STROPHES
Vol. XLVI No. 1 August 2009
Dear Members
of NFSPS ~ I have served as President of the National Federation of State Poetry
Societies, Inc., for one year of my two year term of 2008 - 2010, and it was a
great honor to be the leading member on the NFSPS team when this wonderful
organization held its 50th Convention in June. Speaking of the team, while all
of the Executive Board are presently serving the second year of their elected
two year terms, and the NFSPS past presidents remain in service as Advisors,
there are changes regarding the one year term positions on my Appointive Board.
Still in place, is the policy I announced at the start of my administration,
that the team members whom you come in contact with will "go the extra mile" for
you in every way possible. (The NFSPS team roster follows below.)
Now serving the second year of my presidency, I am committed to the
continuance of the founder's vision for NFSPS, and I feel positive about the
future! ~ Sincerely
Nancy Baass, 28th President of NFSPS
P.S. to Budd Powell Mahan, 26th President of NFSPS: Thank
you, for being a mentor to me in NFSPS, as well as in our state Society, the
Poetry Society of Texas.
2009 Youth Award Recipients
Twenty-four NFSPS member state societies were recognized for
their efforts in serving the poetic needs of young people by such means as
offering reduced membership rates, conducting annual youth poetry contests,
publishing the poems of youth contest winners, sending entries to NFSPS'
Manningham Trust Competition, providing in-school programs and having an online
presence. Certificates were awarded to the NFSPS member society in each of the
following states;
AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, FL, GA, IN, LA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NM, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN,
TX, and UT.
2009 Poetry Day/Poetry Month Award Recipients
The NFSPS member society in each of the following seventeen states was awarded a certificate for member participation in programs/presentations celebrating National Poetry Day on October 15th and National Poetry Month during April: AR, CO, CT, IN, IA, KY, LA, MO, NJ, NM, OH, OK, TN, TX, UT and WY.
2009 Special Awards Recipients
Special Awards went to nine NFSPS member state societies that reported poetry activities of their individual members or groups that were really altruistic in nature, such as poetry readings to and/or poetry books given out to people in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, prisons, halfway houses and schools, publications in newspapers and magazines, appearances on TV or radio and at state fairs or festivals, and the novel approach of leaving poems in such places as lunch boxes, luggage and even under windshield wipers. The NFSPS member society in each of the following states received a certificate for adherence by its members to the motto "Those who have, give it away": CT, FL, MS, NJ, OK, OR, PA, TX and UT.
2008 Encore Cover Art Contest Winner
Paula Bird Broadshoe, San Antonio, TX.
2009 Manningham Trust Competition Winners
Junior Division: Grades 6 - 8 (105 entries)
Judge: Vera Ogden Bakker, West Bountiful, UT.
1 Amanda Valdovinos - (Home Schooled), Damascus, OR
2 Megan Lee - White Station Middle School, Memphis, TN
3 Savannah Swapp - Albion Middle School, Sandy, UT
4 Caroline Jones - The Hockaday School, Dallas, TX
5 Miranda Engebretson - Eureka Springs, AR
1 HM Jonah Fronk - Spring Creek Middle School, Providence, UT
2 HM Savhannah Carpenter - North Layton Junior High School, Layton, UT
3 HM Eric O'Risky - North Posey Junior High School, Poseyville, IN
4 HM Kay Dannenmaier - The Hockaday School, Dallas, TX
5 HM Shiloh Brandenstein - North Posey Junior High School, Poseyville, IN
Senior Division: Grades 9 - 12 (100 entries)
Judge: Joseph L. Whitten, Odenville, AL
1 Travis Wilson - Spruce Creek High School, Port Orange,
FL
2 Hiliary Webb - Layton High School, Layton, UT
3 Cassy King - Karl G. Maeser Preparatory School, Lindon, UT
4 Sam Evans - Germantown High School, Germantown, TN
5 Kara Diemer - Grand Junction High School, Grand Junction, CO
1 HM Julie Marshall - Germantown High School, Germantown, TN
2 HM Jessi Clayton - Rider High School, Wichita Falls, TX
3 HM Michael Horton - Germantown High School, Germantown, TN
4 HM Sarah Grunder - Seminole Ridge High School, Loxahatchee, FL
5 HM Kirsten Therkelson - Southmoore High School, Moore, OK
2009 College/University Competition Winners
Judge: Sue Ranglack, Murray, UT
Judge: Mary Christine Delea, Oregon City, OR
Edna Meudt Memorial Award
Sebastian Doherty, Littleton, CO, (Metropolitan State College of
Denver) for his chapbook
The Real Donner Party
Florence Kahn Memorial Award
Colin Chambers, Mankato, MN, for his chapbook
Gladly We Are Made Clumsy
Click the links below to view the 2009 Winners list and the 2010 Contest Categories and Rules
NFSPS 2009 Winners List & NFSPS 2010
Annual Contest Categories and Rules Minnesota weather wasn't the only thing that was just
about perfect as we met along the beautiful lakeshore of Lake Superior.
The
poets and poetry were outstanding the entire weekend! Thursday night included a
dinner cruise that took participants out on
Lake Superior through the elevated
bridge and around the beautiful harbor of Duluth, ending just in time to watch
the sunset and
view a large ship entering through the bridge.
The convention excitement continued with an opportunity to stroll the
boardwalk with writing workshop leaders John Rezmerski,
Diane Glancy, and Doris Stengel, assisted by Duluth natives who talked about the
history and the lake. Many new poems were born
on the spot!
Our featured speakers contributed greatly to our poetry wealth all Friday
and Saturday. Michael Dennis Browne discussed what the
poem wants; Connie Wanek contributed gentle and thoughtful ideas about patience
in poetry; Anna George Meek bestowed enthusiasm
and personal talent while melding poetry and music into a creative magic.
On Sunday Mark Doty, our keynote speaker engaged the other three speakers
in a lively panel discussion regarding complexity and
simplicity in poetry. On Sunday evening he celebrated the common threads all
poetry enjoys and shared some poems from his latest book.
There were open mike readings for all every morning and evening, with a
special "you be the judge" competition each time. Winners
were invited to give us an encore reading of the selected poem at the Sunday
Reception. Convention Madness winners also shared the
poems that brought them to Minnesota. At each meal Invocation Poetry winners
read their poems. A panel discussion with editors and
a writing critique workshop made certain the convention offered something for
all types of poetry enthusiasts.
Each night the hotel offered s'mores; day and night everyone was treated
to a view of Lake Superior. The entire location has to be included
among the natural treasures of our United States, just as we hope everyone
treasures their memories of a Superior NFSPS Convention.
Susan Stevens Chambers, Convention Co-Chairman Convention Madness Contest Winners 1st Place: Naomi Stroud Simmons, Ft. Worth, TX Invocation Poetry Contest Winners Charmaine Pappas Donovan, Brainerd, MN ~~A Note From the NFSPS President~~ Georgia Poetry Society held
its quarterly meeting on April 25, 2009, at the Georgia Center for Continuing
Education in Athens, GA.
Morning business concluded, members read a personally penned poem of their
choosing. The featured A. M. poet, Ginger Murchieson, was
enthusiastically and warmly received with much appreciation for her clear and
wonderful readings. The afternoon showcased a poetry workshop
under the expert leadership of outgoing President Ron Self, who entitled his
presentation, "The Right Word". ~Francie Smith-Roundtree, Reporter Indiana State Federation of Poetry Clubs
met on May 20, 2009, at the Anderson Public Library, sponsored by the
Anderson Poetry Corner.
Election was held and Shirley Reese was installed for her second term as
Secretary. Georganna Tressler as Treasurer, and Glenna Glee elected to complete
the term of the resigning President. Twenty-six members attended and a workshop
on "Punctuation" was conducted by Esther Towns. The Fall Poets
Rendezvous held in October to celebrate "Poetry Day" will be at Spring Mill
State Park, October 23 - 25, 2009, with Indiana State Poet Laureate,
Norbert Krapf, as Keynote Speaker. Amy Jo Zook will present a workshop on
"Critique." We will be using a musical theme and Peggy Martin, our
Premier Poet, will perform with her cello. Six ISFPC members were in attendance
at the NFSPS Convention and 15 awards were won by Indiana, four
of which were first places. Indiana has 118 members at present. Dues are now $18
per year. ~Glenna Glee, President Kentucky State Poetry Society
annual meeting and conference weekend will be October 16 - 18, 2009, at Pine
Mountain State Park in
Pineville, Kentucky. Gurney Norman, Kentucky Poet Laureate, will present a
program, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, on Saturday, October 17. That same
day, there will be an afternoon workshop by Frank X. Walker, Affriliachian poet
and writer-in-residence at Northern Kentucky University. Walker will
also be the keynote speaker at our Contest Awards Banquet. He is a winner of the
prestigious Lannan Literary Fellowship Award, and his latest book is
called When Winter Come: the Ascension of York, his fourth book of
poetry. This work is grounded in history and Walker's imagination; it follows a
slave who is little known but was a participant on the Lewis and Clark
expedition. This is a sequel to Buffalo Dance: the Journey of York.
Walker's
previous book. ~Carol Mauriello, President Maine Poets Society May meeting was
held at Muddy Rudder Restaurant in Brewer. Dawn Potter was member judge and
judged the members'
poems in terza-rima form. She read from her book, Tracing Paradise: Two Years
in Harmony with John Milton. Guest Weslea Sidon judged poems
"Inspired by Another Poem" and also read from her own work. Our next meeting is
Saturday, September 19, 2009, at the Maple Hill Farm Inn in Hallowell.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will end at approximately 3:00
p.m., with a reading in the round. Guests are welcome. There is a registration
fee
which includes the cost of a light breakfast and full lunch. Member judge will
be Ruth Bookey, who has long been at the center of an active poetry circle in
central Maine. The outside judge will be Megan Grumbling, winner of the Ruth
Lilly Prize. Contests are for members only; guests are invited to participate
in the reading in the round. ~ Sally Joy Poetry Society of Michigan spring meeting
was held on April 18, 2009, at the Causeway Bay Hotel and Conference Center,
Lansing, Michigan, with
around thirty members attending. The business meeting included the appointment
and welcome of several new members, increasing the annual dues to $20, presenting a new look for Peninsula Poets, and other
general Business. Members read original poems after a presentation by Kathleen
McGookey on prose poems. ~Inge Logenburg Kyler, Historian Poetry Society of Oklahoma
celebrated National Poetry Month with a crowd of 300+ for the PSO "Oklahoma Lore
Statewide Youth Poetry
and Art Contest," April 15, 2009, at Southern Nazarene University, Bethany,
Oklahoma. Four Youth Poets Laureate, a Manningham Trust winner, and
teacher of the year received honors. Twin Hills Golf and Country Club is the
site of our two final events in 2009, our 75th Anniversary Year: August 15
we will gather for "The All Day Good Ole' Summertime Workshop," with seven
recognized poets leading seminars; our 75th Anniversary Diamond
Jubilee/National Poetry Day Awards/Election of Officers will be October 10 when
we receive our 75th Anniversary Chapbooks of PSO members'
poems. ~Vivian R. Stewart, President Oregon State Poetry Association
Student Poetry Contest winners received awards and read their poems to an
appreciative audience of
over 100 on May 9, 2009, Other news that day; Amanda Valdovinos won first prize
in the NFSPS Manningham Trust Student Poetry Awards, Junior
Division. OSPA, after a Spring Conference in Portland that attracted 65 members,
is now planning its Fall Conference to be held October 16 and 17 in
Newport at the Oregon Coast Community College campus. Featured poets and
workshop leaders are Laurel Blossom from South Carolina and Judith
Montgomery of Bend, Oregon. ~ Virginia Corrie-Cozart, Historian Pennsylvania Poetry Society held a
three day convention in Gettysburg, April, 30 - May 2, 2009. We were hosted by
the Gettysburg Chapter
of PPS, Inc. Highlights included a cemetery walk and meals at Farnsworth House.
Presentations to celebrate our 60th Anniversary were by Bert Barnett
DeAnna Spurlock, Linda Clark, Bernadette Atkins, and Dr. Christanne Miller. Our
special guests included NFSPS President Nancy Baass, and her mother
Mildred Vorpahl Baass. The continuation of the 60th Anniversary will be held at
Allenberry Dinner Theater in Boiling Springs on October 10, 2009. An
anthology to celebrate this remarkable achievement is in the works. ~ Joy
Campbell, Corresponding Secretary Poetry Society of Texas Student
Awards Festival was held on April 18, 2009, at the Dallas Public Library with
Poetry in the Schools Chairman Budd Powell Mahan officiating. PST President Jeanette L. Strother handed
certificates to those students present, who read their winning poems. Upon
arrival, students, with their families and friends were greeted, registered and
given the anthology containing all 1st Place winning poems and the names of
those who won other placings, along with the names of their teachers and schools.
Assisting with those duties were L. D. Carter, Sandy Wells, Peggy Wood, Amy
Sandberg, and Barbara Lewie Berry. ~ Nancy Baass Utah State Poetry Society April
Poetry Festival, a celebration for poets from across the state, featured guest
poet Lola Haskins, 2008 poet of the year Helen Keith Beaman, and announcement of book competition winner and USPS 2009
Poet of the Year, Gail Schimmelpfenning, who inspires as she writes
of her battle with cancer in The Frozen Kingdom. USPS will hold our
annual Book Concert for members and the public at the Salt Lake City Library,
October 10, at 7 p.m. There is no charge. Winter Workshops Chair Elaine
Christensen, replacing invaluable Maurine Haltiner, will host workshops
the second Saturday in November, January, February, and March. USPS is proud of
our Manningham Trust winning student poets, Savannah Swapp,
Jonah Fronk. Savhannah Carpenter, Hilary Webb, and Cassy King, and appreciate
all on the state and national level who worked to make recognition Wyopoets members celebrated Poetry
Month by sending poetry to friends and family, and giving poetry readings. They held their annual spring workshop in April at the Hampton Inn in Casper, Wyoming, with presenter,
Barbara Smith. Poems selected for a new chapbook were announced, and members
donated poetry books to sell, with proceeds going into our general fund. An
Excellence Award was presented to Abbie Taylor, our current Vice
President
and Web Liaison. In early June, many Wyopoets members attended the
Wyoming Writers annual conference in Casper, with featured presenter Ted Kooser.An Excellence Award was presented to Nancy Curtis, our former Treasurer and long
time contributor to many committees. ~ Linda Ruhle, News Reporter
Illinois State Poetry Society 16th Annual
Contest Categories: 1) Free Verse, 2) Formal Verse, 3) A poem
related to Abraham Lincoln and/or Charles Darwin. Helen Schaible International
Shakespearean/Petrarchan Sonnet Contest Open to all. Submit only one entry of either a Shakespearean or
Petrarchan sonnet. The entry must be original and Poets & Patrons 53rd Annual Chicagoland Poetry
Contest Category 7. Theme: The City of Chicago. Open to any poet, member
or non-member, living anywhere. DEADLINE: Missouri Poetry Society Summer Contest DEADLINE postmark September 1, 2009
Two copies of each entry, category number and name in upper left corner of both
copies, Lebanon Poets' Society 4th Annual Poetry
Contest DEADLINE: December 4, 2009,
Format: send two copies of each poem, include category and name of poem
on both copies Springfield Writers' Guild Annual Poetry/Prose
Contest DEADLINE October 1, 2009
Awards $5 - $100. 12 categories in poetry, fiction, and non-fiction,
unpublished. Fees $2 and $3, Utah State Poetry Society Poetry Competition Check the USPS website,
www.utahpoets.com, for information DEADLINE:
February 2, 2010 2010 Chaparral Poetry Forum Contest Redrock Writers and the Utah State Poetry Society join together
to offer $1000 in prizes. Rules can be found at
www.redrockwriters.org Wyopoets Poetry Contest Any subject, any form. Limit 40 lines. Published is O.K. Not won
a prize larger than $50.00. 1 or 2 for $3. Additional $1 each. Example --
5 for $6.00, no limit. $50-$30-$20 & HMs. 2 copies, 1 with identity. SASE for
winners list. DEADLINE November 30, 2009
Send to:
"A Superior Convention"
June 11 - June 15, 2009
Judge: Cathy Tenzo, Seattle, WA
2nd Place: Sue Ranglack, Murray, UT
3rd Place: Suz Anne Wipperling, Brainerd, MN
Honorable Mentions (Unranked, Alphabetical Order)
Jim Barton, Huttig, AR
Maurine Haltiner, Salt Lake City, UT
Sue Ranglack, Murray, UT
David Simms, Berryville, VA
David Simms, Berryville, VA
Margaret Lynch Siskow, Sigourney, IA
N. Colwell Snell, Salt Lake City, UT
Doris Stengel, Brainerd, MN
Doris Stengel, Brainerd, MN
Russell H. Strauss, Memphis, TN
Judge: Debbie W. Parvin, Fancy Gap, VA
Charmaine Pappas Donovan, Brainerd, MN
Charmaine Pappas Donovan, Brainerd, MN
Ron Self, Columbus, GA
Rose Ann Spaith, Columbus, OH
Colette Tennant, Salem, OR
The 2010 NFSPS Annual Convention will be held June 10th - 13th in Memphis,
Tennessee.
~~More information will be posted on the Convention page
as soon as available, Billy~~
News from NFSPS Member State Societies
possible for these young poets who are our future. ~ LaVerna B. Johnson,
President
Contests
Prizes: $50, $30, $10 3HM
Rules: Maximum length: one poem page. Type size 11 pt or higher, no
Columns. Poems in English only.
Submit two
copies of each poem, first copy with ID (name/address/e-mail) and category in
upper
left hand
corner; second copy without ID but with category. Entry Fee: Non-members,
$6.00
for up to 3
poems, $1.00 each additional poem. Members ISPS, $3.00 up to 5 poems, $1.00
each
additional poem. Simultaneous submissions accepted. No poems which have won
monetary
awards or
been published. Poems not returned. One out of state judge per category. Send
submissions
to: Marvin
Young, ISPS Poetry Contest Chair, 2382 Kildeer Street, Woodridge, Illinois 60517
Winners'
names posted on ISPS website,
http://www.illinoispoets.org
DEADLINE: must be postmarked October 30, 2009
unpublished. Submit 2 copies, typed double-spaced, on standard 8½" x 11" paper
with name and address on one
copy in the upper right corner but no ID on second copy. First Prize $50.00,
Second Prize $35.00, Third Prize $15.00
Three Honorable Mentions, Unranked. Three Special Recognitions, Unranked. There
is no fee. Winners will be
notified by November 1, 2009. The poet keeps all rights. No entries will be
returned. Enclose a SASE for the
winners' list. All rules printed here. Mail entries,
postmarked by September 1, 2009 to
Barbara Eaton, 416 Gierz Street,
Downers Grove, IL 60515-3838
September 1, 2009. Line limit: 60 lines Fee: $3. Send entries,
inquiries, and fees to Barbara Eaton, Contest Chair,
416 Gierz Street, Downers Grove IL. 60515
poet's name and address in upper right corner of one copy. If member, put
"Missouri State Poetry Society" below your address, otherwise
put "non-member". 40 or fewer lines. May be previously published if poet retains
the rights to the poem; may enter each category as many
times as poet wishes. Categories: 1) rhymed verse or blank verse, 2) free verse,
3) Humorous verse, 4) any form, summer subject,
5) poet's choice (any form, any subject). Members pay $1 for two entries.
Non-members pay $1 per entry. Payable to MSPS
Send to: Billy Adams, 12600 Mckinstry Road, De Soto, MO 63020. SASE or
email address on a 3 x 5 index card for list
of winners.
in left corner; on one copy include name and address in right corner. Limits:
poems should be 36 or fewer lines. Poets may enter as
many poems as they wish in any category. Poems will not be returned. Poets
retain the rights to their poems. Enclose a self-addressed
stamped envelope. Categories: 1) Rhymed or blank verse, any subject, 2) Free
verse, any subject, 3) Poet's Choice: any form, serious
or humorous Fees: $3.00 per poem. Make checks payable to Velvet Fackeldey
Prizes: $25, $15, $10 and honorable mention in each
category Mail entries to: Nancy LaChance, 14940 Hwy 64, Lebanon, MO 65536
depending on category. Poetry limit, one page. Prose limits 1,000 to 1,500
words. For flyer, send SASE to Dr. Jerry Wible,
SWG Contest, 2987 E. Kemmling Lane, Springfield, MO 65804. Information:
jwible@sbcglobal.net, (417) 889-8370
or
Mandy Barke, mandybarke@yahoo.com,
(417) 830-7660. Winners announced at the October 24th meeting.
Submissions accepted July 1 through November 1, 2009, deadline.
Contact D. Gary Christian at vikingbajabb.com about the
mid-March Redrock Writers Seminar in southern Utah where winners will be
announced.
Contest Director, Eugene Shea, P. O. Box 490, Hanna, WY 82327