President Mavis Jarrell called the meeting to order just after ten o’clock, expressing her excitement for the coming months. She thanked Roseann Gulisano for the excellent newsletter and Beth Carrier for providing the artwork for the cover of the yearbook. Frank Coombs  briefly presented the Treasurer’s report along with a few ideas for cost savings. Hospitality Chair Donna Orchard then greeted the twelve new members in attendance and allowed them the opportunity to formally introduce themselves and their writing genre to the group.

Discussion was held regarding the P.T. Paul-Satch Sampson Poetry Scholarship to be awarded this spring to a deserving high school senior. Scholarship Chair Barbara Lassiter stated that information will be distributed to guidance counselors in Mobile and Baldwin counties with all the application guidelines. Several attendees volunteered to help with delivering the paperwork to the various schools. Members voted to set the amount of the award at $1,000. Donations toward this fund will continue to be accepted during the coming months.

Once the business was concluded, guest speaker Joyce Scarbrough of Mobile took the stage to discuss the difference between trends and tropes. She offered ways to use them effectively and pointed out a few areas to avoid. Joyce concluded the informative session with an action packed reading from the first chapter of one of her books, After Me.