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