August 12, 2025

 

MEMBERS’ PRESENT:

Beverly Biehr, Amy Brailey, Ruthann Graczyk, Cindy Horgash, Lisa Keene, Karen Lauper, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Sharon Palmeri, Trent D. Pendley, Beverly Stanislawski, Diane Stratton

OLD BUSINESS:

None

NEW BUSINESS:

Diane Stratton introduced information on writer, TV actor, and radio host Mark Edward Wilows. She asked the group if it would be beneficial to have him as a speaker at a WOH meeting. All agreed to have Diane contact him.

LITERARY NEWS:

None

READINGS:

SHARON PALMERI read the chapter, “1998: John Renee, and Other Things” from her memoir. This chapter recounts the efforts it took to pull herself and her family through challenging times.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read her fictional short story, “The Decision,” about a man’s decision that will affect his past and his future.

BEVERLY BIEHR read chapter 6 of her book Happy Retirement Years: “Elijah, Prophet Extraordinaire.”  She shares the class discussions during their bible studies on Elijah.

TRENT D. PENDLEY read an excerpt from Chapter 3 of his novel, “Lewry Lurie,” that takes place on June 27, 2011, in the Indiana Dunes while giving their guest, a medium from Anderson, Indiana, a tour of Brighton House.

CINDY HORGASH read her fictional short story, “Green Bean Wrinkle Cream,” about a 92-year-old man’s recollections of his grandmother’s green bean leaf cure.  

LISA KEENE read an excerpt from her book “Yerd,” about a yearbook nerd’s epic quest for spiritual and grammatical enlightenment.

BOB NEUMAN read a humorous piece, “Maybe Bette was Right,” about the challenges and physical demands of growing older.

KAREN LAUPER read the chapter, First Visit Home from her book, “Can You Push Me to Heaven.” This is a continuing summary of the joy Jimmy’s first visit home brought after 20 months in the hospital, and the heartbreak as they returned him, kicking and screaming.   

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm.

Respectfully Submitted:

CINDY HORGASH 

 

July 8, 2025

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Beverly Stanislawski, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Al Koch, Diane Stratton, Ruthann Graczyk, Sharon Buckman, Shirley Hinman, Trent D. Pendley, Karen Lauper, Jon Terpstra.

Meeting called to Order:  6:08 PM

 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Diane asked who read the minutes from the previous meeting. Sharon Buckman stated she read the minutes. Ruthann Graczyk said she also read the minutes. There were no corrections or changes, and they were accepted.

NEW BUSINESS: 

We had a potential new member, Jon Terpstra, and we went around the room and introduced ourselves. Diane advised that dues are $25/year, and we meet on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays at 6 PM. In October we will return to the 2^nd and 4^th Thursdays. Diane will give Jon the list of meeting dates and the information page.

LITERARY NEWS: 

None

READINGS: 

BOB NEUMAN read a short story “Faith Seems Ridiculous…Until…” about a simple interaction about how faith sounded so ridiculous to biblical characters until God acted upon their faith.

AL KOCH read a short story from his column Koch’s Choice titled “What’s Important?” A question each of us needs to ask ourselves frequently as we journey through the days of our life.

TRENT D. PENDLEY read an excerpt from Chapter 3 of his book “Lewry Lurie” which is the sequel to “Toys in the Closet”. The Franklin brothers have just concluded breakfast on the Stardust patio at Brighton House in the Indiana Dunes, reviewing the results of the previous evening’s Shirley Heinze Land Trust benefits. Jason, a medium, visiting from Anderson, Indiana is revealing the origins of a cobalt blue heart pendant that the brothers found pinned to a bell pull in their late mother’s bedroom at Oak Creek in Crown Point. This read reveals the last connoisseur of the necklace and its important provenance.

SHIRLEY HINMAN read a poem “The Simple Things” which relays how the simple things in life are often be the best. She also read an excerpt from “Memories of Childhood” which is her Memoir. She relates how she was left in charge of the family-owned general store at age 12 when a boy with a severe speech deficit came in with a badly cut foot and how she responded.

KAREN LAUPER read an excerpt from her story “Can You Push Me to Heaven” about her baby, Timothy, and the time he spent in the research area of the hospital with confusing results.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read a poem “The Luck of Canary Jones” about a Rag-O-Line man who learns from his roots.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:39 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted:

Ruthann Graczyk

 

 

 

June 24, 2025

MEMBERS’ PRESENT:

Sharon Buckman, Shirley Hinman, Cindy Horgash, Karen Lauper, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Trent D. Pendley, Diane Stratton

OLD BUSINESS:

None

NEW BUSINESS:

None

LITERARY NEWS:

None

READINGS:

TRENT D. PENDLEY read an excerpt from chapter 9 from his 2015 novel, “Toys in the Closet.” The four-page read is the conclusion of the brothers Nathan and Brad Franklin’s duet at the Valparaiso University chapel. Their scorching song, ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’, made famous by the rock group Queen, was quite unconventional for a funeral.

SHARON BUCKMAN read a short piece entitled “The Best Things in Life are Free,” which is a satire asking the question if the best things in life are really free.

SHIRLEY HINMAN read her poem, “I Will Never Forget,” about the memories of childhood, and the promise to never forget. She also read the poem, “Upside Down,” about the upside-down world we live in, and how it is becoming the new norm.

KAREN LAUPER read a chapter, The Long Road Home from her book, “Can You Push Me to Heaven.” This is the continuing struggle of Jimmy’s first year of life lived in the hospital NICU. After his first birthday celebration, the family is notified that the baby will be moving to a research section of the hospital. Doctors recommend they meet with a Navy Chaplain so that Jimmy’s father can receive humanitarian shore duty.

BOB NEUMAN read his short informative piece, “AYE, AYE, AYE…A.I.!” about artificial intelligence, is here to stay.

JUDY NEUMAN read a personal story about her wedding to Bob titled, “A Very Good Year.”

The meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm.

Respectfully Submitted:

CINDY HORGASH