July 2016

On July 5, Brenda, Belinda, Paula, Debbie and Claire met--and were joined by Tippy Adams--who is staying in Bond Head while working a summer student position at Green Valley Alliance Church, Bradford.

Tippy starts a Bachelor of Illustration and Fine Arts degree at Sheridan College, Oakville, in September. She identified with the discussion of creativity from a visual arts perspective. 

Our writing assignment was to select ten letters of the alphabet at random, and write an opening sentence beginning with the letters selected. It was a surprisingly effective prompt to creativity. Someone funny was very creative with the exercise--writing the sentence first and thereby coming up with her ten letters :) 
Brenda and Belinda shared reflections on Write Canada and the deep impact of the conference. 

Brenda had taught a two-part workshop called, "How to Right Funny," and had a comedic episode when she asked for a podium for her notes, throwing the hotel staff into a panic since these days, it seems, a "simple" lectern for a speaker is a hard thing to produce. Eventually, several hotel staff wrestled through the door a large item of furniture, from which there issued a spaghetti bowl of wires! Happily, although a classic case of overkill, the titanic lectern served its humble purpose.

Claire brought a devotional book for writers As the Ink Flows, which Debbie had also just picked up at the bookstore. She offered it to whoever would like it. Belinda has it on her Kindle and recommended it as an excellent book, authored by members of a writers' group, associated with The Word Guild, in Newmarket.

Belinda offered The Game Changers, by Dr. Jean Chamberlain-Froese M.D., and Patricia Paddey, edited by Wendy E. Nelles--stories of transformations taking place in the lives of east Africans, related to maternal health and survival. A book with such a powerful message doesn't belong on a bookshelf but should go from person to person, constantly inspiring and informing.

We briefly discussed the ICWF Local Writing Groups Information Package from Inscribe, to see if there were ideas that might benefit us and refresh our vibrancy as a group. Belinda has permission from Tracy Krauss, Writing Groups Coordinator for InScribe, to use the document however we may see fit and will send it electronically to our group members. We will go over parts of the document at our fall meetings. One part that struck us to immediately put into practice was this: "Prayer: No matter how well your group is organized or publicized, there is no substitute for the power of prayer in building your group. Prayer opens the door for God to work in your group. Pray about every aspect of your group. Go to God first and see what he will do!

Brenda encouraged the writers of Writers' Nest to consider the benefits of publishing their work orally on Hope Stream Radio.  

Vision Statement

HopeStreamRadio is a Christian Internet Radio Station that provides daily programming to English‑speaking Christians around the world to encourage them in their relationship with the Lord and inform them about the work God is doing around the world.

Mission Statement

HopeStreamRadio is a Christian Internet Radio Station that exists to glorify God by encouraging Christians to engage fully in their abundant spiritual life.

Ron Hughes is a professional member of The Word Guild  and a producer of Hope Stream Radio. Ron also taught an excellent continuing class with Ruth Waring, on Memoir, which Belinda took at Write Canada.

We discussed our blog, News of the Nest, which we have not utilized since 2011, the last post recording a farewell party for member Karen Lubbers, who was leaving for Uganda. Belinda will put a link to the blog in the sidebar of her blog, and will refresh, News of the Nest. In the sidebar of News of the Nest are links to members' blogs. If you have a blog that is not listed, please send the address to Belinda. We discussed the option of publishing our writing assignments on News of the Nest. Belinda will send invitations to members to be authors on the blog so that members can then post as they wish.

News Flash! 
Member Paula Hernando is being interviewed on CKPC Radio 1380 AM out of Brantford, on July 22nd, on a program called, Mini and Friends (10.00 P.M. to midnight.) We can listen in on-line. Set a reminder on your phone--or tie a piece of string to your toe--whatever works--then grab a bowl of popcorn and join in! :)

Brenda Wood spoke of the benefits of telling our stories at Christian Women's Club, (see Stonecroft.) 

Debbie Antonio shared a FB page recommendation: Proverbs 31 Ministries, and a conference called, She Speaks. Proverbs 31 also has a training ministry called: Compel, which aims to:

• Increase your confidence by providing relevant information that's applicable to today's ministry areas
• Equip you to write, speak and lead with excellence by providing practical information from experts in your field
• Establish a firm foundation for your future ministry with solid practices based on the truth of God's Word

In closing for this summer, we had a productive meeting. Tippy told me afterwards that when she grows older she wants to be like Brenda Wood! :) She was also disappointed to hear that there was no August meeting to join us for. I think that's a great compliment. See you in September!