COMMUNITY
Port St. Lucie Magazine 37
“Longtime members have listened and read
many of my drafts for this book,” he says. “This
group is truly a treasure.”
“For many of us, this is the highlight of our
week, getting to discuss our stories and receive
and provide useful feedback,” poet Judy Shaffer
says.
Shaffer and her husband, Larry Shaffer,
retired to Florida from Virginia. They have been
members of the group for several years. Judy
studied under the poet laureate of South Carolina
for a short time and is the only poetry writer
in the group. Larry Shaffer recalls listening to
his uncle from southern Virginia tell stories and
this led him to begin writing in his retirement.
Joann Stone, a retired nurse and clinical
instructor of 48 years, has been to four of the
group’s meetings and has enjoyed the rapport
and dialogue the group creates.
The writers group has wonderful chemistry
and welcomes new members with open arms.
They are supportive of writing goals and encourage
their colleagues to be honest with one
another.
“I was retired for about a year and started
searching for something that could fill my
time,” Stone says. “I came across this group in
the Morningside Library’s yearly calendar and
gave it a try. It’s been very refreshing, and I am
loving what I have been putting together to
bring to the group each week.” E
Allan Ramsay and Larry Shaffer enjoy the often lively discussion and say that these meetings
are a highlight of their week.
Listening as Hull comments during the meeting, Judy Shaffer is the only poet in the group. She studied under the poet laureate of South Carolina.