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September Meeting!

Where
Las Cruces Village (formerly Good Samaritan) in the Creative Arts Room, 3011 Buena Vida Circle. Enter through the main administrative building entrance (parking is to the east of the building) and GO DOWNSTAIRS to reach the meeting room.
When
2:30-4:30 pm, Saturday September 12th, 2026
Important Notes from the President
We will be doing our first LCW Book Club meeting tomorrow after the meeting, from 4:30-5:00 PM. If you are interested, please join us and bring a recommendation for our first read!
As announced in last month’s meeting, we will be voting on two Bylaw changes, as follows:
- Potential members are only able to join at the conclusion of their first meeting.
- The board can propose ratifications to the bylaws, to be voted on by all active LCW members in attendance, as needed at any meeting, given a one month proposal period for member deliberation.
If you have not yet, please bring $25 cash or check to renew your membership for the year.
Agenda
1. Welcome & Sign-In (2:30 PM)
- Presiding Officer: Kevin Schulmeister
- Call to Order: Welcome members, introduction of new guests, and attendance roll call.
2. Treasurer’s Report
- Leader: Rosemary Matos
- Focus: Brief overview of current club finances and budget updates.
3. Member Accomplishments:
- Submissions: Open floor for members to share recent publications, contest entries, or writing milestones.
4. Business & Announcements:
- October Book Festival- Please reach out to Kevin if you can volunteer to tend the table.
- Bylaws Voting
- Accountability Partner- Check-in.
- LCW T-Shirt- Design
Fenton Kay Wants to Mutate Our Children!

Las Cruces Writer and biologist Fenton Kay is at it again, teaching the child in all of us about the biology of sensory systems in his new children’s book, What If I Had The Eyes of a Cat or The Ears of a Bat? Now available on Lulu, the book takes me back to Thomas Nagel’s classic paper, “What is it Like to be a Bat.” that kicked off a greater appreciation of the conundrum of phenomenal conscious experience. Only now, I have to imagine not just holographic sonic terrain maps, but also enhanced night vision as I stalk through the tall grass. The child within me is fascinated!
Here’s a synopsis:
…Children are fascinated by how the natural world works. This book introduces sensory biology at a preschooler or kindergartener level. The story is about a boy and his grandfather, but it could be a girl and her grandmother. It depends on who is reading the book and for whom.
George Pintar Dreams of America
The American Dream by George Pintar explores one of the most enduring ideas in American life: the belief that through freedom, hard work, determination, opportunity, and perseverance, people can build better lives for themselves and their families. The book examines how this ideal developed from America’s founding principles and how it has influenced generations of Americans, immigrants, families, workers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers seeking a better future.
George recognizes that the American Dream has never meant the same thing to everyone. For some, it means owning a home, achieving financial security, or providing a better life for their children. For others, it means freedom, education, meaningful work, creativity, community, or the opportunity to pursue personal goals. Regional differences, cultural backgrounds, economic circumstances, and changing generations have all shaped how Americans understand and pursue the Dream.
At the same time, the book examines the challenges that can make the Dream difficult to achieve. Rising living costs, wage stagnation, economic inequality, discrimination, changing employment patterns, and unequal access to education and opportunity can create barriers. The authors also consider how technology and artificial intelligence may transform the American Dream—creating new opportunities while potentially disrupting traditional careers and increasing economic divisions.
Ultimately, The American Dream examines what America promises and what Americans continue to hope for. Pintar argues that the Dream is not a fixed destination, but an evolving ideal shaped by changing times and each generation’s experiences. Its future depends on preserving opportunity, encouraging individual initiative, strengthening communities, and keeping the possibility of …
Upcoming Events with LCW’s Charmayne Samuelson
Charmayne has the following exciting events coming in the next several months. Here they are, straight from her newsletter:
FRIDAY SEPT. 11 & SATURDAY SEPT. 12
Major Mata Ortiz exhibition, trunk show, powerpoint presentations, wine reception, and pottery demo and firing at the San Antonio Museum of Art.
I am honored to be attending this event with the world-famous Master Mata Ortiz potters, Hector Gallegos, Laura Bugarini, Paula Bugarini and Yetito Bugarini.
An opening wine/cheese reception on Friday with pottery and books, and on Saturday I will be sharing the unbelievable story of how it all began! Details in the flyer below. Pottery Sales and Book Sales!

SATURDAY OCT 3
SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO BOOK FESTIVAL
I will be attending with my books ready to autograph for you, and I will be leading a workshop. This will be the second year for this event, and it was hugely successful last year. Authors from all over the Southwest will have their books for sale, and there will be other special events.
THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, OCT. 8, 9, 10

I am very excited to launch the Spencer MacCallum biography En Espanol in Mata Ortiz, Mexico and will be attending a book signing event while there for the world-famous Concurso, competition of the potters. It is a fun and exhilarating weekend full of amazing art, delicious food, and wonderful friends!…
August Meeting (Note: downstairs again)

Where
Las Cruces Village (formerly Good Samaritan) in the Creative Arts Room, 3011 Buena Vida Circle. Enter through the main administrative building entrance (parking is to the east of the building) and GO DOWNSTAIRS to reach the meeting room.
When
2:30-4:30 pm, Saturday August 15th, 2026
Agenda
- Call to Order
- Welcome New Members
- Membership and Financials
- Member Accomplishments
- Proposal to ratify some bylaws (this is a proposal; the official vote will occur during our September meeting)
- Discussion for upcoming events
- Group discussion (resolutions for the next year)
- Member readings (THIS COULD BE YOU!)
- Writing prompts
- Time & Date of next meeting reminders
- Adjournment
No Meeting Today! Plan for Next Saturday.

Today’s meeting has been rescheduled to next Saturday, August 15th, in the downstairs meeting room. More to come!…
Volunteer for Southern New Mexico Book Festival!

SNMBF needs your help! If you love books, share your love with others at Southern New Mexico Book Festival.
Click here to sign up!
…July Meeting! (Note meeting room change)

Where
Las Cruces Village (formerly Good Samaritan) in the Creative Arts Room, 3011 Buena Vida Circle. Enter through the main administrative building entrance (parking is to the east of the building) and GO DOWNSTAIRS to reach the meeting room.
When
2:30-4:30 pm, Saturday July 11th, 2026
Agenda
- Call to Order
- Welcome New Members
- Membership and Financials
- Member Accomplishments
- Vote on next years LCW Board Members
- Readings by members?? (THIS COULD BE YOU!)
- Location location location. How location affects story.
- Writing prompts
- Time & Date of next meeting reminders
- Adjournment
Las Cruces Writer Eva Nevarez-St. John Showcased at the National Association of Memoir Writers!
This is exciting! Check out LCW’s Eva Nevarez-St. John showcased at the July Virtual Book Club of the National Association of Memoir Writers. If you are not familiar with her work, Eva recalls an odyssey of personal loss and recovery following her friend’s murder. You can learn more at Eva’s website, here.…




