundation. They are
kicking off a volunteer training session, and if interested, you can contact www.cedarlakeheart.org.
Amy
Brailey (Pres.) recommended that members who are reading bring 10 copies to
share. If more are in attendance, we will share copies.
Cindy
Horgash asked if any members would be interested in becoming a 4-H judge for
Creative Writing at the 2025 Lake County Fair on July 15th from
5:30-6:30 pm. They do pay a small stipend for the position.
LITERARY NEWS:
Amy Brailey’s newest book, “Don’t Leave Me Hanging,” is now available.
It is a collection of 39 short stories in which the reader must choose their
own ending.
READINGS:
SHYANNE HICKS, ISABELLE FLORES, LILLY KROLEDGE, VERONICA
SANCHEZ, DESTINY GATES, ITALIANA FOLEY, and MADDY SOLORIO are students from Edison Jr./Sr.
High School. Each read their short story or poem published in their new book, “Gallery
of Visions.”
AL KOCH read
his short story “Kids, Crayolas, and Lunch Bags,” about the fringe
benefits of parenting—nourishment for the mind, heart, body, and spirit.
BOB NEUMAN
read his non-fiction story, “How Would You Have Answered?” This is a
pastoral anecdote about a little boy with a broken arm.
JUDY NEUMAN
read a personal account, “Safely Home!” of her diary entry the day her
mother died on June 3, 1955.
SHIRLEY HINMAN read her poem, “A Main Character,” about a faith-filled task
of being the first by becoming the last.
KAREN LAUPER
read her descriptive essay “The Toddler,” highlighting the observations
of a lively, curious toddler exploring nature. The watcher noted the toddler's
innocence and enthusiasm, while warming the person’s heart.
“Procrastinate-Not Me-Much” is a lesson on why you should not procrastinate, written by an
embarrassed mother, SHARON BUCKMAN.
CHRIS HASARA read his limerick poem “Decoration Day,” weighing the
memories of military service while still serving in his apron.
The
meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.
Respectfully Submitted:
CINDY HORGASH
