SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Beverly Stanislawski, Sharon Buckman, Katherine Flotz, Tim Philippart, Amy Brailey, Hardarshan Valia, Adam Sedia, Andrew Kuck

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval for the August 16, 2018 minutes was first given by AMY BRAILEY and seconded by KATHY FLOTZ.

NEW BUSINESS:

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI told the members about a program starting on September 8^th.  The program involves ten weeks of poems and discussions of poems – with people from around the world, and can be reached  at https://www.coursera.org/learn/modpo/resources/vizXG.

TIM PHILIPPART mentioned a nature program at Talltree in Valparaiso entitled the Indiana Master Naturals, possibly promoted by the I.N.R. and a program he enjoyed very much.

HARDARSHAN VALIA mentioned a program he had attended at Miller Beach last year that had been sponsored by the Indiana Writers Consortium.  There will be more information on this event in the next WOH minutes

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ADAM SEDIA stated he has a new book out entitled Visions Beyond, a book of poems.  He also stated that there will be a book signing on Thursday, Oct. 18^th at the Lake County Bar Assn, 1078 W. 84^th Dr., followed by a one hour CLE on Copyright Law from 4:30 to 5:30 P.M.  A $20 fee for Non-Attorneys.

READINGS:

AMY BRAILEY read two pages of the 12^th chapter of her novel, Jon Everett and the Hall of History.  After falling asleep in his history class and being assigned to a trip at the History Museum, he finds a set of keys to a trunk in his attic.  One of the keys fits a keyhole in George Washington’s portrait.  After going through the door, he meets the real George Washington and is mistaken for a flag bearer.  This part of the story relates to this experience and how he must learn all the various things he must do.

ADAM SEDIA read his ten-stanza poem entitled, “Cape Horn.”  This beautiful poem told of all the terrors the seaman endured when they traveled around Cape Horn with their ships being tossed and torn “and they glimpsed their last: Cape Horn.”

SHARON BUCKMAN read her true three-page short story entitled, “Cheap Vacation – Maybe Not.”  In this short story Sharon told of the trip her and her husband took out west to celebrate their 25^th anniversary.  The money they had saved for the trip began to dwindle as they got closer to leaving.  This caused them to change their plans and try tent camping to save money.  Needless to say their plans began to go awry, making their vacation a short one.

KATHERINE FLOTZ read her one page memoir entitled, “I Remember When.”  The memoir began in December 1944 and told of her 17yr. old cousin, Tobias, and how he had been taken to a Russian Labor camp, along with l05 other young men, from her home town in Gakowa, Yugoslavia.  Katherine ended her story by telling of a phone call she received from a friend asking her for a copy of her book, Pebble in my Shoe.  After the friend received it she mentioned that her father was from Gakowa and had also been taken to Russia.  It turned out her father knew her cousin quite well, eating and bunking with him. 

TIM PHILIPPART read three poems.  The first poem, “Evening Song,”  told of the overwhelming beauty of the evenings finale when frogs, cicadas and crickets compete in cacophony.  The second poem, “Greeting,” tells of climbing to the top of a steep meadow, feeling the sun’s rays wash over his body and thinking he is the first to be smiled on by life.  The last poem, “Divorce,” tells of a “marriage dying in increments.”

HARDARSHAN VALIA read three of his poems, originally written in his native language in 2015 and translated in English for our members.  The first poem, “Eclipse,” tells of the dust begging from the mighty sun and being blessed by a cloud full of rain.  The second poem, “Devoid of Flight,” tells of the featherless dove, covered in shame, begs for feathers.  The third poem, “Beggar’s Sleeves,” tells of “images born, without expecting fruits, appeared as shining stars, during his Final Sofourn.”

ANDREW KUCK read his beautiful, and sad, eleven-stanza poem entitled, “Is The Hermit Crab Sad?”  The poem, each stanza beginning with “Tell me mama, please,” was written when Andrew was teaching on the Marshall Islands and tells of tragedy when their huts and boats were burned and all that could be seen were navy boats and army tents.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read two of her prize winning poems.  The first poem, “Ballerina,” tells of a beautiful “Dainty dancing diva … Toed above the rest.”  The second poem, “ Eternal Audience,” tells of listening to Dylan’s music and being caught in his “silvery web” as she listens to the “Eternal Circle.”

The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted:

SHARON BUCKMAN

AUGUST 16, 2018

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Amy Brailey, Tim Philippart, Tammy Breitweiser, Al Koch, Beverly Stanislawski, Katherine Flotz, Caren Von See, Michael Bednarcyk, Gail Galvin, Hardarshan Singh Valia, Marilyn Kessler, and Danielle Johnson.

 NEW BUSINESS:

A vote of approval for the August 2, 2018 minutes were given by DANIELLE JOHNSON, and seconded by TAMMY BRIETWEISER.

LITERARY NEWS:

Congratulations at in order for BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI, who won first place from the United Poet Laureates International for her Vondelet Sonnet, “Metamorphosis.” Way to go, Bev!

TIM PHILIPPART The Anthology of Wisdom published his story title, “Cud.”

GAIL GALVAN passed out two articles:

The first article, from Poets and Writers Inc., a nonprofit organization that serves creative writers. There two-fold mission is to foster the professional development of poets and writers, and promote communication throughout the literary community.

The second article is about how writers can switch from Amazon’s, Create Space, which promoted book publishing, to Amazon’s Kindle Direct, which promotes online publishing. Create Space is no longer publishing books.

Following is the recommended site for information on moving your writing from Create Space, Amazon’s paperback publishing, to Amazon’s Kindle Direct (KDP) http://justpublishingadvice.com

READINGS:

AMY BRAILEY read Chapter 11 from her ‘writing prompt’ series “John Everett and the Hall of History.” Through the banter of the young men bedding down for the night in their encampment, Jon discovers his associates have no inkling of any U.S. history, when he learns the date is July 4^th, 1755, twenty-one years before the Declaration of Independence was written.

TIM PHILIPPART read his humorous story, “Cairn County Historical Museum,” about a gentleman’s visit to the museum, which specializes in mannequin clothing from World War 1 to just before the depression. The gentleman carries a cane but never uses it. On the second floor, they go to the barbershop where the docent gives the man a shave. In the new ballroom exhibit, they danced. The next morning, the docent discovers that the elderly gentleman left his cane behind.

TAMMY BRIETWEISER read her chapter “Robert’s Séance” about a group of eight graders, who, after reading Robert Frost’s poem, A Road Not Taken, have a literary argument in class about who narrates the poem. On the way to Simon’s house, Zara suggests they hold a séance to contact Robert Frost and request his help in resolving their argument. After Robert Frost’s joins their séance, they learn that the poem was written as a private joke for his friend, Edward Thomas.

AL KOCH read his poem, “Lookin Back,” about one’s memories—images from the past—our joys and tears, high school years, and remembering when we were kids. Memories last forever; they warm our hearts and remind us of ‘what we used to be.’

CAREN VON SEE finished reading Chapter 7 from her novel, “My Treasure Chest.” Antonio confronts Senor Abano about his lustful behavior toward Sara, and suggests, “If he wants to continue to be their architect, that Senor Abano must apologize and earn Sara’s approval. When the twins return to the hotel, they find Sara asking the desk clerk, Maria, to teach her Italian.

GAIL GALVAN read her poem, “Adventure Roll Call,” about a group of bicyclists, including Gail, who took to the road and traveled from the Pacific Coast to Florida. They travelled over 4,000 miles, sharing their journey through desert sun, sandy dunes, jukebox music in bars, lots of suntan lotion, dreamy breezes, birds, cowboys and Indians.

HARDARSHAN SINGH VALIA read two poems. The first poem “Rock of Gibraltar,” describes the brilliant image of ‘the rock.’ The second poem, “An Uninterrupted Life at the Terminal Stop,” describes the touching loss of a friend, Nebula.

DANIELLE JOHNSON read from her novel, Love and Dissidence. The family, including Nicolai and Catrina, the bride and groom, has a little fun before the nuptials are to take place. Nikolai and his groomsmen are forced to don tutus and veils; they are told to do a Can Can. Ordered by Petra, they wrap arms around each other’s shoulders and do high kicks. Everyone erupts with laughter and applause. Uncle Boris, wearing a white dress and a wedding veil. He swing open the door and says, “I’m ready for you boys.” He is both disturbing and captivating. Nicolai reads the poem he wrote for his bride.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read three poems. “Mary’s Farewell,” is a about saying goodbye to a dear friend. “A Husband’s Love,” is about the loss of his wife, Mary, yet he knows they won’t be separated forever. “Metamorphosis,” is a delightful sonnet about the morph of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

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

Respectfully submitted:

Caren VonSee