JUNE 9, 2022

MEMBERS PRESENT: 

KATHERINE FLOTZ, BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI, SHARON BUCKMAN, BOB NEUMAN, JUDY NEUMAN,

SHIRLEY HINMAN, AL KOCH, DIANE STRATTON

NEW BUSINESS/LITERARY NEWS:

ON JUNE 21, 2022, KATHERINE FLOTZ WILL GIVE A TALK IN A PRIVATE HOME AND SHE WILL HAVE MORE TO REPORT LATER ON THIS PRESENTATION. 

SHE ALSO RECENTLY SPOKE TO A GROUP OF 30 PEOPLE IN PARK PLACE, ST. JOHN, INDIANA.

READINGS:

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI READ HER FICTION STORY, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”.    

IT DESCRIBES A BIRD WHO GETS TEASED BY OTHER BIRDS FOR HIS ODD LOOKS.  AFTER DAYS OF TEASING, HE GOES OFF INTO THE WEEDS FOR MONTHS.  LATER, HE HAS A CONTEST TO FIND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BIRD.  IT TURNS OUT TO BE HIM.  HE WAS A BIRD OF PARADISE.  ALL THE OTHER BIRDS WERE NAKED, HAVING PLUCKED OUT THEIR FEATHERS TO TRY TO WIN THE “BEAUTIFUL BIRD CONTEST”.

SHARON BUCKMAN SHARED HER SHORT STORY, “LUCK”.  IT IS ABOUT A MAN WHO OVERHEARD A WOMAN IN A RESTAURANT COMPLAINING ABOUT ALL HER BAD LUCK.  AFTER LISTENING FOR AS LONG AS HE COULD, AND THEN HE TOLD HER WHAT REAL BAD LUCK WAS LIKE AND IT WAS A TRAGEDY THAT GREATLY AFFECTED HIS FAMILY.   THE STORY SO IMPACTED THE COMPLAINER’S FRIEND THAT IT RESULTED IN UNEXPECTED, POSITIVE  DEVELOPMENTS.

THE REFLECTION READ BY BOB NEUMAN WAS ENTITLED:   “ GASSY THOUGHTS."   GEORGE BAILEY’S BANK, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, RICHARD EDWARDES, AND ME.”  THIS DETAILED RANDOM THOUGHTS HE EXPERIENCED WHEN FILLING HIS CAR WITH GAS DURING THIS RECENT, SIGNIFICANT SPIKE IN GAS PRICES DURING THE LATE COVID ERA INFLATIONARY TIMES.

JUDY NEUMAN DESCRIBED A PERSONAL MEDICAL EXPERIENCE AND HER REFLECTIONS ON IT IN HER PAPER ENTITLED, “ZZZZZAPPED!”  SHE TOLD ABOUT RECEIVING HER FIRST RADIATION TREATMENT AND LEARNING THAT SHE COULDN’T WASH THAT AREA AS USUAL.  SHE THEN WENT ON TO COMPARE PHYSICAL CLEANING WITH SPIRITUAL CLEANING.  HUSBAND BOB, ADDED HIS FINAL THOUGHTS AT THE END OF HER PAPER TO CLOSE IT WITH A HUMOROUS TOUCH.

SHIRLEY HINMAN SHARED HER POEM ENTITLED, “THE WATER”.  IN IT, SHE EXPRESSES WHAT MAKES THE INDIANA DUNES ONE OF HER FAVORITE PLACES.  HER VERSES TELL HOW THE QUIET CALM MOTIVATES HER AND PRINGS PEACE TO HER SPIRIT!  SHE ALSO DESCRIBES ACTIONS THAT MAKE IT FEEL TO HER THAT THE WATER HAS ITS OWN PERSONALITY. 

AL KOCH GAVE US A VIEW OF SPECIAL YEARS IN HIS LIFE WITH HIS NON-FICTION STORY ENTITLED, “GRADUATION BLUES”.  IN IT, HE DESCRIBES REACHING THAT MOMENTOUS LIFE EVENT, FACING AN UNKNOWN FUTURE AND HOW LIFE’S JOURNEYS & EXPERIENCES  LED HIM ALONG TO VARIOUS PATHS  THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.  HE SHARED HIS REFLECTION THAT MILESTONES  ARE LIFE LESSONS THAT ARRIVE WITH UNCERTAINTIES, ANXIETIES, AND APPREHENSIONS THAT CHALLENGE ONE’S MIND, HEART, AND SPIRIT.   HE TOLD US THAT ONCE LEARNED, THEY ENGENDER FAITH, COURAGE, AND STRENTH, WITH FRINGE BENEFITS OF CREATIVITY AND FEELINGS OF PERSONAL TRIUMPH.  BE NOT AFRAID.  THEY BECOME TREASURES OF LIFE.

 

THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:42 PM.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

DIANE STRATTON