Meeting Minutes - August 19, 2010

Date: August 19, 2010
Start Time: 7:00 P.M.
End Time: 9:30 P.M.

Attendees:
Joan Bodefeld
Jackie Huppenthal
Luneil Morrow
Sharon Palmeri
Carol Rodgers
Judy Whitcomb

Treasurer’s Report
Total in treasury: $160.00

New Business:
It was Luneil’s birthday and she won the door prize, a massaging pen.

Sharon suggested that the money for the Children’s Project be given to Katherine Page Camp - the secretary/treasurer of the IWC - before the end of the year.

Jackie reminded everyone to get the money for the Christmas Party to Sharon.

Since no one was able to contact an illustrator, the group decided to invite Katherine Flotz to speak on her book and marketing for September.

Joan finally received her copyright for her book.

Judy Shared the Children’s Books Insider website, CBI Clubhouse (http://cbiclubhouse.com/). It is a resource for many different things writers would need and be interested.

Old Business:
Submission project: Sharon reminded everyone that Writer’s Market.com provides a good source for possible publishers.

Jackie will share a sheet she developed to track submissions via email.

Sharing:
Luniel shared pictures of her beautiful granddaughter. She will be going to visit her on the 24th of August. She also shred a brochure with her picture for United Way. She is a volunteer with United Way for about 20 years. Luniel is thinking about submitting her Cereal story to the Chicken Soup for Kids series. Some thought that she could do that on-line.

Jackie won $4.00 and a ribbon at the Lake County Fair for one of her photographs.

Joan was questioning what other buttons she could use for her book. It was suggested that she make a list of all types of buttons. Through discussion, she began to think about contrasting the way things are handled with a button now, were handled in the past (ex. Dial phone, typewriter, etc.)

Sharon’s publishing workshop at St. Joseph’s College was a challenge because of time limitations. The class went very well. Transition into e-publishing was a big point of interest. Sharon shared a book about the thirteen moons on a turtles back based on American Indian folklore. The illustrations and explanations of each moon ( maple sugar moon, etc.) are excellent.

Carol hopes to have a story ready in the Fall based on a true story that her grandmother told her when she was young.

Judy read a story she wrote, My Grandma Is a Science Teacher. The book is geared to 2nd-3rd grade children. She explained that there is a second part that was not quite finished that is the science part. It explains center of gravity that is mentioned in the story. Sharon suggested that she submit both parts and let the editor decide how to use the second part. Also, use contractions when the narrator speaks. It was decided to change “doll” to something more appropriate to current terms kids would use.

Jackie shared her photograph poem about a leopard frog. She is thinking of putting a book together with the photos and poems about these things she has found in her yard.

Reminders:
Project Homework: Everyone has something ready to submit and a publisher chosen by October. Magazines are a possible source for submissions. Just remember to bring information on the publisher and submission requirements.

Christmas Party:
Where: The Lake of the Four Seasons Clubhouse
When: Wednesday December 1, 2010
Cost: $17.50 per person
For: Members of WHO, MHW, Northwest Indiana’s Poetry Society, and Writer’s Expression and spouses, significant others, etc.

Speaker Program: (Current Plan)
o September – Marketing: Kathy Flotz – contact person Sharon
o January – Publisher – contact person Judy
o April – Library agent for purchasing books – contact person Luneil
o July – Illustrator – contact person Sharon/Jackie

Reminder: The Northwest Indiana Poetry Society meets every 3rd Saturday of each month at the Lowell Public Library. The start time is 10:00 A.M and ends at 11:30 A.M. There is no fee to join, poetry only. Contact Tom Spencer at tspenser1943@comcast.net.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Judy Whitcomb