August 2, 2025

National League of American Pen Women

Denver Branch

Minutes—August 2, 2025

  1. Linda Volin called the meeting to order at 9:43 am.
  2. Members present: Risa Waldt, Atlanta Sheridan, Linda Volin, Eleanor Binning, Diane Chambers, Sue Luxa, and Kelly Ann Compton
  3. No guests were present.
  4. Inspirational Reading: Risa read a selection in From the Bottom of the Grand Canyon: A River Trip.
  5. Minutes were approved: Linda asked if anyone would volunteer to be co-secretary with Kelly Ann. It was then decided that before each meeting we would ask for someone to take the minutes that day.
  6. Treasury Report: Our current balance is $395.86. While we had voted to send $25.00 to Poetry-To-Go, due to circumstances with Poetry-To-Go the donation will not be sent.
  7. Committee Reports:
    1. Membership: Last month’s guest did not return today. We wonder if our lack of being tech savvy turned her away. The guest was very helpful last month.
      1. Sue suggested that perhaps Virginia could research SubStack.
      2. We need to find a way to increase our provisional members, i.e. writers who have not yet been published.
      3. Diane presented a craft fair taking place in Highlands Ranch on September 13, from 9:00 – 5:00. It costs $150 for the booth and would be divided between those participating. At this point, Linda, Diane and Sue are signed up to participate. Sue will contact the writers’ group at Windcrest to see if any of those members are interested in participating.
    2. Zoom: At this point, Zoom is working well.
    3. Website: Virginia reports that she and Rachel have been trying to set up a mailer program. We need to link Mailer LITE, Google, and Bluehost so they work together. They have run into some snags and Virginia has contacted the Mailer community to find out what the problem could be. The site itself is updated and is working properly
    4. Critique Group: We currently have five members with room for a couple more. We meet every other Friday from 4:30-6:30 pm.
    5. Tapestry for Peace: Two sections are now with Windcrest and will be used for sensory activities.
    6. Historian: Sue is collecting Pen Woman magazines. She has not yet contacted the Denver Public Library about whether they still want our archival materials and in what form they would like those materials to be.
    7. Programs: September = Blackout Poetry; October = Ignite your creativity, overcoming writer’s block; In the future = How to edit a messy first draft.
      1. Sue suggested we have a session on Journaling
      2. Linda reminded us that we need to include some art programs now that we have some art members.
  8. Old Business: None reported.
  9. Announcements: None
  10. New Business:
    1. The Highlands Ranch craft fair (See information under Membership above.)
    2. The Windsor Garden craft fair is coming up. More details to follow.
  11. National Updates:
    1. How to be a professional artist
    2. The biennial will be held in Washington D.C. next April. For information on the biennial, see page 3 of the Spring edition of Pen Woman magazine.
    3. Pen Woman magazine needs volunteers to do book reviews. The magazine is also asking for stories no more than 600 words in length.
  12. The meeting was adjourned at 10:29.

Respectfully submitted,

Kelly Ann Compton

Secretary, Denver Branch

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