August 3, 2021

 

 

 MEMBERS PRESENT:

Katherine Flotz, Sharon Palmeri, Diane Stratton, Shirley Hinman, Beverly Stanislawski, Gail Galvan, Hardarshan Valia, and Shirley Vaughn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Sharon announced that the Lake County Public Library would be available for our meetings, starting in September. We will meet there rather than the Crown Point Library. Meeting times will be earlier than before, 4-6:30. Right now, our sessions at Pappas will still be held on the 4^th Thursdays  at the same time with the exception of Thanksgiving. Sharon will email new schedules.

 

LITERARY/OTHER NEWS:

Valia related learning a lot from attending four-day Zoom meetings with a variety of authors. Shirley Vaughan is working on her third book. Gail has helped to collect money for the Hilltop Neighborhood Food Pantry. Beverly entered a few more poetry contests, Sharon has been busy organizing her memoirs, and Shirley Hinman enjoyed time at her family reunion.

READINGS:

KATHERINE FLOTZ read her August entry for Story Worth entitled “What Things are You Proudest of in Your Life?” Her list included her three children, publication of her memoirs, “A Pebble in My Shoe,” and establishing the “Batchka Club” with her husband George. At that club, they fellowshipped with other newcomers from their Old Country home.

DIANE STRATTON told of how we could “Do Unto Others.” In her story, we were introduced to Mrs. R., a special part of the community and of Diane’s life. They met at church, and Mrs. R soon became a close friend, almost like family. After the lady’s death, Diane noticed a “FREE” garage sale occurring at her home. Although the sale was almost over, Diane managed to select some religious items which she will respect, cherish, and use for special remembrances of Mrs. R.

SHIRLEY HINMAN offered her poem, “Quieted.” We heard of the love of a mother, but we were also told that Jesus loves us even  more. He calms our fears, fills us with the Bread of Life, and quiets our soul as a weaned child. We just need to learn to wait and to depend on God.

 

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read her short story, “Gladly, the Cross-eyed Bear.” This cub experienced a variety of difficulties because of his eye problem. Although he always saw double, he still managed to be a hero, saving his sister from drowning. The bruise he acquired from this heroic deed may or may not cause his double vision to be healed. 

HARDARSHAN VALIA presented his poem, “Healers of the Night.” He related an experience when he saw a variety of audiences enjoying jazz musicians. Some jazz aficionados included a mother swaying to the music while holding her down-syndrome baby and a Great Dane sitting quietly at her feet. They all seemed to be ”soaking in the rhythm of oneness permeating the sky.”

SHARON PALMERI read from  her memoirs episode about her high school graduation and living with her grandmother while searching for work. Sharon told of her first job as a waitress, which was short lived because of the unfairness of the tipping procedures. Becoming a nurse’s aide was her second employment. This job was more to her liking, even though an unusual medical procedure involving maggots grossed her out.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Beverly Stanislawski

 

 

JULY 22, 2021

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Dennis McLean, Sharon Buckman, Katherine Flotz, Sharon Palmeri, Diane Stratton, Sue Becherer, Shirley Hinman, Beverly Stanislawski, Amy Brailey

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval for the July 6, 2021 minutes was first given by BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI and seconded by KATHERINE FLOTZ.

 

 

LITERARY NEWS:

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI talked to the members about how to recognize a Haiku poem.

READINGS:

KATHERINE FLOTZ read her July entry for Story Worth entitled “What Was a Book That Really Made a Difference For You as an Adult?  Kathy’s entry told of a book she had read, “Barefoot in the Rubble,” by Elisabeth Walter.  The book told of her experiences and cruelties at the hands of Tito’s partisans during the Second World War.

AMY BRAILEY continued reading two pages of her book, “Jon Everett and the Hall of History.” This part of the book told of Jon experiencing the fear and confusion of the gunfight between the advanced guard, that he was a part of, on the march to attack Fort Duquesne.

SHARON BUCKMAN read two pages of her book, “Running on a Treadmill.”  In this part of the book Sandy discovered that her ex-boyfriend, Eric, had found where she was hiding.  Her mother and landlady began trying to help her form a plan to leave her new location without him seeing her leave.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read her four stanza haiku poem entitled, “Majestic Mountains.” Her poem told of the majestic beauty, “Peering at God Face,” were, “Ancients of Another Time.”   Beverly’s second poem, a Blues Sonnet entitled, “All That Jazz,” tells of the joy a jazz audience receives when hearing the unpredictable music.

SHIRLEY HINMAN read her 17 line poem entitled, “Household Hints.”  Her poem told of very useful hints involving the use of vinegar, baking soda, tennis balls, castor oil, grapefruit peels and peppermint, grown in a jar.

DENNIS MC LEAN read four pages of his novel entitled, “The Flatboat.”  The story, concerning Abe Lincoln’s journey on a flatboat, told of Abe telling one of his whimsical stories of his death, for a time, caused by his horse, Beulah.

SHARON PALMERI continued with four pages of her memoir entitled, “The Swiss Miss.”  In this part of the memoir Sharon tells of her dating experiences with John as they go skating, bowling and the opera.  When Sharon decides this was the man she wanted to marry she then takes him to meet her parents.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 P.M.

Respectfully submitted: 

Sharon Buckman

 

JULY 6, 2021

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Hardershan Valia, Sharon Buckman, Katherine Flotz,  Diane Stratton, Beverly Stanislawski, Sharon Palmeri, Shirley Hinman

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval for the June 24, 2021 minutes was given by BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI and SHARON BUCKMAN

 

 

 

LITERARY NEWS:

KATHERINE FLOTZ explained how her family had signed her up for Story Worth, a program that sends her a different topic each week for 52 weeks.  Kathy writes something for each topic which is then printed and published at the end of the 52 weeks and given back to her family.  Great idea.

READINGS:

KATHERINE FLOTZ read “WHAT GIVES YOU PEACE OF MIND,” her May 25^th entry for Story Worth.  Kathy’s entry was summarized by loving her family, friends and treating everyone with compassion.

SHIRLEY HINMAN read her three-stanza poem entitled, “ANTS.”  The very cute poem told of how ants are very strong creatures, carrying 50 times their own weight and usually function like human communities.

SHARON BUCKMAN read two pages from her future novel, RUNNING ON A TREADMILL.  This part of the story tells of Sandy, her mother, and landlady trying to convince Eric that he has the wrong town when he finds her mother’s car but is told it belongs to the landlady instead.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read her five-stanza poem entitled, “HOMECOMING.”  This very touching poem told of her return to her neighborhood in Chicago and finding it nothing like the place she had remembered as a child.

HARDERSHAN VALIA read his six stanza poem entitled, “GLOVE on a FENCE.” The very clever poem told of a jogger picking up a snow covered left glove and placing it on a nearby wire fence.  The following week she returned to the same spot and placed her right handed glove next to it.  The next week when she returned she found a note and another right-handed glove saying he wouldn’t need it anymore, he was being deployed to a desert.

SHARON PALMERI read her four-page memoir entitled, “PROFESSOR ARM PATCHES.”  This very cute story began when Sharon enrolled in a college nursing program at IUN.  Since she liked to write, she brought a few poems to an English professor to look at.  She was shocked when he described them as “archaic.”  She responded “Then you will help me improve!...I will take all of your classes!”  And she did.  She changed her major to Education/English/Journalism and has corresponded with the retired professor for many years. She uses some of his techniques in her own classes.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 P.M.

Respectfully submitted:  SHARON BUCKMAN