D5 Members: Here's your chance to have input into the programming for our new year.

Dan Close, Vice President and Program Committee Chair, invites all members to attend  Program Planning Meeting prior to the January Monthly Meeting. 

Just show up for the meeting an hour early. The planning meeting will take place 12:30-1:30 pm on Saturday, January 11th, 2020.

Dan will be bringing a typed, ranked list of ideas to discuss, and will take more ideas from the floor. He would like to at least settle on the February and March presenters at that meeting. The program committee will meet again later in the year as needed. 

Minutes, December 2019 Meeting of District 5 of the Kansas Authors Club:
The meeting was called to order at 1:36 by president Diane Wahto. Following introductions, secretary Amy Ackerman read the minutes of the November meeting. President Wahto announced a reading at Watermark books on January 5 at 2:00 PM. Treasurer Ray Racobs reported that the treasury now stands at $8129.15. Elections were held for next year’s officers. The slate of officers is as follows:

• President: Connie White
  
• Vice President: Dan Close
  
• Secretary: Amy Ackerman
  
• Treasurer: Ray Racobs
  
• Membership: Conrad Jestmore
  
• Publicity/Blog: Roy Beckemeyer
  

The program was a read around. The meeting was adjourned at 3:00.
Respectfully submitted by secretary Amy Ackerman
_________________________________________

​Posted 29 December 2019 by Roy Beckemeyer.

Kansas Authors Club members April Pameticky, Robert L. Dean, Jr., and Roy Beckemeyer will be featured readers at the Watermark Books & Cafe Local Poets Event on Sunday, January 12th, 2020, from 2:00 - 3:00 PM. They will read and be available for book signings. Link HERE for the Watermark event page where you can pre-order books (they will also be available on the shelves).

Posted 12-29-2019 by Roy Beckemeyer.

Please plan to support KAC D5 members Diane Wahto and Michael Poage when they are joined by Matt Cooper at the Watermark Books & Cafe Local Poet's Event, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM, Sunday, January 5, 2020. 
Link HERE to the event page, where you may pre-order their books (also available at on Watermark's shelves). 

Posted 12-29-2019 by Roy Beckemeyer.

Our December meeting is this Saturday, Dec. 14th, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm, at Larksfield Place. 
Bring along a short piece of your own writing to read aloud, and bring along a favorite holiday treat to share. 
A slate of officers will be presented and nominations may be made from the floor as well. This is your chance to participate in running the District and bringing in your ideas and creativity to enrich us all.

• Kansas Authors CLub District 5 Monthly Meeting is open to the public.
• When: Saturday, December 14th, 2019 at 1:30-3:30 p.m.
• Where: Larksfield Place, 7373 E. 29th St. N., Wichita KS (just west of Rock Rd. on the south side of 29th Street). Park in the Visitors lot and enter the Welcome Entrance walking left through the main dining room to the Lakeview Dining Room.

Nine KAC D5 members will join invited poets, the jazz quintet Billy's Bounce, and musicians Bill Glenn and Randy Zellers at the Wichita Public Library for an afternoon of poetry and improvised music. 

Two poet laureates of Kansas, Kevin Rabas and Huascar Medina will participate, as well as distinguished invited poets Annette Hope Billings, Paul Bowers, Don Stinson, Joey Brown, Skyler Lovelace, and Raylyn Clacher.

D5 poets include April Pameticky, Gretchen Eick, Pat Beckemeyer, Diane Wahto, Judy Keller Hatteberg, Michael Poage, Roy Stucky, Roy Beckemeyer, and MC Robert L. Dean Jr.

Bill Harshbarger plays reeds and leads Billy's Bounce, which includes Mark Mazur on keyboards, Randy Zellers on guitar, Bill Glenn on drums, and Jim Keefer on bass.

​Please come by and show your support for an exciting artistic event sponsored by KAC D5, The Wichita Public Library, Wichita Arts Council, Wichita Jazz Festival, Watermark Books and Cafe, River City Poetry, and other supporters of the arts.

​Saturday, November 23rd, 2019, from 12:00-4:00 pm.

Detailed downloadable program file at link below.

​See you there!

In 2017, Connie White, author, and Martha Wherry, artist, collaborated on the children's book, Camo: the polka-dot pup. In their work together they both learned about how to work with another artist to produce a creation of words and images. In their presentation at the November meeting of District 5, they will share what they learned.

​KAC District 5 member Connie Rae White (Author name: Connie Rae) worked her initial career life in medicine, fIrst as a medical technologist. Later, after her son was disabled with traumatic brain injury, she returned to university to become a registered Physician Assistant and worked in rural family medicine for eighteen years. On her retirement, she joined KAC to sharpen her writing skills.  To date, she has published three children's books. Her most recent book "It's All Show Business" is the memoir of a gentleman that Connie worked for as an in-home caregiver.

KAC District 5 member Martha Wherry's art  includes paintings, drawings, assemblages, jewelry, fiber and collage. Her work includes collaborative work with D5 poet Bob Dean that has appeared in The Ekphrastic Review.

Wendy Devilbiss, Poetry Contest Manager, presenting Dave Cook with an Honorable Mention in the New Poet Category.

Mike Graves, Prose Contest Manager, presenting Perry Shepard with an Honorable Mention for Playwriting.

Theme Contest – Hook ’Em and Book ’Em – 12 entries. Judge: Janet Anderson-Story.
First Place, District 7 - By Hook or By Book by Linda Ahrens Brower (Right)
Second Place, District 2 - Douglas County Hooks ’Em And I Book ’Em by Brian Daldorph (Second from right)
Third Place, District 5 - Tabula Rasa by Roy Stucky (Left)
Honorable Mention, District 1 - The Ingenious Gentleman by Julie A. Sellers (Second from left)

Prose - Memoir or Inspirational– 24 entries. Judge: Kathy Bode.
First Place, District 4 - A Common Bond by Nancy Julien-Kopp (Right)
Second Place, District 1 - Mermaid’s Tears by Julie A. Sellers (Middle)
Third Place, District 2 - CHARRY’S SMILE by Carolyn A. Hall (Not present)
Honorable Mention, District 2 - Molly by Brian Daldorph (Left)
Honorable Mention, District 1 - Finding My Father by Donna Lynn Lash Wolff (Not present)

​Prose - First Chapter of a Book –36 entries. Category Sponsored by Mike and Monica Graves, District 2. Judge: Roy Briggeman.
First Place, District 1 - Lost to History by Aimee L. Gross (Not present)
Second Place, District 1 - The Rose Garden, Chapter One by Janet Jenkins-Stotts (Right)
Third Place, District 5 - Sonata of Elsie Lenore by Ann Christine Fell (Middle)
Honorable Mention, District 5 - Citizen Zero by Roy Stucky (Left)
Honorable Mention, District 1 - The Alchemist’s Lawn Boy by Aimee L. Gross (Not present)

​Prose - Stories Written for Teenagers – 11 entries. Category Sponsored by Ray “Grizzly” Racobs, District 5 Treasurer. Judge: Cara Codney.
First Place, District 5 - Jack by Roy Stucky (Right)
Second Place, District 5 - Letter You Cannot Read by Roy Stucky
Third Place, District 5 - A Practical Man by Roy Stucky
Honorable Mention, District 2 - Two Different Worlds (Although only 500 Miles Apart) by Joann Williams (Left)
Honorable Mention, District 5 - Rosetta by Roy Stucky

​Prose - Short Story (fiction) – 22 entries. Category Sponsored by Ellen Plumb’s City Bookstore, Emporia, KS. Judge: Richard Keller.
First Place, District 1 - And the Rain by Stacy Thowe (Right)
Second Place, District 5 - Rose by Neel Holler (Not present)
Third Place, District 5 - Mrs. Stetson’s Sunday by Gretchen Cassel Eick (Second from Right)
Honorable Mention, District 5 - Recess by Gretchen Cassel Eick
Honorable Mention, District 2 - Junkyard Kids by Cheryl Unruh (Middle)
Honorable Mention, District 1 - The Leaves of Eden by Julie A. Sellers (Second from Left)
Honorable Mention, District 2 - it’s Like This by Perry L. Shepard (Left)

​Humor – 17 entries. Judge: Marcia Lawrence.
First Place, District 2 - A Tale of Two Sisters…And a Dog by Jerilynn Henrikson (Not Present)
Second Place, District 5 - Hidden Treasures? By Ann Christine Fell (right)
Third Place, District 2 - The summer I worked for the Mafia by Brian Daldorph (Middle)
Honorable Mention, District 5 - My Super-Productive Absolutely-Perfect Day by Sandra Lou Taylor (Left)
Honorable Mention, District 2 - BAKING WITH THE lord by Carolyn A. Hall (Not present)

Prose - Flash Fiction – 27 entries. Judge: Amy Sage Webb.
First Place, District 2 - Broken Axis by Cheryl Unruh (Right)
Second Place, District 1 - The Unexpected Casualty by Julie A. Sellers (2nd from Right)
Third Place, District 2 - Kobach in the Parade by Kevin Rabas (2nd from Left)
Honorable Mention, District 2 - Blue by Cheryl Unruh
Honorable Mention, District 1 - TRUTH SERUM EGGNOG by Janet Jenkins-Stotts (Left)

​Prose - Playwriting –11 entries. Category Sponsored by Roy Beckemeyer, KAC State Past President and District 5 Public. Relations Chair – Judge, Amy Sage Webb.
First Place, District 4 - Image is Everything by Kristine A. Polansky (Left)
Second Place, District 5 - Painter by Roy Stucky (Right)
Third Place, District 5 - Cloud by Roy Stucky
Honorable Mention, District 1 - The Garage Sale by Stacy Thowe (2nd from Right)
Honorable Mention, District 2 - Man on a Stick by Perry L. Shepard (2nd from Left)

​Poetry Category:  Classic Forms -- 39 entries. Judged by: Dr. Mark Watney.
1st Place Fifty-Eighth Anniversary--Roy Beckemeyer, D5, Wichita (Right)
2nd Place Used Book Inscribed to "Mom--E-E" --Kristine Polansky, D4, Manhattan (Middle)
3rd Place Complete--Kristine Polansky, D4, Manhattan
Honorable Mention: Cartography--Roy Beckemeyer, D5, Wichita
Honorable Mention: Hang Tight--Patricia Beckemeyer, D5, Wichita (Left)

Poetry Category: Theme Contest "Hook'em and Book'em" -- 23 entries. Judged by: Al Ortolani.
1st Place Dream Fishing--Kelly W. Johnston, D5, Wichita (Right)
2nd Place Still Hungry--Arlice W. Davenport, D5, Wichita (2nd from Right)
3rd Place Circles--Kelly W. Johnston, D5, Wichita
Honorable Mention: Hooked by Books--Hazel Hart, D2, Emporia (Left)
Honorable Mention: Catch and Release--Dixie Brown, D5, Bel Aire (2nd from Left)
Honorable Mention: All Things Are in Process--Arlice W. Davenport, D5, Wichita

​Poetry Category: Performance Poetry--10 entries. Judged by: Matt Spezia.
1st Place Pianos-- Curtis Becker, D2, Emporia (Left)
2nd Place Watchers in the Crowd-- Roy Stucky, D5, Pretty Prairie (Middle)
3rd Place Growing Up-- Taylor Stucky, D5, Pretty Prairie (Right)
Honorable Mention: The Reverie-- Taylor Stucky, D5, Pretty Prairie

Poetry Category: Narrative Verse -- 54 entries. Judged by: H.C. Palmer.
1st Place After the Fire--Linda Ahrens Brower, D7, Ashland (Right)
2nd Place Kiowa County Blues--Rock Neelly, D6, South Lebanon (Not present)
3rd Place The pots -- Roy Beckemeyer, D5, Wichita (2nd from Right)
Honorable Mention: I Don't Think We . . . --Kristine A. Polansky, D4, Manhattan (2nd from Left)
Honorable Mention: Cezanne's Studio--Arlice W. Davenport, D5, Wichita (Left)
Honorable Mention: Dear Bookshelf--Roy Beckemeyer, D5, Wichita

​Poetry Category: Whimsy -- 41 entries. Judged by: Marie Asner.
1st Place The Cat Knows--Roy Beckemeyer, D5,Wichita (Right)
2nd Place Enough Chocolate-- Kristine A. Polansky, D4, Manhattan (Left)
3rd Place Flock of Starlings--Roy Beckemeyer, D5, Wichita
Honorable Mention: Laundromat--Roy Beckemeyer, D5, Wichita
Honorable Mention: Your Trusted Time Machine --Dan Close, D5, Wichita (Middle)

Poetry Category: New Poets -- 29 entries. Judged by: Melissa Fite Johnson.
1st Place Doctor's Visit -- Emily Hamm, NM, New Strawn (Not present)
2nd Place Old Song--Julie A. Sellers, D1, Atchison (Right)
3rd Place Dorothy--Emily Hamm, NM, New Strawn 
Honorable Mention: Before We Part-- Christine Marquardt, D1, Topeka (Not present)
Honorable Mention: To filigree with sky--David Cook, D5, Wichita (Left)
 

​Poetry Category: Free Verse -- 81 entries. Judged by: Jennifer Halling.
1st Place Tenacity--Brenda L. White, NM, Emporia (Not Present)
2nd Place Almost an Astronaut--Cheryl Unruh, D2, Emporia (Right)
3rd Place Wheat--Roy Beckemeyer, D5, Wichita (Middle)
Honorable Mention: Treasure--Marilyn B. Page, D1, Leavenworth (Not present)
Honorable Mention: Metamorphosis--Kristine A. Polansky, D4, Manhattan (Left)
Honorable Mention: To Kate Spade-- Brenda L. White, NM, Emporia (Not present)

​Poetry Category: Japanese Forms (Haiku, Renga, Tanka) -- 34 entries. Judged by: Al Ortolani.
1st Place Garden of eggplants--Barbara Brady, D1, Topeka (Not present)
2nd Place Wind-- Diane Wahto, D5, Wichita (Right)
3rd Place Stone stubborn poets-- Kristine A. Polansky, D4, Manhattan (Middle)
Honorable Mention: Black stripes on pant leg----Kristine A. Polansky, D4, Manhattan
Honorable Mention: Swallows-- Roy Stucky, D5, Pretty Prairie (Left)
Honorable Mention: Pillow-- Roy Stucky, D5, Pretty Prairie

​Writers of the Year
Roy Stucky – Prose
Roy Beckemeyer - Poetry

​Special Category – Author Websites – 6 entries. Category sponsored by Meadowlark Books, Emporia, KS. Judge: Dave Leiker.
First Place, D5 – Roy Beckemeyer for royjbeckemeyer.com (Right)
Second Place, D6 – Jim Potter for Sandhenge Publications (Left)
Third Place, D5 – April Pameticky for River City Poetry (Not present)

April Pameticky (D5), presenter.

Blogger Panel - from left: Joy Lenz, Sara Weinert, Nancy Julien Kopp (D4), and Jim Potter (D6).

Presenter H. B. Berlow.

From left: H. B. Berlow, April Pameticky, and Hazel Hart in a moment of relaxed networking.

Keynote Speaker Paul Bishop also presented workshops to keep us all enthralled.

Anthony Sanchez-Day and Brian Daldorph presented "Writing as a Rehabilitation Tool."