Minutes, November 2011 meeting

President Janice Brooks called the meeting to order.

Secretary: October 8, 2011 minutes approved

Treasurer: Treasurer's report approved

Committee Reports:

Audit Committee: An audit committee has been established. Members are Bob Sanchez, Isaiah Barrett, Sarah Purcell, Jan Brooks.

Old Business:

Annual Banquet: Sally Spener reminded members of the Nov. 19 deadline.

New Business:

Introduction of the 2012 slate of officers: President-Bob Sanchez; VP-

Sally Spener; Treasurer-Isaiah Barrett; Secretary-Richard Schwein. After a call for

nominations from the floor, a motion to elect the slate by acclamation was made and

approved by unanimous vote.

2012 Contest Chairs: Janice Brooks and Sarah Purcell

Program:

2008 Poet Laureate, Larry D. Thomas. The League purchased one copy each

of Mr. Thomas’s three books to donate to the library.

Brags and Introductions:

Veterans were acknowledged.

Members were asked to introduce themselves and state the genres in which they write.

50/50: Anne Sparks won $17.50

The meeting was adjourned.

October 2011 meeting minutes

October 8, 2011 EPWL Regular Minutes

President Janice Brooks opened the Border Tapestry Launch Party by explaining that members would read their 2010 annual contest-winning entries.

She announced the 2012 slate of officers. They are: President-Bob Sanchez; Vice President-Sally Spener; Secretary-Richard Schwein; Treasurer-Isaiah Barrett. Nominations will be accepted from the floor at the November meeting before elections are held.

Janice introduced Bob Sanchez, co-editor of the Border Tapestry.

Bob introduced Tina Dwyer and Maritza Neely and acknowledged their photo and artwork contributions to the magazine before asking members to read

Cake and refreshments were served.

50/50: $20.00 was raised. Maritza had the winning ticket and won $10.00.

Submitted by EPWL 2011 Secretary, Vonda Frampton.

October 2011 meeting

The President’s Corner

EPWL Members Janice Brooks and Vonda Frampton manned a table at the El Paso Community College Literary Fiesta to publicize the league and our members' published works.  It was fun and a great community out-reach.

Driving home from San Antonio on Sunday, it looked like fall.  Unfortunately, what we saw in 90 degree weather was drought and its results.  As much as we humans think we have control over our lives, weather remains the boss.  Dead trees and bushes were sad to see, but even worse were the signs of fire along the roadways.  Personal responsibility has to come into play.  Cigarettes could go in ash trays and not out the window of a moving vehicle.  The trip was fun, family was a joy but the all-day trip home was more than tiring.
  
--Janice Brooks, 2011 EPWL President and author of Illusions & A Price for Fame


October Meeting

Our Saturday Launch Party for Border Tapestry is something to look forward to as the winning authors from our 2010 Annual Contest will read their 1st Place Prize Winning Entries.  Come join us at the Dorris Van Doren Library on Redd Road at our usual meeting time 2-4pm.  Refreshments too!  The 2012 Slate of Officers will be announced at the meeting.



ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET SET FOR DECEMBER 10

The El Paso Writers’ League will have its annual awards banquet and holiday luncheon on Saturday, December 10 at the Holiday Inn Sunland Park.  The Holiday Inn was recently renovated and has offered us a spacious room decorated for the holidays.  We are looking forward to a wonderful event this year.
The Awards Banquet is one event no member should miss.  We will be handing out prizes to the winners of our 2011 writing contest, installing new officers, and sharing holiday cheer with our fellow writers.

Event Details:
Saturday, December 10, 2011, 12:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn Sunland Park, 900 Sunland Park Dr.
$25/each
Payment and food order must be received by the El Paso Writers’ League by Nov.19.

 Menu Options:
Chicken Mesilla
Breast of Chicken, Topped with Green Chile & Monterrey Jack Cheese
Fresh Steamed Vegetables, Rice Pilaf
or
Sliced Roast Beef
Red Parsley Potatoes
Fresh Steamed Vegetables
or
Tilapia a la Veracruzana
Tilapia Fillet served with a signature sauce made
From fresh tomatoes, green olives, onions, capers & Jalapenos
Jasmine Rice & Steamed Vegetables
or
Pasta Primavera
Bow Tie Pasta, Fresh Zucchini, Broccoli, Cauliflower,
Red Peppers, Mushrooms, Basil and Garlic tossed in
Olive Oil, served with Toasted Garlic Bread

Payment will be accepted at El Paso Writers’ League meetings in October and November or mail your payment and food selection to our Banquet Chair:

Sally Spener

239 Rainbow Circle

El Paso, TX 79912

Due to the need to place our order and payment in advance, no tickets will be sold at the door on the day of the event.

Brags

Don Moss won second place in the memoir category in the 2011 Southwest Writers Annual Contest.

Congratulations Don!

September 10, 2011 Regular EPWL Meeting Minutes

*President Janice Brooks opened the meeting by asking for eleven seconds of silence in

honor of the 9-11 Anniversary.

*Jan asked how many members accepted last month’s challenge to write outside their

comfort zone for the annual contest.

*Introduction of Guests/ Brags

*Minutes of last meeting approved.

*Treasurer’s Report: to be filed for audit

*Committee Reports:

*Border Tapestry: Bob Sanchez announced that the magazine will be available at the

October meeting and that he ordered 100 copies.

*Annual Contest: Members were to turn in their entries. No late entries will be

accepted.

*Banquet: Sally Spener gave an update. The price for the banquet is $25 per person.

Sally asked for committee volunteers to help with set-up, etc. Jan read the menu

selections.

*Old Business:

*EPCC Literary Fiesta update. Jan reminded member who want to participate to

contact her to set up schedule times and to hand over books. Her cell number is: 490-

9146

*2012 Possible Slate of Officers: President, Bob Sanchez; Vice President, Sally

Spener. Secretary and Treasurer positions are still open.

*Library meeting place info matter resolved. A yearly contract will be signed with the

library. EPWL sound equipment, etc. can no longer be stored at the library. The

meeting time will remain from 2-4.

*New Business:

*Long-time honorary member, Zula McKenzie, has a book out on September 13. It

will be available through Amazon.

*Program:

*Jan introduced Vonda Frampton who gave a workshop titled “Traits That Identify

Your Personality and Style by Using Unusual Keys to Unlock Who We Are as

Individuals and Writers.”

*Programming:

*October 8: Border Tapestry Launch Party. The room will be open to everyone/

introduction of 2012 slate of officers and nominations from floor

*November 12: 2008 Poet Laureate, Larry Thomas/ election of 2012 officers

*December 10: no regular meeting/annual banquet

*50/50: $28 collected. Heidi Hunt had the winning ticket but donated the $14 to the

League.

The meeting was adjourned.

Submitted by 2011 EPWL Secretary Vonda Frampton             

August meeting

On August 13th, President Janice Brooks and Secretary Vonda Frampton of the El Paso Writers' League will present a variation of the successful June "Musical Chair Author" theme with writing prompts and genre themes geared to stimulate members to write for the annual contest.  Entries are due at the September 10th meeting.  The El Paso Writers' League meets monthly on the second Saturday from January - November from 2PM - 4PM at the Dorris Van Doren Library on Redd Road.  Come join the fun and get those creative juices flowing with other local writers.

July meeting

July Meeting Topic — On July 9, 2011 William (Bill) Cummings, author of three stage plays, will be presenting a program on play writing, a new category in the El Paso Writers’ League annual contest. The League meets at the Dorris Van Doren library, 551 Redd Road, at 2:00 P.M. the second Saturday of each month. Visitors are welcome.

July meeting

On July 9, 2011 William (Bill) Cummings, author of three stage plays, will be presenting a program on play writing, a new category in the El Paso Writers’ League annual contest. The League meets at the Dorris Van Doren library, 551 Redd Road, at 2:00 P.M. the second Saturday of each month. Visitors are welcome.


President's Corner
We're in the homestretch for our annual contest.  Beginning in June with the Musical Chair Authors to show our members their creativity extends into all genre's, we will have William (Bill) Cummings give a program in July on play writing, a new category in our contest.  We will conclude in August with another workshop designed to excite and stretch your "muse".

I challenge every member to submit a contest entry in a category for which they have never before written.  My goal is to have one entry in every major category, so, for one day a week, I am setting aside writing on my current novel "Seasons" to write for the contest.  The feedback from professionals who judge our contest is priceless and helps me write better, even when I don't agree with every single point.  As the author, we are the final authority for what ends up in our piece, but, hey, the reader is the real boss!  Get out of the box we put ourselves in.  Join, re-join, and commit to El Paso Writers' League.  We're learning and having fun in the process.

June, 2011 meeting minutes

June 11, 2011 EPWL Regular Meeting Minutes

 

CALL TO ORDER:  President, Janice Brooks called the meeting to order.

INTRODUCTIONS (VISITORS/NEW MEMBERS) & BRAGS:  Pam Kogler & Watertiger introduced themselves.  Diane Morgan stated her book was in the 3^rd print & continues to sell well with book signings in Pennsylvania.

MINUTES:  5/14/11Minutes were approved as written.

TREASURER REPORT:  Treasurer’s report will be filed for audit .  No questions. Janice reminded members that dues need to be paid.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

1.  Junior Jotters Chair A. C. Sanders reported schedule is on Tuesdays & Thursdays beginning July 12 for 3 weeks, from 1-3PM.  Cost is $25 per week or $60 for 3 weeks.  He needs volunteers for table monitors.  Applications for students available at Library this week.
2. Contest Chair Mike Grunsten stated contest fees were revised – 5 entries for $20 and $3each additional entry.

OLD BUSINESS

1.  Reminder that all information is available on the blog athttp://EPWL.BLOGSPOT.COM
2. Entries for Logo Contest for EPWL are due 7/7/11 to VP Grunsten by e-mail at grunsten@elprr.com for vote by membership at 7/9/11 meeting.  Ties will be broken by board.

NEW BUSINESS: 

1.  Membership feedback about dues resulted in Board deciding a change should be made to Constitution Article VI.1.- delete word not in third sentence to read.  “Membership fees are pro-rated.  This will be voted on at 7/9/11 meeting.  The Standing Rules will then be modified to read dues of $40 per year or $4 per mo.
2. Southwest Writers from Albuquerque requested a partnership in publicizing one another’s activities which the board agreed to.  BLOG will list info as available.

PROGRAM:  Musical Chair Authors - Each member drew a paper slip upon entrance which gave table assignments for two exercises. President Brooks explained that each table had a posted genre for the participants to use in writing a story.  They had to use the words listed on the inside of the ‘table tent’ which showed the table number and genre.  Participants were given 10 minutes to write then read within their group/table.  The groups then chose 2 persons to read their stories to the entire meeting.  Attendees then changed tables and repeated the process.  The results were a creative and interesting assortment of stories using the same words in 8 different genres from persons who normally would not write Romance, Poetry, Op Ed, Historical, Southwest, Fantasy, Mystery or Journal/Memoir/Diary.  A good time was had by all!  

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1.  Deen Underwood broke a hip and is in rehab.
2. 50/50 drawing paid $12 with additional drawings for 3 paperback books..

Next month’s program will be Play Writing by W. C. Cummings on July 9, 2011.

 

 -- Janice Brooks for Secretary Vonda Frampton

February meeting

Our presenter at the February meeting was John Naber, who spoke about how writers can make use of the vast resources on the Internet.