Thursday, August 4, 2011

WOH MINUTES FOR AUGUST 3, 2011



MEMBERS PRESENT:

Kathy Flotz, Liz-Wilson Cotey, Pam Gonzalez, Sharon Dorelli, Lisa Groszek, Jane Burns, Sharon Jesik, Tom Spencer, George Miga, Ron Trigg, Sharon Buckman, Laurie Chase, Kelly Chase, Jackie Huppenthal, Sandra Nantais, Sharon Palmeri

GUESTS PRESENT:
Charlotte Brislen

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Sharon Palmeri announced that she was considering having an attorney who specializes in entertainment, (copyrights, etc.) be a guest speaker at one of our meetings. Most of the members felt this was a good idea and Tom Spencer volunteered to try and find one. Raffle tickets for one dollar each was also mentioned and passed out among members by Kathy Flotz. The raffle tickets are meant to add to a fund to have a guest speaker next year.

NEWS:

1. KATHY FLOTZ mentioned that she had just returned from Wisconsin where she had two book signings and managed to sell 32 books.

2. LISA WILSON stated that she also had just returned from Wisconsin where she had gotten an idea for a new book (as well as a few mosquito bites.)

3. PAM GONZALEZ mentioned the Chapel Lawn's huge antique auto show again which benefits the American Diabetes Assn. She also reminded the members that they can rent a space for $25 to help in promoting their books, etc. There will also be silent auctions, food vendors, etc. and will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24th.

4. SHARON DORELLI said that she has been having computer problems which have prevented her from doing much writing, however, she has been working on a serial novel.

5. LISA GROSZEK stated she has been very busy getting ready to attend a promotional event at a Self-Publishing Book Expo in New York in October. She has also been busy working on editing her latest book, "Above and Below."

6. JANE BURNS has also been busy tweaking and editing her book "Atalanta."

7. SHARON JESIK stated she seems to have developed writer's block lately and hasn't been doing much writing.

8. TOM SPENCER also mentioned that he just recently returned from Wisconsin (what's going on here?) Tom said that when he returned from his fishing trip he found l l/2 feet of water in his basement.

9. GEORGE MIGA, who is still doing research on a family murder back in l923, stated he found the man that had committed the murder. It turned out that he lived only a short distance from his parents’ house and he had lived to the age of 90.

10. JACKIE HUPPENTHAL stated she and her family have just recently returned from an eleven day vacation to Alaska. She also mentioned that besides being a sports camp counselor she is also an assistant soccer coach for her four year old.

11. CHARLOTTE BRISLEN mentioned that when she retires from the Social Service Agency where she works in the training department, she would like to start writing again, especially short stories.

12. LAURIE CHASE stated that her job seems to be in limbo, she is not working at the present. This seems to be another bad happening for her this year. The upside of this, however, means it has given her more time to work on the lyrics and music of two songs she has been working on.

13. KELLY CHASE has written a four page short story that she has submitted to a gothic author who had requested submissions.

14. RON TRIGG has been working on a 20 page booklet for a museum in Chesterton to benefit the Heinz fund.

15. SANDY NANTAIS stated she just recently went to Fort Wayne for an ancestral day in Allen County. She also stated that the public library there is a wonderful place to look for old documents and it is free for the public. She is also starting a website for the Northwest Indiana Poetry Society.

16. SHARON BUCKMAN stated she just recently applied for a copyright for her book, "A Family Murder."

17. SHARON PALMERI disclosed that the BrickieFest 2011 turned out to be a success with approximately 2000 people attending. The event was sponsored by the Hobart High Alumni Association where she serves as vice president. She also helped with her own class reunion, which was celebrated the evening before BrickieFest.

On the topic of our own banquet she asked for a vote from the members as to the location of our annual Christmas banquet and for the choices of food to be served. It was decided that the banquet room at the Lake of the Four Seasons should be given first choice as well as the Americana meal of roast beef, fish and chicken.


READINGS:

SANDY NANTAIS read her poem, "Bakery Cake." The poem reflected her memory of her grandfather walking up to her house carrying a bakery cake and what it represented.

JACKIE HUPPENTHAL read her list poem entitled, "I Loved." The poem related her family's adventure in Alaska, the various things they did and how much she loved it.

LAURIE CHASE read several pages of her novel, "Fast Forward." In this part of her novel Kelly must decide if she wants to continue staying on the vessel that she was "fast forwarded to", 500 yrs. into the future or transferred to a "more stable environment."

SHARON BUCKMAN read her four page short story entitled, "A New Life." In this story, started from one of the prompts on WOH, she tells of a 25yr. old woman, tired of her old life and the lack of appreciation, taking a Greyhound bus to run away and meeting someone that will help her start her new life.

RON TRIGG continues with his memoir, "The Old Dusty Road." In this part of the memoir he tells of the death of his grandfather as he and his family is visiting there. Decades later he finds a letter from his grandfather which discloses why his family was there that day.

SHARON JESIK continued with her novel, "Corn Dancer." In this part of the story Luck and Gar discovered, after meeting with the curator of the Museum of Indian Art, that Judith had promised Avanyu to the museum. It seems that every owner of the Avanyu meets an untimely death.

JANE BURNS read her two page childhood memoir entitled, "The Zoo." The story relates her disappointment of being at the zoo after looking forward to it all of her life.

LISA GROSZEK read her two page story entitled Drina about a small dragon named Gordie given to her by her grandparents before their death. The dragon helped relieve the trauma in her life.

PAMELA GONZALEZ read her two page story, "Dear Sophia." It is a Dear Diary story that tells of the complicated life of a mother with three children of her own as well as two stepchildren from her husband's first marriage.

LIZ WILSON-COTEY read her four page story entitled, "The Grindylow." The very scary story tells of a young girl named Kelsey trying to find her sister through the tangled foliage of a dirty swamp and encountering an old "filth-encrusted" hag that tries to drag her down into the muck.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 P.M.

Respectfully submitted:

Sharon Buckman

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