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44 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | MAY 2025 | Creative Writers We meet each month in the Main Clubhouse Multipurpose Room on the first Tuesday from 1 to 3 pm and the third Thursday from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. Contact Thomas May for further information at (951) 743- 2127 or email thomasmay0922@gmail.com. Songwriting is back. At the time of this article, the Sun Lakes Writers Club is planning one or more meetings involving people in Sun Lakes with an interest, and perhaps some experience, in writing songs. Why write a song? Why write anything? Because you have something to say. If you decide that a song is a vehicle for making your statement, it is probably because of a song that had a profound effect on you. Some common themes for a song are love songs, songs that tell a story (fact or fiction), songs of mourning for a beloved friend or family member, or songs of protest. Your motivation will influence not only what you say, but how you say it. Your theme will drive your words and feelings, which in turn will drive your music. You will choose the rhyme and meter for your lyrics to convey your feelings — glad or sad or mad. Then you will choose music to express your feelings. The music can be fast or slow, loud or soft, major or minor. Alternatively, the melody may pop into your head, capturing your mood and driving your lyrics. Indeed, when writing your song, you will likely move back and forth between the lyrics and music. Our Creative Writers Club has several experienced writers in many forms of literature. Come join us at Creative Writers Club meetings to share your ideas in a friendly setting, and listen to the writings and opinions of others. You will find this very stimulating. At our April club meeting we had our new Executive Director Ed Luna open the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. He then shared his thoughts and comments on continuing the support, assistance, education, and activities of our club with close to 150 members. We discussed the success of the recent group tour of the Palm Springs Air Museum and the plans for a tour at the March Field Air Museum in May or June. Doug Emery, Club Treasurer and Information Manager, reviewed the positive bank account financials of our club and goals of giving back to our Veteran community along with updates from our previous representative from Faith in Action. Special guest was Anita Worthen, from the Four Seasons Veterans Club and SGP Veterans Expo Organizer. Guest speakers were Lilian Averette, Caseworker/Senior Field Representative and Priscilla Garcia, Veterans Caseworker with U.S. House of Representative with Raul Ruiz, U.S. representative for California's 25th congressional district. Club Member Steve Cifelli, USMC, gave a brief overview of his military service. Our regular monthly meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at 9 am in the Main Clubhouse Ballroom. For more information or questions, contact Ed Luna at (949) 689-0007 or ebrmn@yahoo.com or Doug Emery at (951) 377-1145 or emeryd1212@gmail.com. Veterans Group L-R: Ed Luna - Executive Director of Veterans Club of Sun Lakes; Emmanuel Herrera, Veterans Service Field Representative, Riverside County District 5; Lilian Averette, Caseworker/Senior Field Representative, California's 25th congressional district; Anita Worthen, Veterans Coordinator of Pass Veterans Expo; and Priscilla Garcia, Veterans Caseworker, California's 25th congressional district