Holiday Message

NOVEMBER 19, 2014

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sharon Palmeri, Beverly Stanislawski, Sharon Buckman, Marjorie Peterson, Mary Ellen Beecher, Tom Spencer, Denise Taylor, Suzy Stueben, Mike Musak

GUESTS PRESENT:

Kay Depel

 

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval for the November 5, 2014 meeting was first given by DENISE TAYLOR and seconded by MARY ELLEN BEECHER.

NEW BUSINESS:

TOM SPENCER mentioned that the Northwest Indiana Poetry Society would be meeting at the Cedar Creek Nursing Facility (18275 Burr St. in Lowell) on December 20^th at 10:00 A.M.  Everyone is invited to attend, they ask that you bring a poem that might be authored by you or a Christmas Poem by an established author.  Call Tom at 219-696-3338 to verify non-duplication of established poems.

SHARON PALMERI mentioned that the board would be meeting this week to complete plans for the Write-On, Hoosier “The Write Celebration” on December 3^rd.  She also mentioned there would be 50 people in attendance at the gala event, including quite a few members from the Blank Slate Writer’s group. [Other groups who will be represented include: Magic Hour Writers, Four Seasons Writers, Highland Writers, Prairie Writers Guild, and Indiana Writers’ Consortium]  Sharon also led a discussion at the end of the meeting encouraging members to make suggestions for a new place to hold our meetings in the event that Chapel Lawn is unable to accommodate our future meetings beginning in January.

READINGS:

DENISE TAYLOR read the four page summary of her teen novel, “All the Little Secrets.”  The summary told of the various lies by Beth and her friends to their parents, especially concerning the drinking at their club meetings.  The story ended with the death of one of her friends and the guilt she felt for failing the friend.     

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read two of her prize winning poems.  The first poem, “The Mustache Mug,” took 2^nd place in Indiana’s Buddy Award and told of her interest in her Grandfather’s mustache mug, unable to understand why the inside had “handlebars.”  The second poem, The Real Thanksgiving Feast,” told of what the real first feast consisted of.

TOM SPENCER brought his fourteen stanza, free verse poem, entitled “Convergence II,” telling of the beginning of a child, “where the embryo and sperm are met,” to the next generation that begins again.

MARY ELLEN BEECHER read two pages of her story, “Out of Control.”  The story began at their summer cottage on a private lake with her son and a friend going fishing.  When she discovered that the boys later took the boat out at a forbidden time and speed, they were forbidden to use it again.  The story ended with a rift between both boys and a quiet ride home.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 P.M.

Respectfully submitted:

SHARON BUCKMAN 

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sharon Palmeri, Beverly Stanislawski, Katherine Flotz, Sharon Buckman, Bob Moulesong, Tom Spencer, Sharon Dorelli, Denise Taylor, George Miga, Suzy Stueben, Paul Mulligan, Donna Douglass, Jackie Huppenthal, Ruthann Graczyk, Mary Ellen Beecher

GUESTS PRESENT:

Lenore Spitznagel, Kay Depel

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval for the October 15, 2014 meeting was first given by Katherine Flotz and seconded by Bob Moulesong.

LITERARY NEWS:

JACKIE HUPPENTHAL mentioned that she had a 50% chance of winning the final poem chosen for the Indiana Bicentennial Birthday Book, meaning she would be representing the county if she wins.

DONNA DOUGLASS mentioned that she has been considering entering the National Novel Writing Month contest.

SHARON BUCKMAN mentioned a forthcoming television show on the Investigative Discovery Channel, IDHD, (either on channel 271 or 324 on Comcast) which will air on November 15^th at  8 P.M.   The show concerns the murder of her nephew, a story written about by Sharon in her unpublished novel, A Family Murder.

READINGS:

DONNA DOUGLASS read her memoir from 1981entitled, “The Day the Son Shone on Me,” when she had an experience that brought her to Christianity.  She shared insights into her life both before and after in her story.

BOB MOULESONG continued with the third part of his short story entitled, “Flower Moon.”  In this part of his story, Rhonda, a mousy, boring young woman, continues to receive flowers from an unknown admirer.  The flowers arrive each day at her place of work and involves the interest of one of her co-workers.  When the last bouquet of flowers arrive there is a card inside inviting her to meet him.

PAUL MULLIGAN continued with three pages of his novel, Be Brave – Now Die. Carl and Darlene, two high school seniors in love, begin to carry their relationship to a more daring level.  As Carl’s 18^th birthday approaches, Darlene has special plans for his birthday gift since her parents are away and the house is empty.

DENISE TAYLOR read four pages of Chapter 4, “My First Date,” from her novel, All the Little Secrets.  In this part of her novel, Beth realizes that her close friend arrives at their prom with the smell of alcohol on her breath.  The friend, JoAnne, and her date, ignore Beth’s warning when she tries to tell them that they are being watched as they dance to close to each other.

SUZY STUEBEN continued with her novel of Mrs. Walter’s short stories, this one was entitled Mrs. Walters and the Gents.  The story begins with Mariah entering the Sip Coffee House and Tea Room to meet her writer’s group and encounters “two thuggish oafs” flipping her the bird.  She smiles as she weaves her reflection spell upon them, causing them to run into the back end of a police car.

MARY ELLEN BEECHER continued with her story entitled, “Out of Control.”  This part of the story begins with Mary taking her son and a friend to a lake in the north woods, keeping them “away from temptations” after a night of trying to control her son’s alcoholic behavior.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read two of her prize winning poems, the first entitled “Marionette,” a four stanza, free verse poem which likens most people as a “stringed figure,” attempting to order their own lives.  The second poem, a sonnet entitled, “Fine Felines,” tells of living with two “purrfect pets.” 

JACKIE HUPPENTHAL  read her three stanza, quatrain poem entitled, “Autumn at the Dunes.”  Her poem tells of her relaxing day walking along the beach enjoying the beauty of the “changing leaves under sapphire skies.”

SHARON PALMERI read her three page, previously published short story entitled, “No Guarantee.”  The story begins with Sharon leaving the hospital birthing room where she had just witnessed a birth going terribly wrong and being stopped by the anxious father wanting to know if everything was O.K.  It was this incident that led her to believe she no longer wanted to be a nurse.

TOM SPENCER brought his 340 word, 14 stanza free verse poem entitled, “Convergence.”  The poem tells of how the drops of rain, beginning high up in the mountains, traveling their natural course, “to fill the streams of life.”

SHARON BUCKMAN continued with three pages of her sequel, Beyond the Canopy.  In this part of the novel Anne’s abductor tells his friend that they must both hide out in the fruit cellar following the attempted second abduction that went terribly wrong.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P.M.

Respectfully submitted:

SHARON BUCKMAN

OCTOBER 15, 2014

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sharon Palmeri, Beverly Stanislawski, Katherine Flotz, Sharon Buckman, Bob Moulesong, Tom Spencer, Suzy Stueben, Paul Mulligan, Ruthann Graczyk, Sharon Dorelli, Donna Douglass, Mike Musak, Marjorie Peterson

GUESTS PRESENT:

Kay Depel  (with Tom)

NEW BUSINESS:

SUZIE STUEBEN introduced a discussion on the possibility of using Skype for members not able to attend the meetings. 

TOM SPENCER related his concerns on how Skype might limit member attendance. 

BOB MOULESONG mentioned the possible tech problems (Internet access) that would be involved with Skype, as well as the security of the members’ works. 

 *It was decided that this discussion on Skype should wait til next year.

SHARON PALMERI asked members if they were interested in having a special meeting on the 5^th Wednesday of this month.  The special meeting would involve a discussion on publishing, P.O.D. publishing and promotions.  A show of hands revealed several of the members were interested,  but after conferring with Chapel Lawn it was discovered that the room was not available for that evening.

LITERARY NEWS:

MARJORIE PETERSON shared information with the members on a website where screenplay writers will get weekly tips on companies seeking scripts in various genres. The site states that “producers have made more than 200 movies from writers and scripts they found on this site.” Registration is free, but there are fees for “premium services.” You may find the site at Inktip.com.

READINGS:

DONNA DOUGLASS read her four page memoir entitled, “Intersection.”  On a mini-vacation to Thomas Jefferson’s home in Monticello, Virginia, Donna witnesses a horrible accident at a gas station while eating lunch.  She is able to help a victim until the paramedics arrive, but the day’s experience destroys the pleasure of her trip.

TOM SPENCER brought his seven stanza poem entitled, “Dead Clichés.”  The poem relates to the arrogance of a young poet and the often misused words he chose to use, but later learning his lesson well. 

BOB MOULESONG continued with his short story entitled “Flower Moon.”  Rhonda, described as a mousy, boring young woman, had received flowers at work from a secret admirer.  In this continued version she receives more flowers, transforming her into a “giggling flirtatious woman” as she tries to imagine who sent them.

KATHERINE FLOTZ read her free verse, beautiful poem entitled, “And the Lord Said.”  Without mentioning his name, the members recognized the poem concerned her deceased husband, George, a man we all knew and admired.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read three of her prize winning poems.  The first, a haiku poem beginning with Valley Marigolds, took second place in a Massachusetts contest.  The second, “Winter Surprises,” took third place in a Michigan contest and beautifully described winter as “covering like a lacy tablecloth.”  The third poem took third place in an Illinois contest and was entitled, “Poop Scoop,” a comical poem relating to a scheduled colonoscopy.

PAUL MULLIGAN  read two poems,  the first entitled “Precious” told of love being a very precious gift.  The second, entitled “Not the Only One,” was also written about a love and the hope of putting it to song, ending with, “And I ain’t the only one.”

MIKE MUSAK continued with his novel entitled, Habits Change.  In this continued version, Michelle, while walking home from school, was approached by a friend of the boy that had raped her following a prom date.  The family friend tried to convince her that she had been wrong about her accusation against Tom.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 P.M.

Respectfully submitted:

SHARON BUCKMAN