National League of American Pen Women–Denver Branch
Meeting Minutes
July 6, 2013
I. Diane Chambers called the meeting to order at 10:45 AM.
II. Members in attendance were: Diane Chambers, Erika Christiansen, Kelly Ann Compton, Florence Elliott, Ann Klaiman, A. Marie Kriss, Nancy Peterson, Lorrie Reed, Sue Scudder, Virginia Small, and Sheila Wright.
III. Prospecitve members in attendance were: Sophia Baldwin, Donna Clark, and Nancy Malick.
IV. Inspirational Reading: Lorrie shared a 4th of July reading saying, “Jump over the hurdles and keep trying new things.”
V. The June Minutes were approved as written.
VI. The May and June Treasurer’s Reports were accepted. Our current balance is $2,442.23.
VII. Committee Reports:
A. Website: Virginia asked that the new members send her a picture and bio for the website
B. Membership: Kriss reported that National is being very slow in approving new members. Vickie and Juanita have been approved, Sophia’s application has not yet been approved, and may need to be resubmitted. Donna Clark and Jo’el Roth have submitted applications
VIII. Outreach Project Updates
A. Bessie’s Hope: Kelly Ann will call Stephanie at St. Andrew’s Village to discuss restarting our visits. Ann shared about the writing groups we have done and what we hope to do in the future at St. Andrew’s.
B. Artists’ Fairs:
A. For the Conifer Elevation Celebration we are participating in next Saturday, setup begins at 9:00 am. The fair will run from 11:00-7:00. Bring a table and chairs if you are coming. We will be using Ann’s tent. (Thank you, Ann!)
B. For the Conifer fair on November 2, the application deadline is July 23. Diane will double check this as that seems to be rather early.
C. Ann brought up the Dakota Ridge High School Arts & Craft Fair. Sandy Chapman did it alone last year. Would anyone be interested this year?
D. Erika brought up the idea of accepting credit cards at the fairs we participate in.
IX. Old Business:
A. Kriss suggested a need for an amendment to our Emeritus nomination process whereby a member may be nominated at a meeting as long as that member is not present. The motion was passed. Kriss then nominated Dorothy Donovan for Emeritus status. She has been an active member since 1964. Members voted ‘yes’ unanimously.
B. An in memoriam discussion took place regarding Beth Joines who was a member here for over 20 years, coming from Kansas City where she was also a member of Pen Women. She was an amazing poet, writing many forms of poetry. She would have been 102 on her next birthday. Ann closed the discussion by reading a few of Beth’s poems.
C. Tapestry Update: Diane read an e-mail written to Joice by Janie Tate where Ms. Tate agrees that we should write up a contract that includes care and use of the Tapestry for Peace. Ann shared that she and Joice boxed up the tapestry and that it is still at Joice’s mountain house.
X. New Business:
A. The Summer Intensive Critique group begins July 11 and will meet on alternating Thursdays and Saturdays for eight weeks. Five to six members will be involved. A discussion took place about the differences between being a critique group and being a Mastermind group, Mastermind being more of an accountability group that may include critiques.
B. The possibility of publishing a collection of our work was discussed. Ann pointed out that we need to define the purpose of it first. Will this collection be for us only? Will it be a promotional tool? A committee was formed for this discussion consisting of Sheila, Kelly Ann, Ann and possibly Erika. Erika suggested a chapbook of poetry as another, possibly smaller, option.
XI. Branch Announcements: None
XII. The meeting was adjourned at 11:44.
After the meeting, we ate a delicious lunch and then Erika led us in a poetry workshop that was very fun. Even those who had never written poetry before found out they were poets!
Respectively submitted,
Kelly Ann Compton, Secretary