NC Poetry Society Spring 2003 Spring meeting Pinesong Saturday, May 17 Weymouth Center, Southern Pines Debut Edition 9:15 Registration, and pay for lunch by Rebecca J. Mitchell Please make time to express to them, their parents, and teachers the recog- Imagine a day when first-time and 10:00 Business meeting, installation nition they deserve. of 2003 officers (see p. 6) well-seasoned poets alike come to- gether in a magnificent setting to read Lunch 10:15 Pinesong dedication their work. May 17 is the NCPS An- A catered lunch (see p. 2), for those nual Awards Day at the Weymouth who have made reservations, will be Center for the Arts & Humanities in served at noon. Or you may bring 10:30 Poet Laureate, McDill, Southern Pines, a celebration to honor your own. Lunch is a good time to and student contest awards winners in a variety of categories— check out the book room and the nine adult and five student contests. journal swap, browse the Weymouth Noon Box lunch ($8.50, see p. 2) Awards Day is traditionally the high- gardens and sit a few moments on or bring your own light of the year and this year is par- the new Gladys Owings Hughes me- ticularly notable with the debut edi- morial bench. The afternoon session tion of Pinesong (see p. 9). Each win- will be a presentation of the remain- 1:15 Adult contest awards ner will receive one copy, along with ing adult awards. Plan to come and a certificate of recognition, and with be a part of this special day. some awards, a monetary prize. Cop- Making it all work THE NEWS INSIDE ies of Pinesong will be available for Please note the names of the board $9 each—dues-paid members may 2 President’s message pick up one free copy. members and committee chairs. Many hours of behind-the-scenes 3 SRPF, and a new Mars Hill festival Dedication work are required to issue the news- 4 Welcome, new members The 2003 Pinesong dedication letter, coordinate the contest, publish (immediately following a short busi- Pinesong, manage the membership 5 National Poetry Month events: ness meeting) honors a Poetry Society and the finances, maintain the Web Wilson, Elon, Flat Rock member who has devoted years of pages, set up programs, and more. If 6 Program Endowment Campaign generous service, inspired great inter- you’re motivated to join the fray and The 2003 officers est in the study of poetry, and nurtured take up a task, please let us know. novice poets. 7 Kudos! Restoring our home Morning awards Consider, too, Weymouth—this 8 Change in Editors We complete the morning program beautiful place that NCPS calls New LINKS page with the Poet Laureate, McDill, and “home.” Much restoration has been student contests awards. It’s always 9 Naming Pinesong completed recently, but maintenance encouraging to see the enthusiasm of of the house and grounds is a perpet- Poetry: Elkin, Pine Knoll Shores the students and the quality of their ual responsibility. Please pick up a 10 Student contests and book award work. What an honor it is for them to brochure and learn what you can do have their poems selected by eminent to show appreciation and concern for 11 PCNC 2003 contests judges and published in a handsome the future of this historic property 12 Officers and committee chairs volume along with established poets. and its spirit. April 1, 2003 1 North Carolina Poetry Society PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: plant your poems, spring is near! by Bill Blackley NCPS-sponsored events on April 12 A new project taking shape may want to register for the Carl The board is also working on a poetry Hi, all! I trust you’ve had enough ice Sandburg celebration occurring in proposal involving Marie Gilbert and and snow for this year. A wonderful Flat Rock on the same day (see de- Fred Chappell that promises to offer spring is near, so get your spinach, let- tails, p. 5). Later this year, an NCPS- exciting poetry opportunities in North tuce, and poems out, and plant them. sponsored poetry event is scheduled Carolina for the future. More news will January redux for Mars Hill on October 12, 2003. be forthcoming about the projects as Pat Riviere-Seel, Ed Seel, Shontel For those who were not at the January they take shape. Jung, Rachelle Rogers, Kathryn meeting we had a delightful time. Alan Stripling Byer, and Keith Flynn are Teaching poetry in NC Michael Parker talked about meta- planning this program. Both the Wil- Offering a variety of poetry events is phors and links between words in po- son and Mars Hill events will be a visible mission of our Poetry Society, etry, and Fred Chappell read and Weymouth-type meetings of the Po- but we also have another important talked in his inimitable style. Leon etry Society—and be closer to home mission: to encourage the reading, Hinton, Becky Mitchell (for Sharon for our eastern and western members. writing, and enjoyment of poetry Sharp), Marsha Warren, Ellen Johns- among young students in North Caro- ton-Hale, Annella Rockson, Joy Acey Awards Day lina. I am happy to report that Libby Frelinger, and David Hughes all spoke Our awards day on May 17 is just Campbell, Caren Stuart, and Janice in memory of Gladys Owings Hughes around the corner. If you have a win- Sullivan are working on lesson plans as we dedicated a teak garden bench in ning poem—congratulations—and for teaching poetry in North Carolina her honor on the grounds of Weymouth. please come to Weymouth to read schools. When the plans are com- Marshal Berg, President of Friends of your poem. If you did not win, please pleted, they will be made available to Weymouth, graciously thanked the Po- attend the meeting to hear both the schools so that teachers, or volunteers, etry Council of North Carolina, and adult and student contest winners may use the plans to introduce poetry NCPS, for the donation of the bench. read. Thanks are due to John Ferree to young students. Poetry in April (Adult Contest Chair) and Libby nd Campbell (2 Vice President for Stu- I hope to see you soon at a poetry April is National Poetry Month. The dent Contests) for the great job they event near you! good news about April is that several have done this year with the difficult poetry events are available for you to task of running the contests. attend. The bad news is that both Poetry SRPF MAY 17 LUNCH Day at Elon University, and the poetry workshop at Barton College occur on We are deep into our planning for INSTRUCTIONS the same day: Saturday, April 12! This the Sam Ragan Poetry Festival on is an unfortunate overlap, but please June 28. I hope all of you will come Nature’s Own will provide a box lunch plan to attend one of the events. Janice and join us for a day of festivities, for $8.50 (tax included) Sullivan and Leon Hinton have music, friendship, and poetry. In re- worked hard to coordinate NCPS sup- sponse to your requests following last To make your reservation, e-mail port for the long-running Poetry Day at year’s festival, much more time for [email protected], or call Re- Elon. This event will feature a work- open mike is planned, along with becca J. Mitchell at 843-335-6676. shop by Mark Smith-Soto: and Elon other entertainment. Stephen Smith Specify your selection of chicken, students will read their winning poems is playing, and Shelby Stephenson tuna, turkey, or vegetarian. Sweet from Colonnades, the literary and arts hopes to join us. Emily Hancock and iced tea is included. Make your check journal of Elon University. The Wilson her old-time band will play during payable to Eclectic 195 (NOT the event at Barton College is happening lunch. Keith Flynn, poet and found- Poetry Society). Send your check to because of the vision, hard work, and ing editor of the Asheville Poetry Re- Rebecca at: 4379 Union Church program input of Nancy King, Katie view, will be a guest reader/musician; Rd., McBee, SC 29101. Advance Barnes, Becky Smith, Marty Silver- and Jaki Shelton Green will also payment is preferred, but you may thorne, Gerald Barrax, and Sally read. We hope John Ferree will play pay (by check or cash) at registration Buckner. Thank you, all. and sing as well. If you would like to the day of the meeting. We must have an estimate of the number and selec- Poetry in western NC sing, play, or read a special poem, please contact Becky Mitchell or me. tions in advance, so please make Members in the western part of North your reservation by May 5. Carolina who cannot attend one of the April 1, 2003 2 North Carolina Poetry Society Mark your calendar for two special events! ______________________ JUNE 28 Sam Ragan Poetry Festival by Bill Blackley Plan for a great time at Weymouth on June 28. Celebrate friendships and make new ones at the Sam Ragan Poetry Fes- tival. Bring your poems to read, guitars to strum, and voices to sing. Keith Flynn, poet/musician/editor of the Asheville Poetry Review, will be one of our featured readers. His publications include The Talking Drum, The Book of Monsters, and The Lost Sea. Also featured will be Jaki Shelton Green, a poet and teacher from Mebane. Her publications include Dead on Arrival and Conjure Blues. Emily Hancock and her old time band, John Ferree, Stephen Smith, and possibly Shelby Stephenson will be playing and singing.