Awards Ceremony and Haiku Workshop

Dear Poets,

Please join us Saturday, October 25, at the Hinsdale Public Library, 20 W. Maple Street, Hinsdale, for an afternoon of poetry.  The event will commence at 1 p.m. with a reading of the winners of the 2014 Poets and Patrons Contest, followed by a workshop on haiku and senryu led by Charlotte Digregorio.  Light refreshments will be served.

Attached is the workshop announcement, a list of the winners of the 2014 Poets and Patrons contest, and a list of the winners of the 2014 Helen Schaible International Sonnet Contest.

The event is free and open to the public.  The Hinsdale Public Library is located one block north of the BNSF Metra train station (Hinsdale station).

Caroline Johnson, President
Poets and Patrons of Chicago
http://jupiter-caroline.blogspot.com

More Haiku

Dear Poets  and Friends,

Learn all about haiku, enter an audience haiku contest, and view a Japanese brush painting exhibit  (sumi-e and haiga).

Come to the Glenview Public Library, 1930 Glenview Rd., Glenview, IL, Sunday, Nov. 9 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.! Please see the attached flyer and register with the Library.

Hope to see you there!

Best,

Charlotte Digregorio

Chicago Haiku Society

The next meeting of the Chicago Haiku Study Group will take place on Saturday, October 11th from 2-4pm at
D&Z Bookstore
5507 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
We will continue our study of the critical prose of Peter Yovu. Following this the group will critique individual haiku. If you would like your haiku critiqued, please bring 10 copies of up to 6 unpublished haiku. We will also discuss possible future programs. For further information, contact Lee Gurga at gurgalee@gmail.com

There is free parking available about a block from the D&Z Bookstore.  The address of the garage is at 3140 N Central Ave.—right around the corner!

Write! Chicago the 18th, Awards the 25th

October Meeting

Our contest is over and the winners will get to read their poem on October 25, 2014 at the Hinsdale Library. In addition, Charlotte Digregorio will lead a workshop on Haiku.

Write! Chicago Workshop

Looking for some inspiration?  Join us Saturday, Oct. 18, as Write! Chicago ventures to the Gage gallery at Roosevelt University, 18 S. Michigan Avenue, to view some photography exhibits.

The Gage Gallery at Roosevelt University is Chicago’s premier space for showcasing contemporary critical social photo-documentary (Newcity Art). The Gallery exhibits work that is consonant with the mission of the University and its ideals of social justice. It serves the academic goals of the University by hosting numerous public lectures, panel discussions, and symposia, which allow groups to learn about, and discuss, the important social issues of our time. Gallery exhibitions have explored themes including immigration, incarceration, gun violence, terrorism, mental illness, LGBTQ activism, and poverty.

We will meet at 11 a.m., disperse to view the exhibit, then convene to write and go to lunch.  It has been suggested that there are several cafes and restaurants nearby we can walk to. To RSVP, please e-mail Caroline Johnson at twinkscat@aol.com.  The museum is accessible by public transportation.


Contact Caroline Johnson at twinkscat@aol.com or 708-839-1699 for more information.

Contest Deadline Looms!!!!!

Poets & Patrons 58th Annual CHICAGOLAND POETRY CONTEST Deadline: September 1, 2014
PRIZES: $45, $20, $10 and three HMs in each category. Non-members may enter all open categories (1 poem per category) for $15; members may enter for $12. Each additional poem $2 ($1 for members).

1. #1  RELIGIOUS POEM (open to all)
   
2. #2  HUMOROUS POEM (open to all)
   
3. #3  FORMAL VERSE (open to all)
   
4. #4  FREE VERSE (open to all)
   
5. #5  SOCIAL CONSCIENCE (open to all)
   
6. #6  MINIATURE POEM (open to all)
   
7. #7  NATURE (open to all)
   
8. #8  MIDWEST THEME (open to members and Chicagoland residents)
   
9. #9  CHICAGO ART and/or ARCHITECTURE (open to members and
   Chicagoland residents)
   
10. #10  CHICAGO NEWS, POLITICS, & HISTORY (open to members and Chicagoland residents)
    
11. #11  CHICAGOLAND WATER: Waterways, Fountains, or other (open to members and Chicagoland residents)
    
12. #12  CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS (open to members and Chicagoland residents)
    

CONTEST RULES
Categories #1 through #7 are open to all. Categories #8 through #12 are open to members and other persons living within 100 miles of Chicago. Poems must be in English and unpublished. Poems may not be entered if they have won earlier cash awards from Poets & Patrons. Do not enter the same poem in two or more categories. Line limit: 60 lines. Miniature poem: 12 lines.
Type or computer-generate on 8 1⁄2 x 11” standard paper. Use no unusual fonts or graphics. Send 2 copies of each poem. In the upper right-hand corner of each copy, place number, category, form of poem (for Formal) and the title of the poem. At the top left of one copy, place ID (name, address, web address, and phone number of poet). Do not staple pages together, unless your poem takes a second page. Label these p. 1 and p. 2. Organize your entries by category number, first the identified copy, and then the unidentified copy. Please send all entries flat, in a single mailing, using first class mail, postmarked no later than September 1, 2014. Be sure to enclose your check ($15; $12 for members) made payable to Poets & Patrons, Inc.
If you want a winners’ list, enclose SASE.
Send entries, inquiries, and fees to: Barbara Eaton, Contest Chair, 416 Gierz Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515-3838. Poet retains all rights. Poems will not be returned. Judges are out-of-state professionals, and their decisions are final. Winners will be notified in mid-October, and awards will be presented at the Awards Celebration in late October. Winners will also be posted at www.poetsandpatrons.net.
POETS & PATRONS HONORED SPONSORS

Camile Balla
Charlotte Digregorio
John Gordon
Eve Lomoro
Donna Pucciani
Tom Roby
Jenene Ravesloot
Judith Tullis
Bakul Banerjee
Barbara Eaton
Caroline Johnson
Wilda Morris
Beth Staas
Linda Wallin
W. Clement Stone
The daughters of Helen Schaible

Poets and Patrons August Workshop

August 23, 2014 - POETS AND PATRONS CRITIQUING WORKSHOP: EKPHRASTIC POETRY – writing poems about other art
forms
Led By Donna Vorreyer and Cynthia Gallagher.
Ekphrastic poems are poems
written about works of art,
paintings, sculpture, or photo-
graphs. Most definitions include
poems about architecture, films,
novels, symphonies, operas,
and other arts as well. You can
find a large number of examples
of Ekphrastic poems side-by-side
with the works of art that inspired
them at http://valerie6.myweb.uga.edu/ekphrasticpoetry.html.
Donna Vorreyer’s collection, A House of Many Windows, is available from Sundress Publications. Her work has appeared in many journals including Rhino, Redactions, Lablettter, Linebreak, Cider Press Review, Stirring, Sweet, wicked alice, and Weave. Her fifth chapbook, We Build Houses of Our Bodies was released in late 2013 by Dancing Girl Press and her second full-length manuscript Washed with Hymns and Singing is slated for release in 2016.
Cynthia Gallaher is listed on Chicago Public Library's "Top 10 Requested Chicago Poets." Her most recently published chapbook "Omnivore Odes: Poems About Food, Herbs and Spices" was published by Finishing Line Press (2013). She holds a degree in the History of Art and Architecture from UIC and is working on a new manuscript "Leaning Tower of Touhy and Other Ekphrastic Poems."

Join us for this Poets & Patrons Workshop Saturday, August 23, at 1:00 p.m. in Room 6N (on the third floor of the Harold Washington Library at 400 S. State Street.) NOTE: THIS ROOM IS ON THE THIRD FLOOR. LIBRARY STAFF MEMBERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TELL YOU WERE WE ARE MEETING..
Some members will gather at Panera’s on the southeast corner of State and Congress (diagonally across the street from the library) between 11:30 and noon, to eat lunch or drink a cup of coffee or tea and socialize before the meeting. You are welcome to join us there.

Donna Vorreyer and Cynthia Gallagher

"Landscape with the Fall of Icarus"
William Carlos Williams (1962)
According to Brueghel when Icarus fell
it was spring
a farmer was ploughing his field
the whole pageantry
of the year was awake tingling near
the edge of the sea concerned
with itself
sweating in the sun that melted
the wings' wax
unsignificantly off the coast there was
a splash quite unnoticed this was
Icarus drowning
Upcoming Workshops:
October 25 at the Hinsdale Public Library: reading of winning poems from our annual contest, and a workshop on Haiku, led by Charlotte Digregorio.
Write! Chicago Workshop:
August 14, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Contact Caroline Johnson at twinkscat@aol.com or 708-839-1699 for more information.

The optional assignment for August is to write an ekphrastic poem, i.e., a poem inspired by a painting or another creative work. The poem can be free or formal verse. Poems submitted in advance will be critiqued at the meeting, if the author is present. You are always free to ignore the assignment and submit another kind of poem instead.
Members may mail their poems to Wilda Morris, 499 Falcon Ridge Way, Bolingbrook IL 60440, by August 13, or (preferably) email them to wildamorris@ameritech.net by August 17 (put P & P in the subject line). If mailing, send a check for $5 per poem submitted ($10 for non-members), made out to Poets & Patrons. (Non-members may attend a couple of meetings before deciding to join. Or send $20 for 2014 membership and $5 with a poem for critique). If you email your poem(s) bring your check to the workshop or mail it to Beth Staas at 1634 Barnsdale Road, LaGrange Park IL 60526. E-mail questions (or late poems) to Wilda. If you do not get a reply to an e-mailed poem, call Wilda at 630/739-2983 to be sure your poem was received. You may send a maximum of two poems for critique; the fee must be paid for each poem submitted.

Haiku Events

Haikuists

Please note two upcoming events and please RSVP:

Saturday, Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Winnetka (IL) Public Library, 768 Oak St., Winnetka, there will be a three-hour critique. You can bring poems to share or just come to listen and learn.

There is free parking both at the Library and across the street in the Village Hall area. As the time gets closer, I will know how many people will be attending and how many copies of your poems you should bring.

Critique is always beneficial for attendees, and many report having gotten poems published that we worked on collectively.

Saturday, Aug. 23, at 8 p.m. at Madame ZuZu's Tea House, 582 Roger Williams Ave., Highland Park, IL, I will be hosting a  poetry open mic. It is sponsored by Highland Park Poetry. Please attend and bring your best poems to share, whether haiku or other forms. (Read only tasteful poetry!) Madame ZuZu's has a nice ambiance, and many area poets and residents show up regularly.

Charlotte Digregorio
Midwest Regional Coordinator
Haiku Society of America

Write! Chicago August 14, 2014

Write! Chicago

Dear Poets,
Join us Thursday, August 14, for the next Write! Chicago outing as we venture up north to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum for a fun-filled afternoon.
The museums hosts many exhibits.  Some include:
Nature's Struggle:
Survival & Extinction
Take a guided journey through the history of biodiversity in three distinct time periods: 1820, 1905 and 2014. Experience the difference in our environment over time, the causes of those changes, and the startling consequences of our everyday actions.
The Dreams of Martha
Watercolors by Kristina Knowski
2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of the last known passenger pigeon, fondly known as Martha. Knowski’s work invites us to uncover the mystery and fragile beauty of these long lost and threatened animals.
Judy Istock Butterfly Haven
The Judy Istock Butterfly Haven is the museum's internationally renowned signature 2,700 square foot greenhouse. Home to more than 1,000 butterflies (75 species), the haven is the perfect tropical retreat.

Other exhibits include “Prairie Splendor” (photography), “Rare Nature:  Endangered Species Print Project,” “Extreme Green House,” “Mysteries of the Marsh,” “Nature Trails,” “RiverWorks,” and “Birds of Chicago.”  If we can’t find a poem here, we are not poets!!

Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents. Normal admission is $9 for adults, and $7 for students and seniors (60+).
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is located at 2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614, or just off of Lake Shore Drive at Fullerton Parkway.  It seems like driving is the best way to get to the museum, and free parking is available on Cannon and Stockton Drive.
 
We will meet at 11 a.m. by the entrance.  As usual, we will disperse to view the various exhibits individually, then convene to write and share and eat lunch.

To RSVP, e-mail Caroline Johnson at twinkscat@aol.com.  A group of us will be carpooling from the western suburbs, so if you want to join our group, let us know in your e-mail.

Write! Chicago July 12, 2014

Dear Poets,

Join us Saturday, July 12, for the next Write! Chicago event at the Chicago Historical Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago.  We plan to meet at 11 a.m. at the entrance of the museum, and depending on the number of people who attend, either have a self-guided tour or just view the exhibits individually. 

New exhibits include a photography exhibit on the nation's railroads (Railroaders: Jack Delano's Homefront Photography), a photography exhibit on Urban Chicago (Vivian Maier's Chicago), and an exhibit entitled "Lincoln's Chicago."  There are also many, many permanent exhibits about the rich history of Chicago and Illinois.

A visit to the museum could inspire you to write poetry about Chicago.  Remember that there are at least 4 categories in the upcoming Poets and Patrons contest dedicated to Chicago!

The normal admission price to the museum is $14 for adults (with audio tour), $12 for seniors and students. If we have at least 10 people going, we can organize a self-guided tour and the admission price will be $2 cheaper.  If you could RSVP to Caroline Johnson at twinkscat@aol.com by Tuesday, July 8, that would be great.


Directions
Address
The Chicago History Museum is located at the south end of Lincoln Park, on the corner of Clark Street and North Avenue,1601 North Clark Street.
CTA logo
Public Transportation
The Museum is easy to reach via public transportation. CTA buses 22, 36, 72, 73, 151, and 156 stop nearby. The Brown Line Sedgwick station and Red Line Clark/Division station are also located approximately one half-mile from the Museum.

Parking
Public parking is conveniently located one block north of the Museum at Clark and LaSalle Streets; enter on Stockton Drive.

Poets and Patrons Contest 2014

Dear Poets,

It's time again to start thinking about the Poets and Patrons contest, which is a unique national contest with a Chicago focus.  This year we have expanded categories for a total of 12--7 are open to anyone, and 5 are open to members only or those who live within 100 miles of Chicago. Several of those categories also have a Chicago-related theme.

If you are a member, you also get a discounted rate--$12 to enter one poem for each of the 12 categories ($1 per additional poem).  For non-members, it costs $15 to enter the contest, and $2 per additional poem.  See the attached contest guidelines.

Not a member?  Now might be a good time to join.  Our next workshop will be June 28 at the Harold Washington Library.  To join, send a check for $20 payable to Poets and Patrons to our treasurer, Beth Staas, 1634 Barnsdale Rd, #105, La Grange, IL  60526.

We hope you will join in the fun and spirit of crafting poems related to our windy city.

Poetically,

Caroline Johnson, President
Poets and Patrons of Chicago

Caroline Johnson
http://jupiter-caroline.blogspot.com

Oak Park Library Sunday April 13 at 2 PM

Dear Poets,

Looking for something to do this Sunday?  Want an afternoon of poetry?  Why not come out to the Oak Brook Public Library to hear some great poets read their stuff.

ISPS is sponsoring a Juried Poetry Reading this Sunday, April 13, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Oak Brook Library, 600 Oak Brook Road, Oak Brook, 60523. A total of 17 readers will be reading.

The readers include: Joan Colby, Bill Marr, Jenene Ravesloot, Tom Roby, Curt Vevang, Debby Rohde, Pam Larson, Nancy Schaefer, Beth Staas, Judith Tullis, Joe Glaser, Marilyn Giese, Gary Ketchum, Dan Miller, Wendy Morris, Caroline Johnson, and Carolyn Hellman.

We are hoping to provide some light refreshments.  There will be time before and after for some socializing...Also, the room seats 100, so feel free to bring family and friends.  If you are bringing some people, please e-mail me at twinkscat@aol.com.  The librarian wants us to have some kind of tally.

Caroline Johnson
http://jupiter-caroline.blogspot.com

Poetry Workshop with Tom Roby and Jenene Ravesloot

Today I attended the poetry workshop of Tom Roby and Jenene Ravesloot. It was amazing! There were several people who have written poetry for a while and also some complete newcomers. We used the hub and spoke method of putting ideas down. We freewrote for as long as we needed while Tom and Jenene walked around helping us. Then we tried to discern what the words were trying to tell us, with more advice from Tom and Jenene. I highly recommend you attend their next workshop on April 12, 2014 at the Sulzer Public Library from 1 to 3 PM. It's 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue and I learned today that the parking meters stop north of Montrose. Free on the street parking! Woot! How often does that happen? There is a good Pub on the corner on Montrose and Lincoln also. I had a good brunch with lots of interesting people to write about.

Sandra Marchetti speaks at Naperville Writers Group

Dear Poets,

Come out to Nichols Library, 200 West Jefferson Ave., Naperville, this Wednesday evening, April 2, from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. for a special presentation of poetry, sponsored by the Naperville Writers Group.  The event, moderated by Ray Simon, will feature keynote speaker Sandra Marchetti, along with other poets.

Please read the attached flyer for more information.

Caroline Johnson
http://jupiter-caroline.blogspot.com

CRADLE OF AMERICAN HAIKU FESTIVAL 4

There is going to be a CRADLE OF AMERICAN HAIKU FESTIVAL 4, July 25-27, 2014 in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. We have lots of good, interesting workshops and presentations, lots of good haiku, lots of food, and lots of good fun planned. I hope you can all come.
 The history and purpose of the Festival has been to honor famous Midwest Haikuists. THE CRADLE OF AMERICAN HAIKU FESTIVAL 1 honored Raymond Roseliep, the second FESTIVAL honored Robert Spiess, the third honored Don Eulert and Jim Bull. This one is honoring Randy Brooks, Lee Gurga and Charlie Trumbull.
Some of the workshops and presentations we are planning are: Photographic Haiga; Editing Your Haiku for Publication; Teaching Haiku (this will be directed towards workshops rather than the classroom); Oral Interpretation of Haiku; Kukai (stressing the various types of kukai); Haibun;
“Between Basho and Ban’ya (Bypassing Barthes: A New Brand of Haiku); Jun Fujita – the first Tanka Poet Published in the US; a panel discussion by our honored guests on where haiku has been and where it is going followed by a short critique session; a ginko walk; open readings both Friday and Saturday nights; and hopefully a renku party.
If you have a presentation you would like to make or an idea for a workshop, please let me know – at this point, nothing has been set in stone and the schedule has not been set.
As in the past, THE FOUNDRY BOOKS will sell your books for you during the Festival. We will take 1.00 per book to cover our expenses. Please bring 2 copies of the list of the books you are selling (one for the customers to use and one for the desk so that Kelly has a master list to help her).
The FESTIVAL will also include the quarterly meeting of the HAIKU SOCIETY OF AMERICA.
The fee for the FESTIVAL will be $45.00 which includes the opening reception, all workshops and presentations, snacks and beverages during the weekend, and Saturday night dinner at the Walker House.
Check www.mineralpoint.com for accommodations and to make your reservations. The Walker House will give us a lower rate on meeting rooms, etc. if several stay there. Places are filling up fast, so I suggest you make your reservations soon.
I’d also appreciate it if you can let me know if you plan to attend so I have a general idea of how much food, how many dinner reservations and how much meeting space we will need. If I know by mid-July that will be good.
If you have any questions, please email and I’ll do my best to answer.
Thanks, and I’ll see you in July!
Gayle Bull
THE FOUNDRY BOOKS
105 Commerce Street
Mineral Point, WI 53565
info@foundrybooks.com
608-987-4363

Chicago Haiku Workshop

The next meeting of the Chicago Haiku Workshop will take place on Saturday, March 29th from 2-4pm at

D&Z Bookstore
5507 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641

Lee Gurga will make a brief report on the HSA meeting this past weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. Following this the group will critique individual haiku. If you would like your haiku critiqued, please bring 10 copies of up to 6 unpublished haiku. We will also discuss possible future programs. For further information, contact Lee Gurga at gurgalee@gmail.com

Poetry Month is Coming

Tom Roby and Jenene Ravesloot are proud to announce a very exciting set of writing workshops as part of the Chicago Public Libraries’ 2014 Poetry Fest.  The workshops will explore and discuss writing skills and poetic techniques, including often overlooked

ones like the use of effective titles and vocalization.  Three of the four workshops are scheduled from 1-3 pm for the first three Saturdays in April at Sulzer Regional Library.  Each will focus on one of the basic activities in creating poems: inspiration, formulation, and presentation, using an aspect of the general topic of Spring in Chicago.  These workshops will culminate in a performance in which the poets will read their completed poems from 12-1 pm in the Harold Washington Library Center as part of the Poetry Fest events on the final Saturday of National Poetry Month.  The performances will be backed by the improvised sounds and music of Omniphonic’s Lem Roby on his synth guitar. Since the workshops are dialogic and cumulative we are asking for a commitment to all four workshops from the participants, if possible.  These are open workshops.  We look forward to seeing you there. 

Poetry Workshop Series
Engaging the Muse in Spring I
Tom Roby & Jenene Ravesloot

Saturday, April 5, 1 PM
Sulzer Regional Library
4455 North Lincoln Avenue
Free Admission

Poetry Workshop Series
Engaging the Muse in Spring II
Tom Roby & Jenene Ravesloot

Saturday, April 12, 1 PM
Sulzer Regional Library
4455 North Lincoln Avenue
Free Admission

Poetry Workshop Series
Engaging the Muse in Spring III
Tom Roby & Jenene Ravesloot

Saturday, April 19, 1 PM
Sulzer Regional Library
4455 North Lincoln Avenue
Free Admission

Poetry Workshop Performance
Engaging the Muse in Spring IV
Workshop Participants

Saturday, April 26, 12 PM
Harold Washington Library Center

400 South State Street

Free Admission

Another Poetry Event

Antler & Jeff Poniewaz, Two Milwaukee Poet Laureates in one day?
Saturday May 3, 2014; Unity Temple, 875 Lake St. (Kenilworth & Lake) Oak Park, IL (2-4 pm & 8 pm).
Antler Workshop, 2-4 p.m.--(Tickets $15 now available - order now as space is limited)
Jeff Poniewaz Reading?doors open 7:30, open mic 8; Feature at 9

Open Mic Saturday, March 8

Monthly Open Mic beginning March 8, 2014 - sponsored by Naperville Writers Group (NWG), Illinois State Poetry Society (ISPS), and Poets and Patrons of Chicago.

Time: Second Saturdays, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Wicked Good Café, 790 Royal St George Dr #140, Naperville, IL 60563
(331) 457-5566. The café is easily accessible from Ogden Avenue and there is a big parking lot.

Authors and poets are encouraged to present their short works for eight minutes or less. Poetry, reflections, flash fictions and excerpts from longer stories are ideal for this event. Since children might be present at the venue, readers are requested to be considerate. The event will be mildly moderated.

Poetry Events in March

Dear Poets -

March is coming up fast and so are several submission deadlines.  Get moving and don't miss out on the following:
March 1st - submit poems about Animals (30 lines or fewer) for joint ISPS/Highland Park Poetry display at the Highland Park Public Library. Visit www.highlandparkpoetry.org for details.
March 3 - deadline for 2014 Poetry Challenge.  This year's options: Colors, Fairy Tales & Legends, and Cinquains.  Submission guidelines and entry form attached.
March 13 - deadline for East on Central.  Visit www.eastoncentral.org for submission guidelines and entry forms.
Jennifer Dotson is offering Poetry Writing Workshops on Tuesdays in March from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.  Workshops held at comfortable and conveniently located Coldwell Banker Office at Second Street/Laurel in downtown Highland Park.  Cost is $20/session or $75 for all four.  Space is limited so register now by contacting jennifer@highlandparkpoetry.org.

NW Suburban Poetic Moment Meetup presents "Fun & Games" - Pam Larson facilitates a free writing workshop in Rolling Meadows on March 2 at Coffee Planet.  See attached flyer for details and how to rsvp.

Highland Park Poetry presents two (2) fabulous poetry events in March:


Friday, March 14 at 8:00 p.m. at The Art Center (1957 Sheridan Road) - Donna Pecore Reading & Poetry Open-Mic.  Donna Pecore reads from Bindle Stick, winner of Journal of Modern Poetry Book Award published by Chicago Poetry Press.  Copies available for purchase.  Refreshments served.  Poets may bring up to 6 poems to share.


Saturday, Amrch 29 at 8:00 p.m. at Madame ZuZu's (582 Roger Williams Avenue) - Tania Runyan Reading & Poetry Open-Mic.  Highland Park Poetry welcomes back prolific poet/author Tania Runyan.  Her recent publications include Second Sky and How to Read a Poem.  Poets may bring up to 6 poems to share.
BONUS OPPORTUNITY - Poets may participate in Highland Park Poetry's Synesthesia Project at both of the events.  This is a stimulating exercise inspired by the surrealist poets that will expand your mind and your imagery.

Please share this information with other creative folks you know!

Many thanks,
Jennifer
www.HighlandParkPoetry.org

ISPS Poetry Critique March 1

Dear Poets,

The Illinois State Poetry Society will be having a poetry critiquing meeting on Saturday, March 1, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Hinsdale Public Library, 20 E. Maple Street.  Bring 8 - 10 copies of up to 2 poems, a food item to share, and a drink for yourself.

The Hinsdale Library is located just one block north of the Metra train station.
Caroline Johnson
http://jupiter-caroline.blogspot.com

Indiana State Federation of Poetry Clubs Contest

Hello Poets.

I hope you had a good weekend. This is Caroline Dewey, Contest Director for Indiana State Federation of Poetry Clubs (ISFPC).

Our 36th Annual Fall Rendezvous Contest brochure has been printed, and is going out for competition. You can be part of this excellent contest.

We have over 16 forms of poetry represented, two anonymous sponsorships, interesting subjects called for, and a highest prize ever, with our #1 Category on friendship (see brochure); First Place award = $250.00; Second place prize = $150; and Third Place = $100. Now that is lovely!

Several other notable and exciting categories are contained. We achieved more categories this year than in the last two years at least, resulting in sponsorships for 31 categories! One category specifically names a high school teacher, who is being honored. Have you ever had a teacher who made a great impact on your life?!  This was that perfect reflection. We hope you try your hand at this contest, as your writer mentor would be proud.

If you have questions or comments, please private e-mail or call me. I would be happy to answer.  Entries begin being received beginning July 1st. Please have your membership in before the new (July 1st) period, to be counted as an ISFPC member (at the reduced rate), all other non-members may enter at the slightly higher amount. Have some fun and enter. Thanks. Happy writing, and wishing you the best! Have a great day.

Open Mic March 8th

Dear Poets and Writers, Come join us on March 8 for the first ever open mic in Naperville!!

Monthly Open Mic beginning March 8, 2014 - sponsored by Naperville Writers Group (NWG), Illinois State Poetry Society (ISPS), and Poets and Patrons of Chicago.