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Author: Virginia
Our current President Ruthy Wexler has written an excellent article about the Tapestry for Peace. You can find it in the Fall issue of the Pen woman magazine, in the center spread.
There is a contest going on for IB schools. The winners will receive a section of the tapestry to put on display at their schools.
Included in the article is the history of the Tapestry and information on how the national members can help get the word out to IB schools about the contest.
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Tapestry update
From our President, Ruthy Wexler
Hi all,
Last night, Kriss and I attended the kick-off session for the IB (International Baccalaureate) World Conference. Joice Fairchild, former and forever member of Pen Women, who now resides in Florida, was also there, with her granddaughter, Jessica–and lucky for us that she came. We all decided she was the best one to speak at the conference, introducing the IB kids to the Tapestry, since she was the instrumental person who shepherded the project along. She knows the story inside out. We all had dinner beforehand with Diane Dunne, head of Mackintosh Academy (see pic) and then proceeded to the auditorium in Sturm Hall.
It was thrilling to see our tapestry panels up on there the stage (that morning, Kriss, Diane and I had overseen the installation), thrilling to see the students file in and fill the room, thrilling to have Jan Lotter, our IB connection, introduce Joice… but that was nothing compared to when Joyce took the mic.
Joice spoke from the heart about peace and making a difference in the world. She was supposed to speak for only 6 or so minutes but after a few, no one cared about that or interrupted, because her words and voice carried such a message–you could have heard the proverbial pin drop. Then the students raised their hands to ask questions. Such sincere, heartfelt questions. “How do you know you’re making a difference?” “What if no one listens?”
Joyce answered these with such HEART, such openness, such VISION… that we were all caught up in the moment and I think all of us, the whole auditorium, really glimpsed the possibility that the tapestry and our thoughts will result in seeding pockets of peace.
It was really something. ALL we could have hoped for to launch our Peace Tapestry into the world.
Lots of work to do still. On August 11, we have reserved the day at Mackintosh to pack up the sections in individual boxes or cylinders, label them and take them home to various houses. Our members will have to store them until they get shipped out to the winners of the contest. So I will need help on that day.
This is an amazing opportunity. We’re going to do all we can to publicize and talk about the Peace Tapestry. I’ll be writing the article for Pen Women. If anyone knows of other outlets for publicity–radio, podcasts, etc–please contribute that idea.
See you in September (if not on Aug. 11)
Love,
Ruthy
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August 1, 2015
National League of American Pen Women, Denver Branch
August 1, 2015
Minutes
President, Ruthy Wexler, called the meeting to order at 10:02 am.
Members present were Diane Chambers, Kathleen Visovatti, Kay Taylor, Andrea Antico, Beverly Chico, Marie Kriss, and Sophia Baldwin. No guests attended.
For our new member, Kathleen Visovatti, each of us introduced ourselves and gave a brief explanation on a current project we are working on, or a current idea we have for a project we want to begin.
Ruthy read an inspirational quote by Elizabeth Kubler Ross: “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
There was no business meeting last month, in July, so today we approved the minutes to the June meeting.
Kriss read the treasurer’s reports for June and July in Kelly Ann’s absence. The beginning balance for June was $2,726.09. The income was $95.00 for member dues, and the expenses were: $95.00 for a returned check with a $5 returned check fee, and $60 paid to National for dues. The ending balance was $2,566.09.
The July treasurer’s report had a beginning balance of $2,566.09 with expenses of $25 for the Castle Rock September meeting’s room rental. The ending balance was $2,541.09.
Committee Reports:
Blog: In Virginia’s absence, Sophia reported that the blog set up on our website has been revamped and looks nice. Ruthy said the blog program is currently on hold until the committee meets to decide how to proceed with our blog.
Tapestry: Kriss reported that, Mary Rueling, the enthusiast who is representing us in regard to the Tapestry being accepted to live at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, said that the Museum representatives have not yet made a decision to take the Tapestry. They are concerned about the Tapestry’s linear size, and they
are considering some options on how to use it before they make a decision. We would donate the Tapestry to the Museum and use the money we have allocated to handle the transport of the Tapestry.
Program: Ruthy announced that our joint meeting with the Pikes Peak Branch on September 19th, will be held at the New Hope Presbyterian Church in Castle Rock, from 9:00-2:30. We are calling it, “Celebrate Creativity,” and it will include lunch and a fun activity, as well as an opportunity for members of both branches to bring our books we have written, or arts and crafts we have made, to display and sell. A letter will be going out to all the members soon, with all of the information.
Andrea said that Kriss would contact Lyly Do again to find out when she can come to speak to us—hopefully she can come early in 2016.
Outreach Projects: Kathleen told us about a possible outreach project. A $25,000 grant from the Aspen Institute is funding a program called “Write Night,” where writers meet to critique poems and other things that prison inmates have written. Some of our members expressed interest in this program. If you are interested, contact Kathleen Visovatti and she will contact the program’s coordinator. Beverly suggested that we have the coordinator, Laura, come to speak to us at one of our meetings. Kathleen will ask Laura.
Announcements: Summer Writer’s Mingle, Tuesday, August, 4th, 5:00-8:00 pm at Fat Willey’s. Contact Polly Letofsky at: polly@mywordpublishing.com
Meeting adjourned at 11:05 am.
A presentation by four of the authors of An Independence Falls Sci-Fi Romance Series, on their collaboration of this series of super hero romance novels, and the first one to be published, “Sparked.” The authors of lilycahill.com are Alex Casola, Cory Chambers, Renee Coen, Elizabeth Crowne, and Livia Harper.
Respectfully submitted by
Diane Chambers
Vice President
Mollie Rue was awarded 2nd Place in the nonfiction category in the recent Denver Woman’s Press Club Unknown Writers competition.
They had a lovely awards ceremony on Sunday, April 12th at their historic headquarters Downtown Denver. Mollie’s story was “Swamp Sister” that some of you may remember from a reading she did at Pen Women about a year ago (with the songs of Red-winged Blackbirds and memories of her aging brother).
Congratulations, Mollie.