Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Poems about the National Debt: a Partnership between the CTC Writers Guild and Net Impact

What we think of the National Debt


Growing heavier

Each year on the shoulders of

Our Grandchildren

by Mark R.


The debt grows slowly

Chains tying down the power

Of our nation

by Mark R. 


Sunk into the depths

Money spent that was never held

A debt of depths

by Ryan N. 


Money Overflows

Debt is insurmountable

It must be stopped now

by Amare D. 


Selfishness corrupts

Out comes propaganda from 

Illegal funding

by Judah K.


The U.S. Federal debt keeps

Skyrocketing, generation after generation

Society cares more about themselves

Than to the health of the country

by Laisha C.


Neverending Loss

Inflating like a balloon

The National Debt

by Shelianne M. 



National Debt weight

is overwhelmingly great 

How will we survive?

by Nathaniel R.

















Thursday, November 14, 2024

Writers Guild Meeting Minutes 11/13/2024 (if you read it all the way through, you will find an amazing thing!)

 

Writers Guild 11/14/24


There were 28 members in attendance: Judah, Laisha (new member), Jadan, Madison, Kiera, Sheli, Jonathan, Ryan, Jacob, Logan (new member) Tajane, Christina (our Net Impact friend), Isabella, Gina, Mark, Amare, Caleb, Roman, Jayla, Sania, Nathaniel, Jennifer (new member), Jessica, Max, Sean, Kim, Edward, and Cindy


Announcements were made.


1) We need elves for Lighting of the Bell Tower Dec 3 from 6-8pm.

  • Let Cindy know if you want to work it. 
  • She will need your phone number. (Email it to her - don't reply to this email). 
  • So far we have Judah, Sheli and Amare.
  • You may get some type of elf shirt if you work.
  • I’ll let everyone know.

2) Gina will be graduating, so we will have a Presidential election at the next meeting.

  • Gina, you've been awesome and we'll miss your leadership!


3) The next meeting is on Wednesday Dec 4 at 4pm.

  • We had to reschedule it because in 2 weeks we are in Thanksgiving break.


4) Our last meeting on Dec 11 will be a holiday party.

  • Bring snacks and we can play games and have fun.

5) Haunted House/Fall Festival people, read the text I sent! I need an answer. ðŸ˜Š

 

For In-Guild activity:


  • We played a one-word story game

  • Then we created Haikus

  • Some made Haikus about the National Debt and gave them to Christina for Net Impact

  • We discussed the National Writing Contest and decided to do one from Friday Dec 13 to Jan 6 or you can start now and be done on Jan 6

  • We realized we had new members so did the Meet and Greet later in the meeting


 

For Out-of-Guild activity:

Gina suggested that everyone work on answering the college question: “Tell us who you are.”


If anyone needs the Discord link, send a separate email to me. Laisha and Jennifer, I'll send you one. 


Amazing thing, I promised:


You are all amazing, inspiring, and creative! We are so glad that you are in our Guild! 


Later, gators, 



Thursday, October 17, 2024

Meeting Minutes Oct 16, 2024

 

Writers Guild meeting Minutes 10/7/24

There were 32 members in attendance: Gina O, Jacob, Judah, Madison, Sheli, Keira, Caleb, Jonathan, Skyler, Ellie, Jayla, Randy, Jessica T, Laisha (visitor), Mark, Jeremiah, Edward, Isabella, Thomas, Roman, Gina M., Gina M’s Mom, Amare, Max, Cody (visitor), Christina (visitor), Nathaniel, Sean, Sania, Violet, Savannah, and Cindy

·         We did a brief introduction

  • ·         We broke up in clan groups: musicians, artists, writers, poets, and video makers
  • ·         Our activity was to create a fantasy video with input from each clan
  • ·         Our guild war winners were our observers. 😊 Congratulations!
We made a Haunted House actor change, and briefly discussed that.
  • ·         If you’re working it or the Fall Festival, please read the email I sent earlier this week.
Then, Net Impact asked the guild to participate in a National Debt Matters to You campaign.

Rotating Student Art Exhibit Contest

Our next meeting is October 30 at 4pm, the library, room 211

See you then!

 

 

 

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Meeting Minutes Oct 2, 2024

 

Writers Guild Meeting Minutes Oct 2 2024

 

We had 32 members in attendance: Jacob, Laisha, Kim, Violet, Nathaniel, Ellie, Jessica, Isabella, Sean, Dez (welcome back!), Thomas, Mark, Tajane, Keira, Shelli, Sania, Jonathan, Caleb, Amare, Maddie, Max, Amara, Ryan, Judah, Madison, Savannah, Allyra, Jess, Faye, Roman, Gina and Cindy (hopefully, I didn’t miss anybody)

We welcomed new members and tried to remember everybody’s names.

We verified who is working the Haunted House Fall Festival (I attached the list) please read it! 😊– if you want to be added, please email Cindy at coser2@ctcd.edu.

We played a game where everyone comes up with one character. Then we yell out a genre, and you have to incorporate it into your story.

  • Horror
  • Sci Fi
  • Comedy
  • Western
  • Then draw a picture that illustrates the story.
  • If you want to bring it next time to share or post it on Discord, we’d love to hear it.

Our next meeting is Weds Oct 16 at 4pm- 5:30 in the library.

One of our members (Edward) turned in a really fun idea for the next meeting:

Guild War! Who has the most creative Clan?

  • We split up in groups of creative clans – musicians, poets, writers, artists, playwrights, photographers, podcasters, video makers, and gamers. Everyone has to decide which clan they want to join.
  • Every clan will be given a task to complete.
  • The best voted clan by the guild wins!
  • What do they win? Respect! Kudos! And Bragging Rights!
  • This will give us all a chance to work together in groups to get to know each other better.
  • We’ll have more chairs. 😊

If anyone has a fun idea for an activity, please email me and I will get it to Gina.

Share on Discord, keep creating, and remember that you are one of us! We’re really glad to know you!

Talk to you soon and see you at the next meeting.

Have an fun, creative week!

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Sept 18 Meeting Minutes

 

Writers Guild Meeting Minutes 09/18/2024

We had 24 members in attendance: Gina, Jeremiah, Amare, Judah, Allyra, Maddie, Ellie, Sean, Ryan, Thomas, Jacob, Mark, Jessica, Madison, Amara, Nathaniel, Max, Sania, Jonathan, Violet, Caleb, Edward, Cindy, and Savannah came at the very end. 😊

We voted in new officers:  Congratulations!

·         President – Gina

·         Vice President – Edward

·         Secretary – Jessica (she put My Little Pony stickers on the minutes – our kind of person) 😊

·         Student Government Representative - Jessica

·         Treasurer – Jonathan

            Treasurer Subcommittee –Moolah Mongrels (we will set up meeting room in Discord)

§  Jacob                Amara

§  Nathaniel        Jeremiah

§  Jonathan

What we did in the meeting –

·         We shared our work.

·         Thank you all for sharing!

·         As I always say, you guys are extremely talented!

Very important! We will meet in room 209 in the library for our next meeting (Oct 2) or outside. If you don’t see us outside at 4 pm, then we are in room 209 upstairs in the West Wing


Thursday, September 5, 2024

Meeting Minutes for 9/4/24

 

Writers Guild Meeting Minutes 9/4/2024


There were 20 members in attendance: Brittney, Caleb, Jadan, Tajane, Amare, Jacob, Judah, Max, Jessica, Jonathan, Sheli, Amara, Mark, Levi, Roman, Sania, Nathaniel, Violet, Madison, and Cindy

Welcome to our new members! We’re glad you joined the guild.

During the meeting we:

  1. Introduced ourselves.
  2. Created writing and art with random words, then combined for one big bizarre story.
  3. Briefly discussed officer roles because we will vote next week
  4. Briefly touched upon the Haunted House and Fall Festival

Out of Guild Activity

  • Please bring your creative work and we will share next week
  • Consider if you would like an officer role

Next week

  • We will vote new officers in – Gina and Edward, please be at the meeting in person so we can vote
  • Share our creative work
  • Review who is doing what at the Haunted House/Fall Festival

If you have activity ideas, please send them to Cindy at coser2@ctcd.edu

 Here’s the Discord link: https://discord.com/invite/DNfxGvXW It expires in 7 days.

Here’s the blog link: https://ctcwritersguild.blogspot.com/

 Next meeting is Weds, Sept 18 at 4pm. See you then!

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

9/4/2024 Meeting agenda

 Hi guys, 


Our next Writers Guild meeting is tomorrow at 4 pm - 5:30 pm. For our High School members, it's ok to come late. We know you get out later than 4 pm. 

Tomorrow's agenda 

1) Meet and Greet our new members

2) In guild activity - Random word story using Apples to Apples and random words from our box

 
  • Can write a story
  • Or draw a picture
  • or write a poem
  • or take a photograph
  • That depicts all the words

3) If we have time, we can put all of our work together for one big creation

4) Talk about electing officers at the next meeting

5) Share what you are working on

6) Out of guild activity

  • Send ideas for fun creative activities to Cindy, so she can get them to Gina for the agenda. 
  • Bring what you have been working on to share

7) Verify who is doing what during the Haunted House/Fall Festival

I'll send a link to join virtually if you can't make it in person. 

Later guys, 

Thursday, August 22, 2024

Writers Guild meeting minutes 8/21/24

 

Writers Guild Meeting Minutes for 8/21/24

There were 18 members in attendance: Gina, Roman, Amare, Amara, Allyra, Ryan, Judah, Jacob, Tajané, Savannah, Edward, Sean, Nathaniel, Thomas, Kim, Madison, Jonathan, and Cindy.

This was a working meeting. We made props for the Haunted House. They’re awesome!

Open House – Thursday Aug 28, 10 AM – 1:30 PM – Anderson Building

·         We need volunteers who can work even for a little bit on Thursday, Aug 28.

·         Please send back an email that says when you can work it and when. Thanks!

·         For our new members – if you attend 5 meetings and work an event like Open House, you get a tee shirt.

We’ll be back to our regular creative stuff at the next meeting.

Also, in September, we will vote new officers in. We’ll talk about it at our next meeting.

Our next meeting is Weds, Sept 4 at 4pm in the library.


Thursday, August 8, 2024

Meeting Minutes Aug 7, 2024

 Writers Guild meeting minutes for 8/7/2024


There were 9 members in attendance: Nathaniel, Madison, Felipe, Ryan, Sean, Edward, Jacob, Savannah, and Cindy


We did a meet-and-greet because we have new members. Welcome Madison, Sean, and Nathaniel! We’re glad you’re here.

Haunted House and Fall Festival

  • We discussed what we needed for the Haunted House, and some members took their costumes. Our next meeting is a working meeting where we have to build the books, coffin, etc. If you can make it in person, please do. You can still meet online, but I wanted to let you know we are building stuff.
  • Everyone has the same roles, but we may be adding Savannah’s sister to be Carrie. Nathaniel wants to be a guide. I believe so does Cruz and Shiggy.
  • Madison will help with the fall festival, but I need more help.

Open House is on Aug 29 from 10-1:30

  • If you can volunteer during any of that time, let me know.

Our in-guild Activity

  • We shuffled our playlists, took 2 characters from our first 2 songs, and then created a relationship from the last song. We had some wild stories!

Our next meeting is on Aug 21 at 4 pm. That’s the first week of school. Hope you can make it!


Later gators! 

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Meeting Minutes for July 24, 2024

 Writers Guild 07/24/2024 Meeting Minutes


There were 10 people in attendance:
Judah, Ryan, Felipe, Amare, Cruz, Shiggy, Andre, Cindy and Edward and Sania showed up briefly to say hi!


We welcomed new members Shiggy, Cruz and Andre. 😊 Welcome aboard! During Open House, we met 19 new people who are interested in joining. 


Welcome Bash: Thursday, Aug 29 10 am to 1:30 pm at the Anderson building


•    We need volunteers if you can spare 30 minutes or more that day. Come talk up the Writers Guild and play games! Email Cindy with the time(s) you can work it.
•    Remember, if you attend 5 meetings and work an event, you get a tee shirt. 


We worked on creating the story for our Haunted House and on assigning actor roles. So far this is what we have:


1.    Judah is Ray Bradbury and greets with an ominous welcome
2.    Felipe is Cthulu and terrifies as they pass
3.    Edward is Edgar Allen Poe and is chopping up Ravens and saying Nevermore
4.    Ryan is Dracula and jumps out of a book
5.    We need someone to wear the Cujo mask in the Stephen King section and jump out saying either “Here’s Cujo” or “Here’s Johnny.”
6.    Brandi or Savannah, Roman, and Gina are in the Mary Shelley section. Frankenstein (Roman) and Bride of (Gina) will try to kill Mary Shelley (Brandi or Savannah).
7.    Edward is Sabertooth in a cage at the end. 


We also need backups who can also work the Fall Festival. We need people who like kids to help with the games inside.

The plot:
1.    Bradbury (Judah) speaks: “The Journey you are about to take will make you want to burn books. Something is happening. Books have become gateways and are releasing horrors. The souls of the dead and mostly dead authors are (feeding? Fleeing? Something? …. I have no idea what I wrote. (props-books, fake fire, sign something wicked this way cometh, we already have wig and coat)

2.    Cthulu (Felipe)– script – “Lest you want to become mad like H.P. Lovecraft. Now look into Cthulu’s eyes– “ (props – Felipe is making Cthulu, we need to make a book big enough to frame him like a doorway).

3.    Poe (Edward) is tearing apart ravens saying “Nevermore!“ (we are getting his costume and ravens, needs the skinny table and cave backdrop, birds, feathers, meat cleaver we have, need a book that says The Raven on the table)


4.    Dracula (Ryan) is standing under bats. I wonder if his book should look like a coffin too. He stands next to it or we make a large box shaped book for him to step out of. We need a script for this one.  (props – we’re getting his costume and bats, we have the staircase backdrop, need coffin/book large enough for him to stand inside).

5.    Stephen King area – “he’s written a ton of horror stories. Now they’re coming back to get him.” we need someone to be Cujo and wear the mask. (props - we have backdrops for the Shining and IT. Will need a book with a curtain around it somehow, where Cujo can pop out like Jack Torrence in the Shining and say “Here’s Cujo!” or “Here’s Johnny!”

6.    Mary Shelley area – “You tortured us~ Roman and Gina will attack Mary Shelley (Brandi) due to the torture of making them monsters. They seek revenge. (props – we will get Frankenstein and Bride of costumes. Brandi is wearing something that looks like Mary Shelley. Savannah, please get with Brandi to see what to wear. I’m sure you both can figure it out. We have a table for the body parts and 2 backdrops for the lab, need a Frankenstein book on the table)

7.    Sabertooth (Amare) is at the end behind a cage. “Story has it that while LaValle was writing a novel, Sabertooth escaped and tore him to shreds. We trapped him in this cage, but we’re not sure it will last.” Sabretooth says, “I’m making a killing list. Lavalle’s on it. You’re on it too. I’ll make your whole (?) extinct.” (Roars!) “No prison can hold me. I’ll be free before you know it.” (Roars!) (props – we are getting costume parts, have a sabretooth poster, Felipe is making a cage. We need to put Sabretooth books there).

8.    Shiggy and Cruz want to maybe be a guide or work in Fall Festival room. We need guides, fall festival workers and back ups for the actors.

9.    Sania, you said you might want to work in the Fall Festival room. We may also get a member who is thinking of joining, Madison who wants to help with the Festival.

10.    Thomas, do you want to be a guide again? Or an actor?

11.    Emeli and Keshia, are you thinking of working with us again? We may need you as a backup for Mary Shelly too. 

In 4 weeks, we need to do a working meeting.
                Props needing to collect and/or make:
•    Bradbury books (we have real ones here)
a book backdrop for Cthulu,
a large coffin shaped like a book for Dracula,
either a fake book of The Raven or a real one,
Stephen King books
and a large one where Cujo can pop out of,
a copy of Frankenstein
•    I can bring some boxes and art supplies to make the large books

Our next meeting is Aug 7 at 4pm. I’ll send out a reminder. 


Ryan had an idea for that meeting. 


•    Have each member shuffle a playlist of their music and take the first three songs.
•    They will have to make two characters from the first two songs and make the characters relationship from the last song of the tree.
•    If you don’t have a playlist, just pick 3 of your favorite songs and know the characters in the 1st and 2nd.
•    Then use the relationship from the 3rd song. 


Also bring any work you want to share.

See you at the next meeting!








Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Meeting tomorrow (Weds, July 23) at 4pm

 Hi Guild Members,


We have a meeting tomorrow at 4pm in room 211 of the library. 


Gina, do you have an agenda? I want to discuss Haunted House for a bit and we can share what we're working on. We may have some new members as well. 


So we'll see you tomorrow! 


I'll send a Webex link for those who can't make it in person.


See you then! 


Thursday, July 11, 2024

Meeting Minutes 7/10/2024

 Meeting Minutes 7/10/2024


There were 6 members in attendance: Jacob, Ryan, Amare, Kim, Felipe and Cindy

  • First, we discussed the items we will try to buy for the Haunted House
  • Then we did an activity to see if we could hook a reader into continuing to read our book. Members told a story until we said, “Go on” or “That’s enough.” This was to practice when we sell our books to make sure a person in the bookstore doesn’t put it down after reading a couple of paragraphs.
  • Then we drew pictures and created stuff with pipe cleaners and each interpreted what it was. This was to practice being an artist and having people interpret it differently.

Anyone wanting to work Open House besides our present volunteers, let Cindy know.


Our next meeting is on July 24 at 4 pm. See you then!


Cindy


Thursday, May 30, 2024

Meeting Minutes May 29, 2024

 May 29 Meeting Minutes


We had 5 people in attendance: Jacob, Ryan, Amare, Edward, and Cindy


  • We briefly talked about EGX.

  • Then we used Apples to Apples cards to create a paragraph using words from the game cards. 

  • Then we shared what we were working on and discussed how to give better feedback. 

  • We posted our work in Discord. Please take a moment to read our writer's work in Discord and give useful feedback.


Our next meeting is on June 12 at 4 pm


See you then! 


Cindy Oser

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Meeting Minutes 05/15/2024

Hi guys,


Writers Guild meeting minutes 1/15/2024


There were 8 members in attendance: William, Ryan, Jacob, Asriel, Amare, Thomas, Roman, and Cindy


We discussed who was working EGX


We did the following activity

  • We each came up with a word and also a name
  • We had to create a story or poem with the words and names
  • Then we shared it
  • Some posted their story in Discord

Our next meeting is on Wednesday, May 29 at 4 pm.


See you then!



Thursday, April 18, 2024

April 17 Meeting Minutes

 Writers Guild 4/17/24 Meeting Minutes


There were 8 members in attendance: Jeremiah, Ryan, Kim, Roman, June, Edward, Amare and Cindy


We rescheduled our May 1 meeting for next week, April 24 at 4 pm. Our original date was on May 1 which is the day and time we do the Byways Reception.


You are all invited to attend the Byways Reception on May 1 at 3:30 pm. Come join your fellow Guild members in celebrating their work. We are proud of their accomplishments!

In this meeting, we took about 20 minutes to work on our ongoing writing projects. Then we shared the work and gave support and feedback.


Future activities were shared which included:

    • looking a a movie poster and writing about what we think the movie will be about
    • playing improv games and engaging in voice acting

We also started getting volunteers for EGX which is a comicon-like event at CTC on June 1.

  • I’m trying to find out the time, but we will be either inside or on the porch, so we don’t have to worry about a tent.
  • I know it’s I think just in the afternoon into early evening, but I’ll make sure for everyone.
  • You will not have to work the entire time and we can rotate. Also, you can dress up.
  • Please answer the following questions: I can work EGX on June 1st           yes or no
  • What time?
  • So far I have Jeremiah signed up.

Keep working on your writing and other creative endeavors.


Later gators,

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Meeting Minutes April 3, 2024

 Writers Guild meeting minutes April 3, 2024


We had 5 members in attendance, but Maki had to leave at the beginning. Also.Gina, Maki, Edward, June, and Cindy


For our in-guild activity, we wrote stories using Apples to Apples cards.


For our Out of Guild activity:


Write about a change of heart:. Example good to evil, evil to good, friend to enemies, enemies to friends.


Don’t forget last week’s assignment- write about a time you were backstabbed. Did it end well or bad?


Don't forget to use Eclipse glasses on Monday. Those working Eclipse Day will have glasses at our booth. 


Later gators, 

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Meeting Minutes March 27, 2024

 03/27/24 Writers Guild Meeting Minutes


Again…………. we need to vote in a Secretary. ðŸ˜Š Just saying


There were 11 members in attendance: Maki, Ryan, Roman, June, Tajane, Gina, Thomas, Edward, Jeremiah, Amare and Cindy


We read Angelina’s agenda and assigned the Out of Guild activity: Write or draw about a time when a backstabbing (literal or metaphorical) goes wrong. This should be interesting to see what everyone writes. Just a thought – does it ever go right? ðŸ˜Š Just saying. We shall see what everyone comes up with.


Our In Guild Activity was to imagine an alien species crash lands on Earth. We each had to come up with the species that landed, where they landed, whether they were good guys or bad guys, what allegiances did they have and did it have a good or terrible ending.


Then we each took over our parts of the story, intertwining our plots with each other. I will try and upload the recording we made in Discord to show where this story went. It was fun and a great story! 


It's uploaded in Discord



Our next meeting is next Weds, April 3 at 4 pm 


Also, I want to remind you guys that 3 of our Writers Guild members are in the CTC play, so let’s support them and go out on April 18, 19, or 20th at 7 pm or April 20th at 2 pm to cheer them on!


Have a great week!