In This Issue

Our New Look Coming attractions: Schmooze the Muse Be Our Guest! Programs & activities: Reading Circles Writing Circles Austin OWL-Circle Workshops Internet Chapter News Neat stuff to buy: Story Circle Notecards Story Circle T-Shirts Journal Back Issues

Our New Look

With this issue, we're inaugurating a new look for our email newsletters. We hope you'll like it and find it easier to read. Thanks to Peggy Moody for putting it all together!

Schmooze the Muse

Join us this summer for one (or more!) of our three Saturday writing intensives, Schmooze the Muse. These day-long workshops will encourage you to explore and share your personal story, discover creative new approaches to lifewriting, and schmooze that elusive, reclusive Muse! For more information see www.storycircle.org/Workshops/SchmoozeTheMuse.shtml.

Be Our Guest!

The Austin Chapter invites chapter members and their guests to attend our summer "Be Our Guest" programs. Both will be held at the LCRA Colorado Room, 3700 Lake Austin Blvd. (see a map here: www.storycircle.org/graphics/LCRA_map.html). Sunday, June 23, 2-4pm: This event will feature Judith Helburn leading the group in a playful romp through storytelling, fantasy, and fact. Also featured will be members of Judith's writing circle, reading some of their works. Sunday, August 25, 2-4pm: PJ Pierce talks about her new book, Let Me Tell You What I've Learned: Texas Wise Women Speak, a collection of wisdom gathered in interviews with 25 well-known Texas women. Carolyn Blankenship's Write On! circle will also share selections from their work.

Reading Circles

The Austin Chapter Reading Circle meets monthly to read and discuss women's memoirs, autobiographies, and journals. May's book: Perfection of the Morning: A Woman's Awakening in Nature by Sharon Butala. Our study questions are here: www.storycircle.org/Reading_Circle/rc_sched02.html. In June, we're discussing Flat-Footed Truths: Telling Black Women's Lives, edited by Patricia Bell-Scott. For information on how to join, go to www.storycircle.org/Reading_Circle.

Writing Circles

Interested in meeting with other women to write and share stories? Please join one of our Austin Chapter Writing Circles for support, encouragement, and ideas for life-writing topics. The Circles meet monthly: Laylee Muslovski leads the Temple Writing Circle. It meets in the Temple Public Library (100 West Adams, Temple, TX 76501) every Wednesday evening from 7-9pm. Contact Laylee Muslovski via email: pmuslovski@gt.rr.com or phone: 254-780-1890. If you live between Georgetown and Waco, this circle may be just what you've been looking for! Donna Remmert leads the Northwest Austin Writing Circle. Members meet at her home (3301 Far View Drive) every third Wednesday of the month from 4-6pm. If you would like information, contact Donna Remmert via email: donnaremmert@comcast.net or phone: 512-349-0811. (Note: This circle is closed to new members for the year 2002.) Carolyn Blankenship leads the Write On! Circle (formerly known as the South-Central Austin Writing Circle). It meets at the Senior Activity Center (3911 Manchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78704) on the 1st Tuesday of every month from 7-8:30pm. Contact Carolyn Blankenship via email: cb@io.com or phone: 512-443-5222. (Note: This circle is closed to new members through September, 2002.) Susie Kelly Flatau leads the Southwest Austin Writing Circle. It meets at the Serranos in Oak Hill or phone: 512-288-4614. (6510 W. Hwy. 290, Austin, TX 78735) on the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 7-8:30pm. Contact Susie Flatau via email: susie@wordsbysusie.com or phone: 512-288-4614. Judith Helburn leads the Fourth Tuesday Mid-Day Writing Circle. It meets at the Yarborough Branch Library from 11:30-1, and is accepting new members. Contact Judith Helburn via email: thehelburns@sbcglobal.net or phone: 512-454-7229. Carolyn Scheider leads the Spicewood Springs Writing Circle. It meets at the Spicewood Springs Branch Library on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 12:15-2pm. Contact Carolyn Scheider via email: carjos7@aol.com or phone: 512-258-8635. (Note: This circle is closed to new members through September, 2002.) For more information, visit the Austin Chapter Writing Circles web page: www.storycircle.org/AustinChapter/WritingCircle.shtml.

Austin OWL-Circle Workshops

Are you a woman over 60? Do you want to write about your life? Our Austin OWL-Circle Memoir Project is for you! This 5-week series of half-day workshop sessions is now being offered at area churches and senior centers, and we're making a list of people who would like to join the next available workshop. For information, contact Pat Flathouse at pflat@austin.rr.com or 512-347-7687. If you know of a church, women's group, individual's home, or senior residence that would like to sponsor an OWL-Circle workshop, or if you would like to facilitate one of these groups, let Pat know.

Internet Chapter News

The chapter now has 152 members, 12 Writing eCircles, and a Reading eCircle. If you're a Story Circle member and want to join our cyber-circle, click on Internet Chapter. If you're not a member but are interested in joining the Network, check out the Story Circle web site (www.storycircle.org).

Story Circle Notecards

We are very pleased to announce Judy Fettman's brand-new notecards! Judy created the cards from the swirly-patterned cover of the SCN conference workbook. We liked them so much that we asked her to make them available to you, which she has done -- and at a very reasonable price: $5 for 6 cards (shipping/handling included) $10 for 12 cards (shipping/handling included) Use our online form (http://www.storycircle.org/frmnotecard.shtml) to order yours today (and to see photos of the front and back of the card), and send your check to Judy Fettman 1805 Chaparral Rd Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Story Circle T-Shirts

Life is not complete without your Story Circle t-shirt. Your purchase helps the SCN do its work to educate others about the importance of women's stories. Buy one or two for yourself, and several more for gifts! Fruit of the Loom "Heavy Cotton" (100% cotton) Beige with purple printing Logo on front, motto on back: “What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split open.”—Muriel Rukeyser Available in medium, large, 1X, 2X, & 3X $16 (shipping/handling and tax included) Use our online form (http://www.storycircle.org/frmtshirt.shtml) to order yours today (and to see photos of the front and back of the shirt), and pay online (via PayPals) or send your check for $16 (specify size) to Story Circle Network P.O. Box 500127 Austin TX 78750-0127

Journal Back Issues

The Story Circle Journal (www.storycircle.org/journal.shtml) is a unique publication dedicated to helping women tell their personal stories, now in its sixth year. Missing some issues? You can buy back issues here: (www.storycircle.org/frmjournal.shtml).

Meet Our Chapter President

Meet Carolyn Scheider

	Who We Are & How to Join Us If you're receiving this e-Letter but aren't a member, please join us. The Story Circle Network is a non-profit organization that honors women's voices and celebrates women's lives. We offer a quarterly newsletter with features on women's lifewriting opportunities to publish your work workshops, classes, on-line courses an Internet Chapter Speaker's Bureau much more Annual membership is only $24 U.S., $30 Canada/Mexico, $36 elsewhere. To join, click on Join SCN and pay on-line, or send a check to Story Circle Network P.O. Box 500127 Austin, TX 78750-0127
	Start your own Reading or Writing Circle We encourage you to volunteer to start your own writing circle or reading circle. We need more of these! If you are interested, please email Susan Albert(susanalbert@storycircle.org).
	Your Contributions Share your life. If you are a member of the Story Circle Network, please share your story with us. Check the Journal for details, or click on Writers Guidelines. Share your love. We offer free memberships to women in prison and reduced-rate memberships to women in need. If you would like to help these women find their voices and share their stories, go here and then click on "Our Sugar Bowl." (You don't have to be a member to contribute to this important program.)
	E-Letters Are you signed up for the National Story Circle e-Letter? We are now publishing two monthly e-Letters. This Austin-area e-Letter brings you news about Story Circle events and activities in the Austin, TX area, while the National e-Letter brings you writing tips, quotes, and book reviews. To subscribe to the National e-Letter, either go here and enter your email address, or click here to send your request by email.

Powered by groups.yahoo.com

Feel free to forward this e-Letter to friends and colleagues with appropriate credit to Story Circle Network.
This e-Letter is written and edited by Peggy Moody & Susan Wittig Albert.