State Day: Indiana (2012)

By Ella Reff

The NLAPW state meeting was held June 8, 2012, at the E. B. and Bertha C. Ball Center in Muncie. Members and guests mingled as they enjoyed a continental breakfast.

Judith LaFourest, current Indianapolis branch president, reported on recent activities, including visits to the Booth Tarkington home, the Lilly home at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Scottish Rite Cathedral and the Vonnegut Library. NLAPW was honored in Washington, D. C. as one of several women’s organizations with a significant history by the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).

Barb Kehoe of Muncie promoted the Midwest Writers Workshop July 26-28, which Jama Kehoe Bigger oversees. She explained the day’s favor of a potpourri jar as one to put in our homes to have the fragrance remind us to let our creative spirits emanate from our own selves.

Laurie Lunsford, interactive art specialist, shared her experiences of working in the Parkview Nursing Home with Alzheimer’s and psychiatric patients. Using her own creativity in art and poetry, she has instilled purpose in the long days of the residents. Paintings created by the individuals are on display at the Maring-Hunt Branch of the Muncie Public Library during June and July. We then created limericks, funny endings to silly songs, and short poems to rhyme with our names.

After the luncheon, Cathy Day presented a lecture “Getting Your Name in the Paper: How Mrs. Cole Porter Made Her Husband Famous.” She is a creative writing professor at Ball State University.

Gwen Lattimer, a teacher from Richmond, led twelve brave volunteers in various folk dances, including a spinoff of the Virginia reel and a Jewish circle dance. While most of our meeting activities are of a sedentary nature, we were up on our feet, chuckling as we tried to remember the sequences of steps. Do we do-si-do after or before the bow? Barb Kehoe was right on track, even in her high heels.

The day was concluded with a photo session on the majestic stairs of the historic center. It was a good day of sharing talents, renewing friendships, and relaxing in a lovely environment.