Newsletter of the Denver Branch
National League of American Pen Women
November 2009
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• Look for details (below) about our December 5th holiday party!
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MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 7TH BUSINESS MEETING:
President Paula Pahl CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER at 12:30 p.m.
IN ATTENDANCE were Jane Carpenter, Diane Chambers, Florence Elliott, Linda Ohlson Graham, Nancy Hegan, Pat Kennedy, Marie Kriss, Paula Pahl, Nancy Peterson, Lorrie Reed, Gwen Scott, Shirley Sheets, and Virginia Small. Our eight guests are named in the program notes, below.
Lorrie read the INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE. Gwen, as TREASURER, REPORTED A BALANCE of $2,518.21. MINUTES APPROVED. Our guests were in attendance at this business meeting.
THE DECEMBER MEETING, which will be the annual Christmas party and potluck, includes a book exchange, which Kriss described for our guests. Members and guests welcome. See Upcoming December Meeting, below, for more details.
We discussed OUR NEW WEBSITE (www.denverpenwomen.org), with which members seem more than happy. Congrats to Virginia and to Kriss. [With Virginia’s coaching, I uploaded the October newsletter to the website quickly and easily. –Ed.] No one seemed happy with the NLAPW national website, which is out of date and not attractive. Our new logo has been enthusiastically received and has been entered in National’s logo contest.
Kriss, speaking for the MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE, reported that 500 brochures introducing our branch have been printed for distribution through such outlets as the Denver Public Library system, independent book sellers, and used book stores. Kriss requested another $200 to spend on membership, in order to print branch bookmarks and business-card-sized invitations for our members to use in inviting people to our meetings. Virginia designed all three items, incorporating her new logo. She and Kriss have both layouts ready to go to print. Motion was made and passed for additional money to fund printing.
OVERVIEWING UPCOMING MEETINGS, Nancy Hegan reported that our January meeting will be an IN-HOUSE CRITIQUE/WORKSHOP session. The February speaker will be DIANE BLOMBERG on writing literature for children. March will be another workshop; April’s speaker is ED STEIN, political cartoonist of the late Rocky Mountain News. For May we have scheduled another critique/workshop and June is our ANNUAL PLANNING SESSION AND PICNIC. [The June picnic needs a host, by the way. Anyone willing to offer their deck or patio? –Ed.]
Gwen announced that she and her partners have finished their book, BLACKS THROUGH THE AYES OF OUR AMERICAN PRESIDENTS. Gwen and partners will now be looking for feedback. Nancy Peterson has an article in an upcoming edition of CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL with an “all in the family” theme. Jane won 1st prize in the Lakewood Arts Council’s poetry contest for her poem, “REMEMBERING EMILY” (Dickinson)
Paula’s buffalo quilt, entitled BYE-SON, is on display at Eckert’s Garden Center.
The members and guests were introduced and the meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Hegan, Co-Secretary
NOVEMBER PROGRAM: CRITIQUING SESSION FOR GUEST AUTHORS
Using the library’s room divider, we split into two groups, Diane moderating one, Jane moderating the other. The guests were given ten minutes each to read their work for critique.
Eight guests presented manuscripts for critique by our members. Presenters were Tess Bruce, Debbie McCulliss, Fay Coulouris, Angelle Fouther, Andrea Antico, Jocelan Martell, Patricia Cox, and Sue Luxa. Kay Walker was an additional guest observer. Poems, book excerpts, and essays on a variety of topics held our attention and drew considerable positive feedback. Guests and members had an excellent experience with the work of all guests very well done.
We reassembled for refreshments and conversation. The session was highly successful and we hope to schedule another guest critique in March.
NEWS AND NOTES:
1. Lorrie Reed’s mother, Dorothy Barlow Christian (age 107), quietly, peacefully passed away at six o’clock, the evening of November 2nd of pneumonia at Life Care Center, Littleton– surrounded by TLC. Services were held at Salem United Church of Christ, Denver, on Sunday, November 15th, at 3 p.m. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and you family, Lorrie.
2. Any ideas for a name for our owl (in Virginia’s new logo)?
UPCOMING DECEMBER MEETING:
HOLIDAY PARTY, POTLUCK, AND BOOK EXCHANGE
WHEN: Saturday, December 5, 2009, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Virginia Village Branch of the Denver Public Library, located at 1500 SOUTH DAHLIA STREET. It is at the corner of S. Dahlia and E. Florida Ave. Dahlia is eight blocks east of Colorado Blvd.
BRING:
• A POTLUCK DISH TO SHARE. We did have a food sign-up at the November meeting, but anyone else who comes can bring whatever they like, no problem.
• A BOOK: Please bring a book — used or new — hardback or paperback — that you really like, for our exchange. Wrap the book so that no one can see the title.
GUESTS WELCOME! Guests need not bring a potluck dish — there’ll be plenty! BUT guests should have books, or they’ll miss out on some really obnoxious fun.
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Respectfully submitted, Ann Klaiman, Newsletter Editor