Member News:
Dec. Member News: Nancy Mehl
Nov. Member News: Ann Everett | Cynthia Ross
Sept. Member News: Ralph Allen | Ann Everett
Aug. Member News: Robert Beattie | Glenn W. Fisher | Carol J. Garriott
| Arleen Rains Graber | Gail Martin | Kathleen Nelzen
Jul. Member News: Mary Jo Grant | Ann Parr
Jun Member News: Ted Farmer | Arlene Rains Graber
Apr Member News: Ralph Allen | Hazel Hart
Mar. Member News: Mary Jo Grant | Nancy Mehl
Feb. Member News: Mary Jo Grant
Jan. Member News: Mary Jo Grant
 Irma Wassall, District 5, Wichita, celebrated her 100th birthday on September 23, 2008! Her mailing address is in the Fall 2008 Newsletter, provided for those who would like to send her greetings on her birthday. Irma spent her early years in New Mexico and moved to Wichita in 1927. She has more than 1,000 poems published in various magazines and anthologies. Her chapbooks include Loonshadow, Along the River, Fred and Irma Wassall: Drawings and Poems, The Fading Year, The Ruby-Emerald Jungles, and Richard’s Choice. She has also written for the jazz magazine Downbeat. Irma Wassall was a member of Kansas Authors Club from 1936 through 1971 and served as District 5 President in 1955. She renewed her membership in 1997 and still attends meetings in Wichita. Irma was honored with an entry in our KAC Historical Calendar: her birth on Sept. 23, 1908. 9/30/2008
 District 5, Bragging on:
David Cloud, District 5, Wichita, grew up on
the west side of Wichita, Kansas.
As their family expanded they
moved to the east side. By the
7th grade he had became a
Christian, and had taken piano
lessons for seven years.
At Friends U. he majored
over time in sociology, English
and vocal music. He and his
eventual wife, Georgianna, were
married 6 months after his
graduation in 1958.
Then he got a masters in Christian
education. He served as a minister for 22
years in a various states.
He became certified to teach
English in Illinois, but the first job
opportunity was in Wichita, Kansas, in
1984. He served Christian schools for 15
years.
Beginning in 1960 David wrote his
first poem, not knowing that 48 years later
he’d publish seven books, 60 devotionals,
many poems, newspaper articles, a skit,
and more.
One life-long goal was to serve on
mission trips around the world. God
eventually opened the doors to Russia,
Israel, Egypt, Mongolia, Asia and Hong
Kong. He’s also taught English to
International students here in Wichita.
Recent joys have included assisting
at the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, and
helping men with their English the at the
Union Rescue Mission.
Through his whole life God has
used his joy of music as a choir director,
composer, choir member, and as a
member of ensembles, quartets, trios,
duets and as a soloist.
In recent years he has taken
classes at the East Wichita Shepherd
Center. The challenges were pastel
drawing, pencil drawing, and watercolor.
One of the greatest joys was writing
many of his memoirs, and poetry.
God has opened exciting avenues
of service by using E-mails, revealing
God’s truth around the world.
All these years he has kept
in touch with his three children
and his six grandchildren.
Since 1980 David has
been involved in the Kansas
Author’s Club, and three homerelated
writing clubs. Currently his
group CREW (Christians,
Rejoicing, Encouraging Writing),
is producing a book of devotionals
for writers, WRITE TO LIVE.
This past year he served
KAC as the District 5 Secretary.
Many other tasks will have
to be set aside, for in April
he was told he had inoperable cancer. He’s under nutritional
treatment that may open God’s
door to hope. 9/5/2008
NOTE: David passed away on Tues., Sept. 9, 2008. His obituary is on-line, posted in the Wichita Eagle on Thurs., Sept. 11, 2008. 9/11/2008
 District 5, Bragging on:
Annette Wood, District 5, Wichita, can report a long list of activities accomplished in the last year, including:
- Booksignings--Hastings, Hutchinson; Watermark, Delano and West Borders, Wichita
- Multiauthor booksignings--Delano, Hutchinson Public Library, Town Crier, Emporia
- Vendor at Autism Walk at Heartspring
- Numerous talks on "Learning about Autism," both to promote her book and educate others about autism, with several advance bookings
- Research on Frederick Banting, co-discoverer of insulin. (She is a Type II insulin-dependent diabetic.) Annette is working on a biography for YA, grades 6-12. She will travel to Toronto, Toronto University, where insulin was discovered. The Woods will also visit Banting House in London, Ontario, headquarters for the Diabetes Association of Canada. She'll get a personal tour and interview Banting, and documents are available digitally from Toronto University, so she will have much research to do before traveling. She also plans to visit Banting's birthplace.
- She has written a monthly gardening column for ten years in Active Live, a publication of The Wichita Eagle.
- Her article about "plants that thrive in and around water features" will appear in Garden Guide 2009, a publication of Ol Farmer's Almanac...circulation 3, 250,000.
- She also belongs to a diabetes group which eagerly awaits her report from the National Canadian Diabetes Association. Banting and Diabetes are practically synonymous in Canada
- Additionally, Annette is involved with River City Writers, a weekly critique group; Wichita Professional Communicators; and Haworth Toastmasters.
- She also edits the KAC District Five newsletter. revised 9/1/2008
Past Meetings:
November 8: Nancy Avery did a Creative Writing Workshop. Nancy is a retired English, Journalism teacher, and much more. She will be inspirational and it will be lively.
December 13: KAC Convention Literary Contest Winners, plus other reading and celebrating the season.
November 8. Nancy Avery did a Creative Writing Workshop. Nancy is a retired English, Journalism teacher, and much more. She will be inspirational and it will be lively.
June 14. Katie Funk Wiebe, retired Bethel College English professor, presented a workshop on writing memoirs. Eleven writers attended.
2007-08 Officers of Kansas Authors Club, District 5
President:
Vice President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Newsletter:
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Virginia Hays
Judy Hatteberg
Dave Cloud
Ralph Dagenais
Annette Wood |
Below: Virginia Hays, Judy Hateberg, Dave Cloud, and Ralph Dagenais, are introduced as incoming officers by past president of District 5, Nancy Glenn. 
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