Spring 2002 Spring meeting Saturday, May 18 Weymouth Center, Southern Pines On May 18, there will be awards Steele, a new member who de- for both students and adults, who signed the cover. 9:15 Registration—annual dues will read their winning poems. Just think, when you come to the payments are welcome! Registration begins at 9:15 a.m.— awards program, you have an excel- slightly earlier than usual to help lent opportunity to encourage our 10:00 Business meeting—new student winners with praise! These officers installed (see p. 3) everyone with seating. young people are the future of po- etry in North Carolina and the na- 10:30 AWP dedication; Poet by William J. Blackley tion. Your smiles, praise, and ap- Laureate, McDill, & Student Recently, I looked through the last plause help them know they are Contest winners read 12 editions of Award-Winning winners. Your support for this pro- Poems. The list of poets whose po- gram makes a difference. Come and Noon Box lunch, $8.50—for ems have been published in AWP is be a part of something great. Who advance orders, contact Bill striking. Add in the poets who have knows, you may be listening to a Blackley (see below) received our prestigious Brockman- future poet laureate! Campbell Book Award, and the list 1:15 Adult Contest winners read of winners reads like a Who’s Who THE NEWS INSIDE of North Carolina poetry. AWP was launched in 1965 as a booklet and 2 President’s message Sam Ragan then grew into a book, which Ray 3 Sam Ragan Poetry Festival Dotson began helping Sam McKay Poetry Festival Welcome, new members! 4 with in 1989. From 1991 through last Saturday, June 22 year, Ray edited AWP almost single- 5 Workshop notes handedly as it became an integral Elon College, April 20 Registration & coffee begin 9 a.m. part of our Society program. The Georgetown, SC, May 4 at the Weymouth Center, Southern Pines Bits & pieces (see program details on p. 3) contests that yield the poetry are themselves a much anticipated 6 Small town girl heads south part of our program. Gift of the Muse(s) Come hear the winning poets read, 7 Kudos! LUNCH and pick up your 2002 AWP. When Motorcycle poetry INSTRUCTIONS you get the opportunity, please thank Foothills Favorite Poem Project Eclectic 195 provides a box lunch for Priscilla Webster-Williams for se- 8 Campaign for Honoraria $8.50 (tax included) lecting the excellent judges. Also Brockman-Campbell contest If you know you want to order a meal thank Janice Sullivan and Joanne for Awards Day on May 18, and/or Nelson for all their hard work in get- 9 Book room policy SRPF on June 22, please contact Bill ting the word out about the contests April is National Poetry Month Poetry needed—UNC Hospitals Blackley at [email protected] so that and for coordinating the review of Members may list books on Web he can prepare an advance estimate of poems. We had 800-plus entries for the number of sandwiches needed. This 2002. 10 Word & Witness poems performed will help avoid waste, and save money This year AWP has been produced Student’s Appalachian anthology for the Society. The sandwich choices Rick Chess at SRPF are: tuna, chicken, and vegetarian. The by a team—Joanne Nelson, Susan Meyers, Barbara Presnell, Sharon 11 Poetry Council contest meal includes iced tea, small salad, and a small tart or sweet. Sharp, Ed Cockrell, and Celisa 12 Officers & committee chairs April 1, 2002 1 NC Poetry Society PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: Parting thoughts and upcoming celebrations by Sharon Sharp you have any feedback about cur- welcome to send Campaign for Hono- Since May 2000, the outstanding offi- rent programs or suggestions about raria donations at any time, and con- cers and committee chairs I’ve been new directions, please let Bill and tributions of all sizes are much appre- fortunate enough to serve with have other 2002-2003 board members ciated. You’ll be receiving more de- kept coming up with fresh ways to know. tailed updates about the campaign ef- hone our existing programs and excit- Campaign for Honoraria forts in the next several months. Also, ing plans for new directions. I can’t Poetry Society T-shirts designed by thank all of them enough for the great Paying honoraria to all of the fea- Beth Hoyt (see p. 5) will be available ideas, boundless energy, and unflag- tured presenters at the Poetry Soci- at the Sam Ragan Poetry Festival, and ging support! The recent Weymouth ety’s regular meetings is the goal of the proceeds will go toward the Cam- programs, regional workshops, annual the Campaign for Honoraria. paign for Honoraria. contests, newsletter issues, Web site Your donations will build an en- dowment to generate the ongoing Explorations: updates, and other ongoing activities Updates and a call for ideas all bear the distinct stamp of their vi- funds that will allow our Poetry So- sions and efforts. Also, they’ve often ciety, for the first time, to ade- Some of the topics being discussed been the first to let me know about the quately recognize these dedicated by the current board members, along varied poetry activities many of the professionals for their time, effort, with the incoming ones, are rest of you are involved in—they’ve and expertise. Further details about • expanded Web site features, such as been great PR people for you. this major effort will be available on a list of members’ books (see p. 9) What has struck me most about these June 22 at the Sam Ragan Poetry • new approaches to peer mentoring board members is how excited they get Festival (see p. 3), after plans are • outreach programs in the eastern- when sharing poetry and nurturing finalized by a steering committee most and westernmost parts of the other poets. These friends, as well as composed of Lois Wistrand state many others among you, remind me of (Chair), Sally Buckner, and Sally • ways to involve more student mem- the mentors I met when I joined the Logan. bers Poetry Society some 14 years ago. The The campaign is off to a good start • coordinated planning of all publica- because of a generous donation of tions. open, welcoming spirit of the organiza- tion is what kept drawing me back to $250 from the William M. Any and all ideas about these top- meetings—and that is very much alive Hendricks Family Foundation. ics—and others that excite you—are and is what will keep me coming back. This foundation has been estab- welcome, so contact any of us on the It’s been a privilege to serve as the Po- lished in memory of Dr. William M. board. etry Society president, and I thank all Hendricks, a physician and poet ac- Since we’re an all-volunteer organi- of you who have shared your interests tive in the Poetry Society and a re- zation (and that very fact still amazes and encouraged me, the board, and the cipient of multiple awards in the an- me!), having someone say, “I’d like organization as a whole. nual contests. (Award-Winning Po- to help with . .” guarantees a “You ems, 1993, for instance, contains bet!” response. If you’re thinking Welcome, 2002-2003 Board! two of his poems.) We are deeply about participating on a committee, On May 18, 2002, the new board honored by this gift, which was we can help find a spot that will suit members (see p. 3) will begin their given by Caywood G. Hendricks, your schedule and interests. Here are terms—and what a group! The incom- in memory of her husband and on a few committee examples: ing president is Bill Blackley, a poet behalf of the foundation. and physician from Elkin whom you Also, the board voted this past • Book Sales—sell members’ books may have met this past year during the January to direct all contributions— during the Weymouth meetings (a excellent programs he planned for the that is, donations beyond member- process is already in place), coordi- Weymouth meetings. Bill’s enthusi- ship dues—received this year to- nate the distribution and sales of asm, energy, openness, and vision are ward the Campaign for Honoraria Award-Winning Poems, plan new unmatched, and he’s already laying the (unless the donor asks for funds to ways to promote members’ books groundwork for some exciting changes be applied differently). The catego- • Membership Development—design to be considered by the incoming ries of support that we’ve been us- approaches to recruiting and board. Bill is eager to hear from all of ing still apply, as indicated in the nurturing members, do outreach you, to involve new members, and to box on p. 8, and all donors will be programs in communities, involve recognized in the newsletter. You’re consider new outreach possibilities. If (Continued on page 3) April 1, 2002 2 NC Poetry Society (Continued from page 2) new Poetry Society members in Sam Ragan Poetry Festival the organization’s activities • Program—generate ideas for pro- Saturday, June 22, 10 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. grams, help with arrangements dur- Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities, Southern Pines ing the Weymouth meetings, coordi- Registration and coffee will begin at 9 nate program evaluations, greet peo- Bring your own lunch or order a deli one at registration. ple at the meetings • Publicity—provide newspapers All-Day Program (Big Doings!) and other media with information 70th Anniversary of the North Carolina Poetry Society about annual contests, meetings, and regional workshops As suggested by Sally Buckner, this year’s Sam Ragan Poetry Day has been • Workshops—identify potential renamed the Sam Ragan Poetry FESTIVAL.