February 7, 2026

NLAPW-Denver Branch

February 7, 2026 Minutes

Meeting held via Zoom

  1. The meeting was called to order at 9:34 am.
  2. Members Present: Marion Mike, Linda Volin, Eleanor Binnings, Diane Chambers, Atlanta Sheridan, Risa Waldt, and Kelly Ann Compton
  3. Guest Present: Abbi Kaplan
  4. Inspirational Reading: Risa read from Wyatt Webb’s “What to do when you don’t know what to do.”
  5. Minutes: The January minutes were approved.
  6. Treasurer Report: Our current bank balance is $115.16.
  7. Committee Reports:
    1. Membership:
      1. Diane reported that there is no new member news at this time
      2. Diane attended a workshop on how to recruit members.
        1. In the workshop, they had to make two lists—what drains our energy and what gives us energy.
        2. It was suggested that to recruit new members someone within a branch needs to write articles about our group to be published in various publications and to advertise meetings on social media.
        3. It was discussed that we need to reinstate our publicity position. Sue Luxa used to be our publicity person. Diane and Marion offered write something up to advertise our group and meetings.
        4. We discussed that we used to hold annual guest critique events and invited writers to come share what they wrote and receive constructive critiques on what they wrote. This brought in many members. After the pandemic, we attempted to hold a guest critique, but to no avail. People have become used to Zoom meetings, and flyers advertising events don’t work anymore.
        5. We tried MeetUp, but this didn’t work for us at the level we could afford financially.
      3. Marion questioned the purpose of our meetings; people want more than business meetings and videos. Diane shared that we used to have speakers but can’t afford to pay them at this point. Other avenues are being looked at.
    2. Programs:
      1. We have videos scheduled through April. Rachel is stepping back from programming after April. Marion and Diane will work together on planning programs.
      2. Marion suggested that we could take turns facilitating workshops that focus on a single topic each time. Members would be given the topic in advance and should be prepared to participate at the next meeting.
      3. Marion offered to facilitate in May and will give us the topic for that meeting at the April meeting. She also suggested that since we have several artists in the group, perhaps 20 minutes art presentations could be a part of each meeting.
      4. Abbi said that she would love to hear others’ work. She is okay with videos on occasion. She will present with Marion in May from her sketchbook she used while in France.
    3. Zoom: Kelly Ann reported that Zoom is working well.
    4. Webmistress Report:
      1. MailerLite is up and working. There are currently two mailing lists. One of our officers, and one for all members.
      2. Virginia has been having conversations with Bluehost concerning the current problem that emails from the website are not being sent. She thinks it may have something to do with Outlook.
      3. Bluehost keeps trying to upsell to our branch. They keep saying that WHOIS is not protected, but Virginia checked this out and we are protected at least through May.
      4. The problems with Bluehost seem to happen whenever Bluehost upgrades the system. Marion suggested that we refuse the upgrades.
    5. Critique Group:
      1. We currently have three open slots. The group meets every other Friday at 4:30 pm. Two people are critiqued each meeting. The two members split 15,000 words between them. Marion expressed interest in joining.
  8. New Business:
    1. Linda sent out an email of the board positions that are open within our branch with a description of each. These positions include president, vice president, programs, co-secretary, and membership chair.
    2. New officers need to be decided by our April meeting as the secretary needs to report the officers’ names to the national office in May.
    3. Linda will send Marion all the members’ phone numbers. Kelly Ann will get the branch directory finished and sent out this coming week.
    4. Kelly Ann and Atlanta will send an email to all members regarding the elections and the open positions.
    5. President, Vice President and Secretary are elected board positions. We agreed that our group is small enough, that verbal elections and acceptance of the positions can be held by vote at our April meeting.
  9. Member News:
    1. Karen Gladstone contacted Centra Park Artists in Denver. The group would be interested in our branch participating in events with them.
    2. Diane attended a National Zoom session about expanding membership. (See VII, a, ii)
    3. Having a Facebook account was discussed. Linda thinks we already have such an account. Virginia reminded us that to have a Facebook Group page, someone needs to be in charge of it and keep it updated.
    4. Risa sent art to National for the biennial.
    5. All members can send art to the National office that could be published either on the website or the Pen Woman magazine.
    6. Abbi Kaplan would like to join NLAPW—Denver Branch. Kelly Ann suggested that she wait to join until the end of February so she won’t have to pay dues both now and in April.
    7. Virginia’s art has been published in another book.
    8. Atlanta received a holiday letter from long-term member Beverly Chico who now lives in Washington DC and is doing well.
    9. Former international member of the Denver Branch Cathy Wield and her husband have finally settled into a home in England that they hope to stay in for a long time.
  10. The meeting was adjourned at 10:35.

A video was scheduled for the program today, but various glitches didn’t allow it to be shown. Instead, further discussion on possible programs and events our Denver Branch could participate in were discussed.

Respectfully submitted,

Kelly Ann Compton

Secretary.

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