THE CAT’S MEOW

THE CAT’S MEOW

FOR WRITERS & READERS EZINE®

Not Your Typical Internet-based Magazine!

Issue 32, Vol. 07 © JULY 10, 2007 Ezine: ISSN: 2237-65

PLEASE NOTE: Although this is an internet-based magazine, we have subscribers who receive notification every month when a new issue is on this website. We would like you to know that our subscriber list is NOT made available to others, including companies. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. Although, we are NOT responsible for web site links that do not work unless they have been inserted into mine or the executive editor’s columns; then we are responsible, we apologize and will correct it as soon as possible… However, please notify us at The Publisher’s Box™ if any links are not working or are the wrong links. Thank you!

IN THIS ISSUE:

PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S CORNER

EXECUTIVE EDITOR’S CORNER

BEST POEM OF THE MONTH:

“A Prayer for Our Nation” by Cynthia Groopman

BIRTHDAY WISHES CORNER

COFFEE HOUSE 4 POETS & WRITERS

(Bringing You the Best in Written Talent Every Month for YOUR READING PLEASURE!)

FEATURE ARTICLE

“Swimming – From Learn to Swim to a World Champion”

By Gary Barclay

HELPFUL ARTICLES

OFF THE PRESS! CORNER

(Bringing You the Best in Contemporary Literature by Authors’ Established and New

and Calls for Submissions from Publishers!)

PUBLISHER &

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S CORNER

BY ROSANNE CATALANO

 Hello dear readers, welcome to our many new members! I must apologize for last month’s blatant promotion

 of Wt~In Spirit, where I once wrote my Spiritual column titled “Scripture Understood.” There was a good reason for promoting a

 subscription to the print magazine; financial difficulties on the part of the founder and publisher … and it is with much sadness that I now tell you

 Wt~In Spirit magazine will no longer be published. A letter from Wt~In Spirit Founder and Publisher Karin Lacroix explains it better

 than I can:

“It is with deep regret that I must inform you that our Spiritual magazine, Wt~In Spirit, has been cancelled. Due to financial difficulties facing the

 production of this magazine, I am no longer able to finance it. Unfortunately, the subscription rate which was lowered to accommodate everyone

 was not sufficient to cover the costs of production. A poor subscription base only added to the difficulties.”

“I would like to thank you for your support to those who purchased a subscription from us. Please note: a money order for $20.00 for your

 subscriptions (Rate = $25.00 minus the cost of one issue) will be sent to you shortly.”

“Perhaps sometime in the future we will once again consider publishing a magazine of this type and I hope you will consider submitting to and

 writing for it again. Thank you for your patience regarding this matter. May God bless you!   Karin Lacroix (aka Maggie the Magpie).”

I for one look forward to that day in the future when Wt~In Spirit, or a print magazine of this type, is published again by the wonderful Karin Lacroix! In the meantime you may want to check out her book publishing firm, Wynterblue Publishing Canada Inc., and their other literary print magazine, Wt~Lit, at: wynter@wynter.ca

Now I won’t be asking you to subscribe to or purchase anything; though I would love for more of our members to read my 2^nd book “Mirrored Images” by clicking on the link here to order a copy! And that’s it for a while with my self-promotion. But before I go, I would like you to read about the Star of Queens, who is our very own writer and poet Cynthia Groopman. Cynthia was honored on May 31^st with the distinction of being the “Star of Queens” in one of Queens County, New York’s local newspapers, “The Queens Courier.” Although to us she is a “star” every day for helping others and making a positive difference in their lives… Congratulations Cynthia on winning the coveted award of Star of Queens!

Star of Queens!

The Queens Courier, Thursday, May 31, 2007 12:38 PM CDT


Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia Groopman
Volunteer at the Peter Della Monica Senior Center

Long Island City

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: After losing her eyesight in an accident, Groopman began volunteering at the

Peter Della Monica Senior Center, and reached the mark of 17,000 hours of service over the course of 16 years

in March. Five days-per-week, Groopman arrives at the senior center at 9:30 a.m. and stays until 4 p.m. She

teaches English as a Second Language (ESL), exercise, citizenship classes and leads discussions on current

events, nostalgia and good times. After arriving home each night, Groopman calls homebound, Meals-On-

Wheels recipients to see how they are doing and talk with them. Called the “Sunshine Lady” at the Center,

Groopman constantly wears a smile. “Nineteen years ago, I lost my eyesight in an accident,” she said. “I wanted a sense of purpose to show

others that people with disabilities can make a difference.”

PERSONAL: A former teacher and city employee, Groopman is also a published poet and writer. She uses a computer program that reads

websites aloud, allowing her to surf the net at night, and to read, and write letters to local newspapers. The machine allows her to type out the

senior citizen center’s newsletter from her apartment in Long Island City.

JOB: Groopman’s work at the senior center and with several local community groups, including the 114th Precinct Community Observation

Patrol (Civ-Op) and her synagogue, the Astoria Center of Israel, is voluntary.

PROUDEST MOMENT: Last year, when Groopman called a homebound senior, she realized that the man had accidentally removed his dialysis medication and needed emergency medical help. So Groopman called 9-1-1, and an ambulance arrived shortly afterward. “His life was saved,” Groopman said.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: For Groopman who speaks only English, teaching classes to new immigrants provides her with the biggest challenge. “There are many people that I teach English to that speak Spanish and Chinese. Some are from South America, some are from China, some are from Bangladesh,” Groopman said.

FAVORITE MEMORY: In 2004, a 69-year-old woman from El Salvador came into the senior center and spoke not a word of English, Groopman said. Through classes and practice, the woman was able to apply for and earn her citizenship status in 2005. “Imagine being a new American at 74-years-old,” Groopman said, proudly.

INSPIRATION: “My inspiration would be my parents, who asked me to be kind to people,” Groopman said, also listing her faith in God as providing her with the stamina and courage to go out and meet new people every day. “I like to make a difference in people’s lives; I like to make people feel happy. I believe that when you make other people happy you make yourself happy as well,” she said.

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Hope you enjoyed reading about our wonderful poet and writer Cynthia Groopman. She is truly an amazing and inspiring person; one we are proud and honored to have writing for our magazine!

I would also like to tell you that we are still working on the hyper links for our Table of Contents, so please bear with us as we continue to bring a more enjoyable reading experience to you! This hyper linking is not as easy as it may appear… first we have to create “bookmarks” for the links to go to the specified places in this magazine, then we create a “hyperlink” for each place for the bookmarks to go to within the magazine. And this must be done separately for every month’s issue. Sound confusing? It is! But executive editor Nancy Currie, who also specializes in html coding and web design, does fix those link mistakes I make while I’m in the process of learning; although she is a very busy lady herself. So please if there are any links in our Table of Contents that do not go to the proper place, let us know via email. Thanks! In the meantime for all you poets out there do check out the below New Mexico’s Poetry Contest…

High Prairie Poets

New Mexico State Poetry Society Bi-Monthly Contests

Open to All Poets!

ELIGIBILITY:  ALL POETS; U.S. and Worldwide.

Poems must be in English,

aligned on left margin of paper,

(Do Not Center Poem on Page),

12 point font is a must.

TITLES OF POEMS should look like this:

“Life as a Jelly Bean”

NOT like: “LIFE AS A JELLY BEAN“.

DEADLINE:  POSTMARKED BY the 20th of the month.

LINE LIMIT:  At this time, there is a 25 line limit.

ENTRY FEE: $2.00 entry fee for the first poem and $1.00

for each additional poem.  No email entries.

PRIZES: $20.00 WINNER...TWO HM’S...NO POEMS PUBLISHED.

SUBMISSION:   Please send TWO copies of each poem (poet‘s

choice), ONE BLANK and the other with NAME,

ADDRESS and TITLE OF POEM.

DO NOT send cover letter or biography.

One poem on a page, 66 characters per line.

No Themes.

No Obscene language.

NOTIFICATION: By the tenth of the following month, IF you

include an SASE. ALWAYS INCLUDE A “SASE.”

JUDGING: Qualified, blind judging; Judge’s decisions

are final.  NEXT Contest:  July 20, 2007.

ADDRESS: SEND ALL ENTRIES TO:

Carol Dee Meeks, 2010 W.

Bullock Ave, Artesia, New Mexico  88210

ANY ENTRIES NOT FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

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START SPREADING THE “MEWS”: CHECK OUT BROADWAYS BARKS!, 7/14



Broadway legends Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore will host the ninth annual Broadway Barks!, an event sponsored by the ASPCA that features stars of both animal shelters and the stage. Dozens of actors from current Broadway productions, including Tony Award-winners David Hyde Pierce and Angela Lansbury, will present adorable adoptable animals to the public. The dog and cat adopt-a-thon will be held Saturday, July 14, at Shubert Alley. Broadway Barks!’s mission is to find permanent homes for shelter animals, and will provide important information on spaying/neutering, pet identification and the plight of homeless animals in the city. All proceeds and donations will benefit the shelters attending the event. So scoot over to Shubert Alley, see some stars, and maybe you’ll go home singing show tunes with a new little friend…

* Shubert Alley is located between 44th and 45th Streets, between Broadway and 8th Avenue in New York City.

* Event is from 3:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. Celebrity presentations of pets begin at 5:30 P.M. For more information (including a list of actors who will be attending the benefit), please visit http://www.broadwaybarks.com/

An Awesome Way to Spend a Summer Day for our Animal-Companions!

* * * * * * * * * *

You are also invited into The Enchanted Self’s website! Since we are all like enchanted cottages which we should never forget; The Enchanted Self website was founded on this principle. TheEnchantedSelf.com was created by positive psychologist, happiness coach and published author Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, in which she shows, tells and inspires you on how to live a more positive life in her many helpful and inspirational books. Also with her inspirational quotes and lovely Enchanted merchandise! Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein’s website and free eNewsletter is an enchanted cottage you truly must see…

I would also like say that you’re missing out on successful freelancing secrets if you don’t read the “Queen Bee of Filbert Publishing” Beth Ann Erickson’s eBook, “101 No Cost or Low Cost Techniques to Turbo Charge Your Freelance Income”!

Go to http://rckayla.filbertpub.hop.clickbank.net to pick up your copy of Beth’s eBook today; she offers a ton of helpful advice on how to earn more than pennies for your freelance work, if you are a freelance writer that is!

Also check out our ‘Helpful Links’ Page on this website for other interesting and fun sites that may be of interest to you! (when you’re done reading our magazine, of course J).

Now please WELCOME EXECUTIVE EDITOR NANCY CURRIE, (my right-hand gal), along with our many authors; some new, some established who have written poems, short stories and helpful informative articles for you. If you are moved by what they have written, please do let them know by email, or by visiting their websites. [Email addresses and websites are listed in our author’s bios.] Our contributors love hearing from their readers, so our writers thank you!

See you all next month … until then, have a wonderful summer and Stay safe!

EXECUTIVE

EDITOR’S CORNER

BY NANCY CURRIE

The editor is on vacation.

BEST POEM

OF THE MONTH CORNER!

A Prayer for Our Nation

Cynthia Groopman

Oh Lord, please give us solace

and comfort during these sorrowful troubled times

By healing our wounded spirits with your golden spiritual sunshine

Let us grasp your omnipotent, righteous strong hand,

So that tragedy and blight cannot afflict our wonderful and blessed land.

Please open our hearts, our minds and our eyes,

so that we may readily see, that all hatred must abruptly end

and we must dwell in peaceful-harmony.

Let us seek refuge under your protective wing,

so that we shall no longer be tearful or fearful of anything.

Oh Lord, please soothe our strong emotional pain

and soothe our intense sorrow,

and give us beautiful rainbows

And cloudless bright blue skies as a promise

of hope for a better tomorrow.

For we shall place our steadfast faith in thee,

So that no longer shall we be plagued with hatred,

terror and brutality.

CONGRATULATIONS CYNTHIA

ON WINNING BEST POEM OF THE MONTH!

BIRTHDAY WISHES CORNER!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

Max Umland Birthday: July 4^th

Les Umland Birthday: July 6^th

Lisa A. McGough Birthday: July 6^th

Clinton Welch Birthday: July 6^th, 1967

Heidi L. Metzger Birthday: July 22^nd

Anna Tolkovitz Birthday: July 23^rd

Alex Umland Birthday: July 30^th

May all your Birthday Wishes come true!

To see your birthday wishes here, email us with your name (first & last, or just first name) and birth-day (year is optional)

COFFEE HOUSE 4 POETS & WRITERS!

(Bringing You Published Written Talent Every Month For YOUR READING PLEASURE)!

A Tribute to My Native Land, the USA

Cynthia Groopman

Oh dear USA from your glorious fruited plains to your highest purple

mountains majesty

Your hallowed bell of freedom rejoices melodically and

you are indeed a wonderful land so very precious and so dear

Where peaceful doves fly in a sunny blue sky,

and where we dwell freely without and friendships treating each other

With respectful love.