2005 Winter - Wisconsin Writers Association

Page 7Unpolished Gems Writer’s Group: Susan Pearl Hansel, Reporter susanpearlgem13@aol.comW 2590 Block Road, Appleton, WI 54915 920-788-3219The Gems judged the writingcontests for the Aestival Festival atthe Menasha Public Library on9/10/05, selecting winners in poetry,fiction, and non-fiction divisions.The group accepted a graciousinvitation to perform monthly poetryreadings on the third Monday of themonth from January through May2006 at Barnes and Noble in Appleton.The group completed a memoirclass in October at the AppletonPublic Library. Jan Elias and AmyDeBroux facilitated the event withthe assistance of fellow members.Susan Pearl Hansel had two poems,“Summer Garden” and“Summer Dream,” published in theFall issue of Irish Stew. Susan alsohad two poems and her nostalgicessay, “The Sixth Pew,” publishedin the Amuzing Artists.Betty Smedlund was selected asone of the Community Columnistsfor the Appleton Post Crescent.Betty will have an opportunity towrite approximately five columnsduring the calendar year 2006 oncompelling topics.Amy DeBroux will have herpoem, “Winter Sun” published inthe Wisconsin Poets Calendar 2006.#Poco Penners: Audrey Stensvold, Reporter, 24 120th St., Deer Park, WI 54007Lonski@amerytel.netferent for our group for this meeting.Everyone will do a short writingin which "Christmas" must bethe first word.We do not exchange Christmasgifts among ourselves but for severalyears now have brought somethingto donate to the CommunityReferral Agency (CRA). They doappreciate any help they can get,especially now that governmentfunds have been reduced. Gifts ofmoney are welcome also.[Editor’s Note: I have been dealingwith the Poco Penners for severalyears and always thought it was anabbreviation for Polk County, whereWe have one more new member,Harriet Thomson. We are so gratefulfor each new member and newideas. Our last meeting was November11th. Since the room we use forour meetings is in the governmentbuilding for Polk County in BalsamLake and it was closed for Veterans’Day, Brenda Mayer invited us toher home. It was a wonderfulchange to be in such a warm, comfortablesetting. Our members writeon a variety of subjects, both proseand poetry.Our next meeting will be ourChristmas Party and we also electthe new officers for the next year.We are going to try something diftheymeet and most members live.After seeing that in an earlier newsletter,Carolyn Lumsden wrote tome to explain that the correct nameis “Poco,” derived from the Spanishfor “little, somewhat, to a slight degree,gradually, or little by little.”The name was chosen to reflect theirwriters’ efforts to improve gradually,or little by little. The club beganin 1973 as the Purple Thumbs,changed in 1976 to The Polk CountyWriters, then finally adopted theircurrent name in 1983. It is one ofWisconsin’s writing clubs’ most interestingand innovative names.] #A Thank You Note from the Ambassador of GoodwillI want to thank Kathleen, the Board, and WRWA members for voting me as an Honorary Lifetime Member. I feelit is a great honor to be selected.I have been in WRWA for over 40 years and have loved every minute of it. Wisconsin Regional Writers have beenlike a family to me. I have met so many friends, which I am proud to have. If at any time I can be of help to anyone,please call on me and I will try to help you.Thanks again for bestowing this honor on me.Ralph Bud MasonLimber up your pens, fire up your computers, connect with your muse. Start preparing your entries for the FlorenceLindemann Humor Contest and the Al P. Nelson Feature Article Contest which open in January 2006.