Branch News, Fall 2023
Tampa Hosts Outstanding Student Art Competition
By Barbara Routen, Tampa Branch
When the Tampa Branch hosted its inaugural Outstanding Student Art Competition for Tampa-area homeschooled high-schoolers this spring, it was the first time some of the young artists had participated in an art contest. The organizer, Kat Heckenbach, branch vice president and letters and art member, coached them how to write an artist statement and how to prepare their work for display at a monthlong May show at Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association in Brandon, a Tampa suburb.
Heckenbach loved reading the stories behind the kids’ pieces. “The teens had such unique inspirations,” she said.
“The In-Between,” an acrylic-onceramic tile mandala, won first place ($150). “This piece started as a group activity for my book club,” she said. “We were supposed to paint traditional Mexican ceramic tiles, but I wasn’t super happy with the way mine turned out. So I went home, scraped the paint off, and started again.”
Second-place ($75) winner, Kayla Mendoza, chose the subject of her acrylic painting, “You Were a Warrior,” when she discovered her favorite chicken had passed away. Reagan Sauls, third-place ($25) winner, got the idea for her “Frog in Cardigan” from a color-block sweater she owns. Aiden Calhoun’s “Fredator,” which depicts his labradoodle, Fred, in acrylic on wood, earned an honorable mention.
This was organizer Heckenbach’s first time coordinating a contest. “There was definitely a learning curve,” she said. “I was pretty stressed, knowing I was going to forget things and afraid the whole thing would fall through. But the teens were so excited, and several Pen Women — including judges Meletha Everett, branch president; and Gunni Nilsson Price, art member — really stepped up and helped out.”
When additional artwork was needed to fill the exhibit space, Heckenbach called on branch members, who brought their framed, ready-to-hang visual art and shadow boxes of music and published written works — enough to fill three walls. She was very grateful.
“But mostly, seeing the winners light up when they got their prizes made me so glad we followed through on the contest idea,” she said.
Modesto Selects Youth Poetry Contest Winners
By Lynn M. Hansen, Modesto Branch Letters Chair
This past May, the Modesto Branch, in collaboration with Modesto/Stanislaus Poetry Center (MoSt), announced the Aileen Jaffa Memorial Youth Poetry Contest winners and hosted a celebration reading at the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Turlock, California. This yearly contest is conducted in memory of Aileen Jaffa, poet, artist, sculptor, former agricultural reference librarian at UC Berkeley, and past president of the Piedmont/Oakland Branch of the National League of American Pen Women, Inc.
Entries were received from students enrolled in kindergarten through high school in Stanislaus County. Student winners read their poems to an audience of admiring parents, friends, and teachers. Cash awards for first-, second-, and third-prize certificates, as well as honorable mentions, were provided by MoSt Poetry Center, while two grand-prize cash awards were provided by the Modesto Branch.
The grand prize winner for grades 7-12 was Lauren Bowman, grade 12, for “Phosphenes” and the grand-prize winner for grades K-6 was Ellie Bowan, grade 6, for “Tempestuous Waters.” Branch Vice President Louise Kantro presented the grand-prize winners with certificates and cash prizes.
Pensacola Celebrates 80th Anniversary with Creativi-‘Tea’
By Lori Zavada and Heather Mitchell
On a sunny day last May, the Pensacola Branch celebrated its 80th anniversary with an event called Creativi-“Tea” at the Pensacola Country Club overlooking Pensacola Bay. Members brought their favorite teacups and wore their favorite hats to celebrate eight decades of projects involving fine art, writing, design, music, and photography.
Those who brought a special teacup shared stories with tablemates about their cups. In addition to a selection of teas, members enjoyed delectable sandwiches and desserts. Each was given an artistically painted “leaf ” and asked to write on it what inspires their creativity: a special place, time of day, journaling, etc. The leaves were then attached to a bare tree featured in a previous “branch” exhibit.
Member and keynote speaker Jessica Temple shared inspiring thoughts on creative thinking. Branch President Nancy Nesvik recounted the rich history of the branch. She recognized the service of the branch’s dedicated board and committee members with small gifts of thanks. National membership certificates were presented to five new members in a diversity of disciplines.
The printed program featured the branch’s new logo, selected in a competition won by Nesvik, a wonderful symbol to celebrate a president who invests a lot of time and energy into the branch and is passionate about the arts.
The event was refreshing and fun, and reflected the collaboration and support that are common characteristics of the Pen Women sisterhood. New bonds were formed and old friendships renewed. The “tea” was skillfully organized by Vice President Anne Baehr to make each Pen sister feel included and special, leaving with tote bags as a token of appreciation for her contributions to the arts.
Chesapeake Bay Hosts Art Reception
The Chesapeake Bay Branch hosted a reception on June 2 for “Artists and Writers Together” in Mathews, Virginia. The entire gallery of the Bay School Community Arts Center was used for this extensive art collaborative. On display were 49 works of art and 49 framed pieces of prose and poetry, all created by members in the past year. At the well-attended evening reception, 15 of the 24 branch members were present to discuss their work and promote the NLAPW.
On display that evening and throughout June was Kathleen Noffsinger’s “Life of Trees, Wings, and Roots.” This work by a respected Virginia artist and art instructor was a centerpiece of the earlier Chesapeake Bay Branch art show in 2016, “Painting, Poetry & Prose: A Creative Encounter.” Seven years later, the members wanted to do a larger show. One member then and now is the former Virginia Poet Laureate Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda. In the recent show, her poem, “A Wetlands Feast on the Middle Peninsula,” was the writing seed for Noffsinger’s oil-and-cold-wax work, “Into the Marsh, Egret.” A new member, Lois Biddison, created the logo and flyer, and artist Rita Cutler handled hanging the show, as she had in 2016. A truly collaborative effort of an active branch of the NLAPW in tidewater Virginia.
Denver Shares Creativity with the Community
By Linda Reiss Volin
A delightful June afternoon was enjoyed by members and community guests at a Denver Branch tea party. The event included authors’ readings, book signings, and pleasant conversations.
Event participants learned about the advantages of joining Denver Pen Women, including access to opportunities for furthering creative skills via the national organization in Washington, D.C. This community activity was a wonderful way to celebrate women of the arts.
Happy faces of presenters in the photograph, from left to right, are function organizer Andrea Antico, Rachel Seekamp, Karen Gonzales, Linda Reiss Volin, Diane Lane Chambers, and Carol Ehrlich.
Branch News, Summer 2023
Modesto Hosts ‘Women Moving Forward’
By Henrietta Sparkman, Art Programs Coordinator; and Sarah J. Stevenson, Letters Member; Modesto Branch
Photography by Nancy Haskett
The Modesto Branch’s “Women Moving Forward” art and ekphrastic exhibit, on display from Feb. 21 through March 16 at the Modesto Junior College Art Gallery, was a very successful art show and reception. The artists and poets exhibited were pleased with the salon-style hanging of works covering the walls with the poetry mounted next to the work.
The works displayed by artists and poets were mixed around the gallery, grouped by different themes. Modesto Junior College Art Curator Chelsea Gilmore was able to hang the work we brought in with style and interest. The show came together in less than a month, which is remarkable since most galleries plan many months and years in advance.
The reception was very popular, with a standing-roomonly crowd of enthusiasts in attendance. Kicking off the reception, we were honored to have Lee Herrick, California state poet laureate, talk about growing up in Modesto and the influences on his poetry. He also read one of his poems. Featured elsewhere in the gallery was artwork by his mother, Pen Women member Georgia Herrick.
Following the introductory reading, it was energizing to hear our arts and letters members, past and present, talk about and read their works: Chella Gonsalves, Pat Egenberger, Henrietta Sparkman, Louise Kantro, Sally Ruddy, Lynn Hansen, Linda Sawyer, and Nancy Haskett.
Sal Salerno, Modesto poet laureate, concluded this segment of the reception with an informative and engaging talk about the history and background of poet laureates, including Modesto’s own previous laureates.
A large number of community members attended, including many Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center members, who canceled their board meeting in order to attend. Modesto Junior College students were also curious and interested in our work.
The team efforts of our members made this a very prominent and memorable showing of the professionalism of our Modesto Branch. As we gathered for a group photo, many commented on our “reunion” after the pandemic and how nice it was to be together again.
Watch a video of the reception by Richard Anderson at bit.ly/ModestoPW (redirects to YouTube).
Vero Beach Members Publish New Books
author, Rosemary Dronchi
Two members of the Vero Beach Branch, Florida, introduced their newly published books at two book signing events in March: Rosemary Dronchi and Janet Sierzant.
Rosemary Dronchi’s book, “Tis the Seasonings,” is an Italian cookbook, based on the recipes used in Ciro’s, her parents’ well-known Albany, New York, restaurant that brought together many of the political leaders and faithful patrons for many years. Those attending the signing were greeted with samples of the recipes featured in the book, along with Dronchi’s personal stories about her family. The signing took place at the Vero Beach Book Center on March 14. Visit her at rosemarydronchi.com.
On March 18, Janet Sierzant launched her book, “Asunder,” at Vero Beach’s Heritage Center, where attendees enjoyed a wonderful evening with live Italian music, Italian food, and wine. Sierzant’s love story is set against the turmoil and horror of World War II, where a young Italian couple from diverse backgrounds fall in love, marry, and must face difficulties under Mussolini. You can contact her at jsierzant@gmail. com.
D.C. Welcomes New Branch President
The District of Columbia Branch recently elected Summer Roshni Bhullar as its new president. She is an accomplished artist whose work involves printmaking, painting, and photography.
Bhullar is a member of Washington Printmakers Gallery and works at the Phillips Collection. The D.C. Branch members are thrilled to be working with their new president, who is already developing a solid agenda of events that will take place at Pen Arts and is planning actions to serve the community.
Santa Clara County Celebrates 100 Years, Student Awards
By Luanna K. Leisure, Santa Clara County Branch President
Celebration, that is truly what it was on May 6, when the Santa Clara County Branch (SCCB), California, met in person for the first time since the pandemic. Because of COVID-19, our celebration was delayed one year, which created an atmosphere of even more excitement of finally being together.
When the SCCB was chartered in March 1922 with 14 members, only 12 branches had been chartered previously. Through all the years, the enthusiasm has stayed strong with active members supportive of each other. Sixty current members include all fields of art, music, and letters.
At this centennial celebration, three 20-year members were honored: Jeanne Carbone, art and letters; Maralyn Miller, art; and Darlene Weingand, art and letters. Also celebrated were our three new members: Tonya McQuade, letters; Gerri Forté, letters; and Patricia Beyer, art
Delicious food was catered by Athena’s Greek Restaurant. Norma Slavit won the door prize of an orchid and Donna Sordyl won a huge balloon bouquet. Lots of joy abounded in this centennial celebration.
In Other Branch News
Three young women won Santa Clara County Branch’s annual competition for $1,000 each in letters, art, and music. All the applicants who applied for our 2023 Excellence in the Arts Awards were outstanding and it is always difficult to pick just one winner in each category.
The three young women who won were a cut above exceptional. They are graduating from high school and attending universities in the fall. Our awards are granted on their creative and artistic abilities.
Sarasota Honors Local High School Seniors
By Wilma Davidson, Sarasota Branch President
Who would have thought it possible that the Sarasota Branch of the National League of American Pen Women, Inc. would keep alive a program initiated 36 years ago by the late Betty Altman, a Pen Woman artist and officer? Her vision was to present awards to high school seniors talented in writing, visual arts, and music. Altman herself sponsored the early years of the program, and when she died, her family has continued to support the awards given in the visual arts category.
Through the years, the program, now called Launching Leaders in the Arts, has grown to include 17 local high schools in two large counties (Sarasota and Manatee). The awards are based on competitions and encourage students to pursue further education in the arts. Each year at the Awards Luncheon, the winning students share their winning writing, visual arts, and music compositions, as well as the stories behind their art and their plans after high school. Their proud parents, relatives, and teachers get to share, recognize, and celebrate these talented students at our luncheon. And we get to see the fruits of our biggest community outreach, inspiring us to continue to do what we do next year.
We also offer these budding artists student memberships in our organization, in hopes that doing so will not only build their confidence, but also show them the value of volunteerism. Finding a creative, giving community is not always easy for artists, and we offer one to them. And our annual high school arts competition helps nourish budding artists and keep art alive.
We are always awed by the talent of these students — and grateful to their teachers for encouraging them to participate in the competition. It’s hard work for our committees, starting early in the fall contacting schools. Yet, we do it each year because we are struck by the talent out there — and need to keep encouraging and supporting it.
Central New York Members Receive Writing Honors
Central New York Pen Women Rachel Dickinson, Nancy Dafoe, and Lisa Harris recently received Indie Book top honors for their writing in 2023.
Dickinson’s nonfiction book, “The Loneliest Places and the Long Journey Home” (Three Hills, Imprint of Cornell University Press), earned the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) award as the 2023 winner for memoir/ autobiography in its annual writing awards competition. The ASJA judges wrote: “Rachel Dickinson’s book about grief is beautiful, haunting, and explores a topic many of us would rather avoid, but that all of us will experience in one form or another in our lives. The essays are connected, but not chronological, and their arrangement is an important part of the beauty of the book as a whole. Grief and healing are big topics and Dickinson shares her family’s experience with great vulnerability.” Dickinson’s book is also a finalist in the 2023 Best Indie Book Awards (not yet announced).
Dafoe’s memoir, “Unstuck in Time, a Memoir and Mystery on Loss and Love” (Pen Women Press), won the 2023 Director’s Award across all categories from the Human Relations Indie Book competition. Her memoir also won gold in the general category of books involving “medical or health issues” and silver in the memoir category of books centered on a “personal relationship.” In addition, Dafoe’s new novel, “Socrates is Dead Again” (Pen Women Press), won gold in the “life changes realistic fiction” category from the Indie Book Awards.
Harris’ novel, “The Raven’s Tale” (Ravenna Press), won gold in the general category with “spiritual focus.” Her poetry collection, “Dwelling Space” (Cayuga Lake Books), won gold in the “wisdom” category of poetry, and her chapbook of poetry, “Carry Light, Carry Fire” (Wasteland Press), won gold in the “insightful” category of the Human Relations Indie Book Awards.
Denver Promotes NLAPW through Events
By Linda Reiss Volin
Excitement filled the hearts of Denver’s Pen Women at recent events that promoted interest in the organization, highlighting individual writing accomplishments. Books were displayed, sold, and autographed at a March event at a local Barnes & Noble bookstore. Enthusiasm blossomed in April with members proudly reading sections of their work at a book launching in a neighborhood party room. Other local writers and interested readers were invited to attend and some enjoyed reading aloud from their own publications.
Pen Women authors and their books represented in one or both events included: Juliana Adams, “The Joy of Nursing, Reclaiming Our Nobility”; Andrea Antico, “Buster the Bully” and “The Sugar Plum Tree” (children’s literature); Eleanor Addy Binnings, “Solotramp” and “Drama” (illustrated book of poetry); Diane Lane Chambers, “Fragile Minds: An Advocate’s Story,” “Words in My Hands: A Teacher, A Deaf-Blind Man, An Unforgettable Journey,” “Hearing the Stream: A Survivor’s Journey into the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer”; Sydney Henningsen (L.S. Popovich), “The Arden” (postapocalyptic sci-fi), “Undertones”(comedic fantasy noir); Sue Luxa, “A Cabin in Cripple Creek,” “Denver Days,” “One Golden Summer” (children’s books containing Denver history); Linda Reiss Volin, “Genealogy for the Jewish Student,” “The Writing Scene” (inspirational writing ideas for grades 3-8); Adrian Voss, “Sky Blue” (children’s picture book), “The Small Apartment” (poetry).
Guest readers were Monterey Buchanan, Solae Duran, (a 7-year-old who presented her original story, performing with tiny figures), Sara Frances, and Vicki Rottman. NLAPW Denver planned to share more accomplishments at a community event in June.