Participants: Jadi Campbell, Cindy Halbert-Seger, Erica Applezweig, Jim Palik, Zehra

Cevik-Daisley, Andrea T. Ariman.

Minute Taker: Andrea T. Ariman

Meeting Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm

TOP 1: The present situation of Writers in Stuttgart

TOP 2: Critique – First Round

TOP 3: Financial Report

TOP 4: Critiques – Second Round

TOP 1: The present situation of Writers in Stuttgart

Jadi volunteers to chair today’s meeting as Valérie has announced to some group members two days ago via email that she has decided to stop leading the group and, moreover, is leaving the Writers in Stuttgart.

Jadi asks all those in attendance if they would like to volunteer as the next leader of the group and, since nobody is presently interested in taking on that much responsibility for the group, she suggests to just wait and see what happens with the group. Jadi further suggests that forming a steering committee, i.e., a group involving several of the Writers in Stuttgart, would allow for people interested in the group to continue to take on some responsibilities without anyone having to feel like being overwhelmed with their tasks.

Cindy announces that she would like to take a break from the Writers in Stuttgart, particularly so from her duty as treasurer.

Jim is not interested in leading the group. He is, however, willing to chair a meeting once in a while. Moreover, he feels strongly about continuing working on improving the website.

Andrea states that she has been a member of other writers’ groups that did not have a defined leader and does not see any problem in continuing the monthly meetings even though nobody is technically taking over the responsibility of leading the group. Her suggestion is to actually write down clear responsibilities for certain tasks that members will have to take responsibility for should the group decide to continue giving public readings, inviting established authors for writing workshops, etc. again in the future.

TOP 2: Critique – First Round

#1: Jim Palik: “The stories are gone”

A story about his father-in-law wanting to be picked up by his daughter and his son-in-law when he is 85 years old.

 TOP 3: Financial Report

Cindy is presenting the financial report to the attendees. She has heard that Commerzbank, where we have our bank account, is going to merge with Deutsche Bank within the next six months, so she thinks we should move the bank account to another bank soon.

Jadi suggests the group should think about what we would like to do with the money we have on that bank account.

Cindy thinks we should be careful not to be making financial losses again because of readings.

TOP 3: Critiques – Second Round

#2: Cindy Halbert-Seger: “Wild Goose Chase”

Cindy’s first 1-page-play about the conflicts between farmers and wild geese.

#3: Erica Applezweig: “Lexington Avenue Bus”

Erica’s first 1-page-play, in which people are riding a public bus in New York City.

#4: Erica Applezweig: “The First Session”

Erica’s second 1-page-play, in which a man, who has made his girlfriend pregnant, is at a therapist for his very first session.

#5: Jadi Campbell: “I kiss your hands”

A testimonial for V-Day (people who have worked with victims of violence have been asked to write about their experience) on a woman who has fled from Kosovo and whom the author, a professional massage therapist, has treated.

#6: Andrea T. Ariman: “Moving in”

Andrea’s second 1-page-play about an older man trying to talk a woman into moving in with him.

#7: Andrea “Everyone is a Universe”

Andrea’s first 1-page-play about an aging father’s relationship to his adult daughter and his thoughts about his own life as an old, lonely man.

#8: Jadi Campbell: “Bank On It”

A 1-page-play about a young woman trying to rob someone who doesn’t have any money.

#9: Zehra Cevik-Daisly: “Things Unseen”

A pantoom (Malaysian verse poetry form) on the difference between girls and boys in Muslim culture, manifested in male circumcision and preference of boys over girls in everyday life. Zehra also reads out an alternative form of the poem with the same content.