Governor Laura Kelly of Kansas closed schools, government offices, and local businesses (including the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library) in mid-March due to the international spread of a Coronavirus-19 pandemic. KAC's District 1 board chose to follow the governor's restrictions. They canceled both March and Apri'sl District 1 meetings. Plans were made to meeting in May via Zoom online, with the help of KAD President Duane Johnson and District 1 President Janet Stotts.
Eleven members and guests were present: Janet Stotts, Duane Johnson, Glory Hemmingway, Reaona Hemmingway, Carol Yoho, Anne Spry, Max Dunavan, Barbara Brady, Ruth Maus, plus two new members, Sue Wike and Julie Nischan. Welcome Julie and Sue!
Guests were: Ronda Miller, Curtis Baker, and Dennis Etzel Jr. The meeting was called to order at 11:50 a.m. and President Stotts welcomed the assemblage. Recording Secretary Minutes: The January minutes are posted on our online web page. A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes as posted. The Secretary’s minutes were unanimously approved. Treasurer’s Report: The treasurer presented her report. A motion was made and seconded to approve the treasurer’s report. The report was unanimously approved. New Business:
Old Business: Jan directed a discussion about the 2021 annual conference and provided updates. There will need to be committees including site committee, food committee, program/agenda/theme, marketing, and funding partnerships. Max will chair the hotel site committee with Jan Stotts and Ronda Miller. We will be asking Bill Karnowski to help, as well as any other members who might be interested. We will be targeting a Monday soon for the first meeting. Reaona has several of the older contracts. Other of the committees will need chairs by the next meeting. Please consider and volunteer. Program: Today we were pleased to have presenters Ronda Miller, author, and Curtis Baker, author and publicist, speaking and sharing information on the process of bringing a book together. Ronda Miller’s presentation included information and examples to view of how a book goes through drafts and editing processes up until the very last second. The speakers handled the topics of appealing to multiple audiences, art work and procurement of art work, and the author conceptualization of what the book will be. Mr. Baker described how he booked his annual publishing schedule and the costs associated with illustrations and photography. He said that illustrators also come with good ideas, so welcome their input. Other issues to consider are: illustrator options and costs, margins in books, and types of covers, paper and cover-images choices. He explained locating the cost on the bar code, the importance of listening to other author experiences, online sales and appealing to multiple audiences. The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 P.M. --Submitted by Max Dunavan, Recording Secretary 11:30 Pre-meeting lunches
Attendees: Reaona Hemmingway, Ruth Mahs, Max Dunavan, Duane Herrmman, Anne Spry, Margaret McGillivary, Carol Yoho, and Jan Stotts. It was noted that Fred Appelhanz sustained a wound in an accident and may be unavailable today, and Duane Johnson is attending KAC State Board Activities. New KAC District 1 member Anne Spry was introduced. Ann has newspaper background and experience. Anne Spry gifted today’s participants with her book, Barefoot on the Path. Thank you, Anne. 12:10 P.M. The meeting convened and participants were welcomed by President Stotts. Note: Today is a special planning day to discuss plans for 2020 District One initiatives, programs, plans AND to start the planning for the Kansas Author’s Club 2021 conference hosted by District One. Secretaries Report: was approved unanimously as submitted and recorded on the District One Web page. Treasurer’s Report: We started and ended the month with an equal balance. There is a small amount of money in petty funds that needs to be deposited. The Treasurers report was approved unanimously. New Business: The 2020 KACT Convention will be held in Colby, Kansas this year. It is either the first or second weekend of October. They may be offering a Cowboy Poet as part of their events. Carol Yoho’s theme graphic was accepted by the Colby Committee for use on their conference brochure. Jan Stotts had three topics for our consideration:
It was proposed we explored moving up the meeting time to 12:00 noon and attempt to start speaker programs by 12:30 p.m. After discussion, the motion was approved. Carol Yoho will update our web page. There was a round table general discussion about what people found helpful and wanted to see included on the 2020 program agenda, including the topics, speaker names, and “read around” activities. There were suggestions for February, March, September and October. Jan Stotts will be checking out these and other possibilities. Various educational facilities and other local/district groups were mentioned in as both outreach initiatives and for program ideas. There was discussion regarding the use of, accessing, and improvements regarding KAC #1’s public and private Facebook pages. Members need only contact Carol Yoho to gain access to the private page. Jan Stotts envisions much greater use of these two pages. She hopes we will use the pages to update others on submissions and awards for contests, publications, and to keep one another informed of club activities. Vice President Ruth Maus, has agreed to initiate draft letters to various organizations to invite participation to attend and possibly become members and opportunities for speakers. This included a brief discussion of speaker fee schedules. The group moved onto the advance planning portion of the program for convention 2021. Max Dunavan provided a draft for a 2021 conference, with general agenda for a two day conference. The example showed a host site of the Prairie Band Potawatomie Casing hotel and conference center, and gave suggestions of other potential sites in Topeka, Atchison, and Leavenworth. Reaona Hemmingway also provided copies of the several previous years agendas. There followed a discussion of the agenda and its component pieces, the cities, the hotel conference center, other conference site possibilities, book room, Memorial service, youth contest, contest entry winners, the number of meals and so forth. Max Dunavan has agreed to do some research on hotels recommended by club members. A motion was made and agreed to approving a two day agenda to cut individual attendee costs, provide travel time, and conduct the activities of the 2021 KAC Annual Convention. We also voted on the convention city site and Topeka has been selected for that honor. There is a tentative Agenda. Other announcements for the good of the group: Max Dunavan invited anyone to attend a program authors might find interesting as a topic for writing at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, at 10:30 A.M., February 9th 2020, weather permitting. Meeting adjourned at 2:45 P.M. --Submitted by Max Dunavan, Recording Secretary Some members met earlier at 11:30 to enjoy Millineum Cafe entrees: everyone is welcome.
Convened: President Jan Stotts convened the meeting at 12:12 P.M. Present: Duane Johnson, Ruth Maus, Duane Herrman, Jan Stotts, M.M. Gullager, Carol Yoho, Fred Applehanz, Reaona Hemmingway, Aimee Gross, and Max Dunavan President Stotts provided additional decorations and treats. Business Meeting: The Recording Secretaries Report: Minutes are published on the Web-page: a motion to accept those was made, seconded and approved unanimously. The Treasurer’s Report was presented and a motion to accept was made, seconded and approved. New Business: President Stotts established the January meeting as a 2020 KAC Conference planning meeting. There was a discussion to establish conference topics which each member is to be considering and researching for the January meeting. Topics are:
Old Business: The people who were supposed to reimburse us for our monthly surveys have not come through with funds they promised, and it appears doubtful if they will. The business meeting was closed and KAC moved on to the program. Author’s works were read and members tried to guess the authors from those who submitted works. Of ten pieces, some members got as many as 5 correct. It was a fun way to end the year! Final adjournment was at 1:40 P.M. --Submitted by Max Dunavan, Recording Secretary Some attendees met earlier, at 11:30 AM, to enjoy Millennium Café entrees: Everyone is welcome.
Convened: President Jan Stotts convened the meeting at 12:15 P.M. We welcomed Lyndah Willin back to our group after a long absence. Mrs. Willin writes poetry, short stories and is working on another play. Business Meeting: The Secretary’s Report: Minutes by Max Dunavan had been published on the Web-page. A motion to accept those was made, seconded and approved. The Treasurer’s Report: Reaona Hemmingway presented, and a motion to accept was made, seconded and approved. It was discussed that we continue to have a non-active member as signatory on our checking account and that issue will need to be addressed following publication of these minutes, noting the newly-elected officers. New Business:
--Submitted by Max Dunavan, Recording Secretary Opening: 12:15 P.M., with a greeting from President Stotts. Again we had the opportunity to participate in the Poetry for Personal Power mental health project and evaluation. Jan went over the instructions. Secretary’s Report: The report, as available online, was moved, seconded and approved unanimously as posted. Treasurers Report: Treasurer Reaona Hemmingway read the report. There were several small expenditures. It was moved and seconded that the report be accepted. It was approved unanimously. Old Business: Our hopes to participate more fully in the Friday night NOTO Artwalk, have hit stumbling blocks, and we are unable to participate through the end of this year. We are uncertain if a book sellers table at the Round Table Bookstore will be available. However, there is an open mic every 4th Friday night at the Round Table sponsored by Sunflower Sutras. Several members will be sharing their poetry and identifying themselves with KAC. Updates: Duane Johnson of District One has been elected as the new statewide president of KAC and will begin his term in January 2020. New Business: We are sending out a large list of electronic copies of the minutes. It was noted that the membership and the emailing list are dissimilar. A discussion resulted in the following objectives:
Note:
Program: This month we held a Read Around and 7 authors participated in sharing original poetry and prose. Meeting adjourned at 1:37 P.M. --Submitted by Max Dunavan, Recording Secretary The meeting was called to order at 12:30 PM with a greeting from President Janet Stotts.
The Secretary’s Minutes of the last meeting are on line. There were no questions. A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes. A vote was held and the minutes were accepted. The Treasurer’s Report was presented by Reaona Hemingway. A motion was made to approve the report, this was seconded. A vote was made and the treasurer’s report accepted. New Business:
Old Business was a discussion of pros, cons, and experiences using the Round Table as a place to set up, display and sell books.
President Stotts asked for membership input relative to several questions she needs to respond to relative to State board questions.
September Program: Presentation by Matt Spezia from Poetry for Personal Power which connected with the community through mental health improvement. He shared the philosophy that the arts change people’s lives and how we as individuals or an organization might participate to earn the $150 participation grant. We were invited to fill out a form regarding how we felt before and after an event or be creative and draw a picture. Matt also performed two slams on perception and the beauty of the individual. Jan Stotts sought approval to complete the access application in hopes that we can qualify for one of the awards and received unanimous support from the membership. The meeting was adjourned at 1:33 P.M. --Submitted by Myron Dunavan, Recording Secretary President Janet Stotts opened the meeting at 2:20 PM in Marvin Auditorium of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, following an all-day Local Writers Workshop. Janet provided a brief description of Kansas Author’s Club for guests attending, and provided also our organization’s web site: https://kansasauthorsclub.weebly.com/
The Secretary’s report was distributed and a motion to accept the report was made and seconded. The minutes of the July meeting were approved. The Treasurer’s report was given by Reaona Hemmingway. A motion to accept the report was made seconded and the report was approved. Old and Continuing Business: Jan Stotts reported that there is a new bookshop, Round Table Bookstore, in NOTO and last month KAC members used the offer of free space there to sell and display their books. Three volumes were sold and we plan to use the site again as September’s book selling place for members. The caveat in using the space is that KAC must provide entertainment such as poetry and other readings. The annual Kansas Authors Club Convention is scheduled for October 4th-6th, 2019, in Wichita. There was a handout made available with program details and registration form. Jan encouraged attendance. Relative to activity of the State Board and their discussions about options for districts and the annual convention, Jan identified the current difficulties with scheduling the 2020 Annual Convention within the geographical boundaries of District 6 as they have declined to re-plan or hold the convention in Hays. Next in line would be the SW Kansas District Seven, and then the Topeka District One, would be in line. The state board is dealing with the issue and members will likely receive a survey regarding their thoughts and suggestions. On the table are divergent concepts of local convention control and moving the convention around the state, versus centralizing the planning of convention and selecting a centralist location for the statewide convention. There was discussion, but no group consensus. We will discuss this issue as old business at the September meeting. New Business: Ruth Maus is celebrating the release of her new book of poetry in September. It is titled Valentine. The District One program for September is “Poetry for Personal Power” with speaker Matt Spezia. We will also be considering Literary Grant possibilities, possibly to assist bookstores and other resources that support Kansas Author’s Club and its initiatives or something in literature along mental health topics. The next meeting will be at the Topeka Public Library in one of the upstairs meeting rooms with Millennium Cafe lunches brought in by those who wish to purchase them. The business meeting convenes at 12:15 P.M. with the Program following immediately. The August District One meeting adjourned at 3:07 P.M. --Submitted by Acting Secretary Myron Dunavan and by Janet Stotts District 1, Kansas Authors Club, met in the Menninger Room of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, on Sat., Jul. 20, 2019, beginning at 11:30 a.m. with 11 persons in attendance.
Following lunch, President Janet Jenkins-Stotts convened the business meeting at 12:15 pm. The June minutes posted online were approved. Treasurer Reaona Hemmingway gave the district’s financial report, and it was approved. There was no Old Business to discuss. New Business:
The meeting closed at 1:35 PM. --Submitted by Carol Yoho and Janet Jenkins-Stotts District 1, Kansas Authors Club, met in the Menninger Room of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, on Sat., Jun. 15, 2019, beginning at 11:30 a.m., with 12 persons in attendance.
Following lunch, President Janet Jenkins-Stotts convened the business meeting at 12:15 pm.
Janet then introduced the speaker, Jamie Lynn Heller, whose most recent book, Buried In The Suburbs, has been chosen as a Kansas Notable Book. Jamie gave us some good tips before beginning her presentation. She mentioned that the Johnson County Public Libraries sponsored a writing contest each month. For information, writers should go to https://www.jocolibrary.org/, then to "Events," then to "Writing Contest." She also said that the Johnson Co. Public Libraries sponsored a three-day writers’ conference on Nov. 14 at the Central Resource Library. Information on the conference should be at the web address given above, as details become available. Jamie began her presentation with a brief personal history and a look at her writing process. She then led attendees in two interesting writing prompts. Her presentation ended at 2 p.m. --Submitted by Myron Dunavan and Janet Jenkins-Stotts |