CLUB NOTES: Shawano Area Writers

Shawano Area Writers met May 17 in the Veslak Room at the Shawano Public Library.

President Tom Thornstenson opened the meeting.

John Mutter read the treasurer’s report.

Dues were then collected for the year.

It was the time of year to elect officers. Wendy Goerl suggested we keep the officers we have: Tom Thorstenson, president; Marilyn Kroenke, vice president; John Mutter, treasurer; and Barb King, secretary.

In the section where good news is shared, John Mutter said he had good and bad news. The article about an ash tree that was struck by lightning that had been accepted by a magazine a year and a half ago was finally published, but only one of the three pages was in the magazine. The other two pages will be published in the next issue.

Wendy Goerl had her reply to a question published on a site.

Lee Pulaski will be reading May 21 at the PRIDEducation Conference and signing books the following week at OtherWorlds Books and More in Sturgeon Bay, and at the Pride Festival.

Lee Pulaski started out the reading with an excerpt from his newest book, “Heartsong of the Lonesome Road.” Ethan has just finished typing an article for the newspaper explaining why there is a water restriction in the area decided by the city council. He is about to do a live interview.

Marilyn Kroenke read a story entitled “Love Me, Love My Car.” A man and his son come in to buy insurance for a new black 2007 Corvette. Three weeks later, the car is reported stolen from the parking lot of the father’s work. The father and son thought the insurance company would pay up, and they’d have two cars for the price of one. Instead, they got into a whole lot of trouble with the law.

Tom Thorstenson read the story “The Chat Box.” The main character sneezes. “Gesundheit,” says a disembodied voice. There is no one else around. He checks out the end table where the sound came from; there is only a lamp and a tissue box. He checks all over the table and even under, looking for some kind of speaker. Nothing. He sneezes again, and again he hears the voice. It turns out the tissue box is talking to him.

Terry Misfeldt read from his newspaper column, “Grown Up Childhood Memories.” Terry remembers from the 1950s, that when you received Mr. Potato Head, there was no head — just parts (arms, legs, nose, etc.). You supplied the head, a potato, carrot, onion or whatever. Another favorite was the game of Jartz. You had several rings which were laid on the lawn, and you threw metal-tipped darts at the rings.

Manny Moreleda read a poem, “Just A Little Sprinkle of Kindness” written by Linda C. Cazolli. He liked it because it is in the same style he writes.

Barb King read a chapter from her book “The Children in the Garden.” Jillian explains to her therapist, Meghan, about the scouring of the toys and two upstairs rooms. Meghan explains that men usually act out that way more likely than would Gladys or Meredith. Meghan didn’t know the mayor very well, but she had never heard about him being violent. She suggested if Jillian felt uncomfortable to have her house blessed.

Trudy Bosman used a prompt that suggested that she use the three words (curfew, transplant, howl) to write a poem. She also wrote a poem entitled “So What Could I Do?”