Monday, September 28, 2015

Enter a POETRY CONTEST

For its second volume in the “Poetry of the American Southwest” series, Dos Gatos Press is looking for well-crafted poems written in the persona of individuals associated with the Southwest region of the United States, poems that demonstrate a strong connection to the land, history, and/or culture of the region. For our purposes, the Southwest includes all of New Mexico and Arizona, as well as Texas west of the Balcones Fault Line, western Oklahoma, southwestern Kansas, southern Colorado and Utah, and the desert portions of southern California. When we think of the Southwest, we think of climate and landscape. The climate is arid, with low annual rainfall, the landscape marked by cacti and other drought-tolerant plants. 

Individuals can be famous, infamous, or relatively unknown; historical figures or characters from documented myth or folklore; living or dead. We are looking for a wide spectrum that touches upon the rich heritage of the Southwest and crosses races and genders—pioneers, tribal chiefs, artists, vaqueros, homesteaders, ranchers, explorers, lawmen, outlaws, entrepreneurs, preachers, curanderas, etc. While there is room for the well-known—Geronimo, O’Keeffe, La Llorona, Esteban, Kit Carson, etc.—we would very much like to see poems in the persona of those less known, people like Chester Nez, Bill Pickett, Willie Velasquez, Hoodoo Brown, LaDonna Harris, Henry Trust, etc.. Surprise us! Teach us about someone forgotten in the stubble of history.

For additional information, see the Dos Gatos Press website: www.dosgatospress.org or contact Scott Wiggerman at editors@dosgatopress.orgSubmissions open through Nov. 30, 2015. No fees.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Meet UTSPS Poet Laureate

(l-r) N. Colwell Snell,  Dale Kohler, Joyce Kohler, Gail Schimmelpfennig,
Maurine Haltiner, Dawnell Griffin, Candy Lish Fowler, Clarence Socwell & Bill Fowler. 
UTSPS Poet Laureates met at Trolley Square September 19th to welcome newest member, Candy Lish Fowler. Laureates gathered from Cove, Midway, Hyrum, St. George, Ogden and SLC at the annual Laureate celebration to honor Candy and take a peek at her new book.  The winning book “On A Road That Knows Me” was presented to luncheon attendees and can be obtained by any UTSPS  member free at either of two book concerts scheduled on October 10th 2015 at the Orem City Library, (58 N. State Street, Orem, Utah)  at 2:00 p.m. and again in St. George on October 29th at the Dixie State University Eccles Concert Hall (225 South 700 East, St. George, Utah) at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is invited free of charge. The book is also available to purchase for $15.00 by contacting Candy at cbfowler@infowest.com. 

Fowler shared two poignant poems from her publication.  Branches of the Moon and Great-Grandmother at Eighty were well received.  She also honored luncheon attendees by describing them as “cairns” or “guideposts” for all poets to emulate. UTSPS President Dawnell Griffin described Fowler’s publication as  "exquisite, from the book cover to the poems inside. UTSPS is proud to sponsor our 50th anniversary of the Book of Year and looking forward to upcoming book concerts where we will have an opportunity to honor our latest Laureate, Candy Lish Fowler." Come and meet Fowler at a free workshop Tues, Oct 20th 2-4 pm at the St. George Library entitled: "Pen, Pencil, Words and Music" or attend the St. George Book Festival on Sat, Oct 24th at 11 am in the Heritage Square where she will be reading poems from her book. 



Friday, September 18, 2015

ADVANTAGES of JOINING UTSPS

1. Encouragement and support of others in developing your poetry skills through gentle CRITIQUES available in monthly or bi-monthly CHAPTER meetings or in an At Large group online.

2. Opportunities to SUBMIT and PUBLISH your poetry in UTSPS's annual PANORAMA publication or on our BLOG-you are there.

3. REDUCED FEES on contesting, Spring conference, Poetry-in-the-Park, Redrock Writers Seminar and other chapter activities. Winner of the Book of the Year  contest receives 50 copies of their compiled poems.

4.Three FREE WORKSHOPS held throughout the state. See http://utahpoets.com for schedule and details. Free quarterly UTSPS Poet Tree newsletter.

5. Membership in  NATIONAL FEDERATION of STATE POETRY SOCIETIES. See nfsps.org they publish a quarterly newsletter STROPHES and hold a summer workshop for poets throughout the USA.

ALL THIS FOR ONLY $30-ANNUAL DUES. Join now and encourage your friends to join us in furthering poetry in the our society. Bookmarks available to pass out to friends, write details of your chapter's meeting times/place on the back. Chapter presidents and UTSPS officers have printed bookmarks to pass out.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Ideas for GROWING CHAPTERS

1. Publicity-let people in your community know your chapter exists 
a. List monthly meetings in your local newspapers, calendars.
b. Poster or flyers distributed to local Senior Citizen centers, colleges, etc.
c. Press releases about your chapter’s accomplishments-awards, service, etc in local papers and in our Poet Tree. Start or keep up a chapters website, see dixiepoets.blogspot.com
d. Media blitz-articles throughout the state, TV non profit spots, etc. October is statewide Book Festival, Oct 8 is Natl. Poetry day and April is Natl. Poetry Month.

2. Personal invites to a meeting are MOST EFFECTIVE. Reach out.

3. COMMUNITY SERVICE-monthly poetry readings in bookstores, Sr. Centers or rest homes, schools, etc. CONTESTS to create interest.

4. Participate online
a. UTSPS’s blog doing spotlights on members with a short bio, photo and poem
b. UTSPS’s website utahpoets.com up to date news and calendar 
c. our Facebook page with interactive comments and links 

5. SUPPORT UTSPS by attending yearly conferences, workshops and Poetry in the Park, see poetry-in-the-park.com and Redrock Seminar, see redrockwriters.org


6. VOLUNTEER to be an officer, we need you! Many positions are not filled. Contact UTSPS President Dawnell Griffin dawnell7@plmw.com

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Time to FIND NEW MEMBERS

This past weekend, our UTSPS president Dawnell Griffin and myself-Lin Floyd attended the annual League of Utah Writers conference in Logan, Utah. It was a great conference with outstanding speakers and events. There was a booth with a display for Utah State Poetry Society and an opportunity for LUW members interested in knowing more about UTSPS to get info. We had seven individuals who signed up for more info and recieved our new flyers about UTSPS and Poetry in the Park. Now we need your help in inviting new members to join you in your next chapter meeting. We'd like to start some new chapters also. Contact Lin Floyd-UTSPS chapters coordinator lin@sunrivertoday.com or Rosalyn Ostler our membership chair rosieo1@juno.com on how to do this or there is an At Large group.

Dawnell and Lin with the UTSPS table giving out information at LUW conference

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

CHAPARRAL CONTEST opportunity

Don't miss the opportunity to submit your unpublished poems Sept 1-Dec 1, 2015 to the annual CHAPARRAL POETRY CONTEST sponsored by Utah State Poetry Society chapters: Redrock Writers and Dixie Poets. Submission dates:Sept 1 to Dec 1, 2016. GREAT PRIZE money for winning poems in four different categories:

I. CHOLLA Division: any subject, any form, limit 42 lines or less
Prizes: 1st-$200, 2nd-$100, 3rd-$50
II. CHAQUETA Division: Southwest theme-nature, people, history, etc., limit 42 lines or less
Prizes: 1st-$100, 2nd-$50, 3rd-$25
III. CHAPAREJOS Division: Rhymed and metered poem, any subject,  limit 42 lines or less
Prizes: 1st-$100, 2nd-$50, 3rd-$25
IV. CHIMERA Division: Imaginative or absurd/humorous, any form,  limit 42 lines or less
Prizes: 1st-$100, 2nd-$50, 3rd-$25

SUBMISSION DETAILS see http://redrockwriters.org  Awards given on March 4, 2016 at 8 pm at the Social Hall in the Opera House Annex in St. George as part of a POETRY SPRING FESTIVAL in Southern Utah (Zion Park, Springdate and St. George, Utah) which includes:

Th, Mar 3 at 7 pm  Z-ARTS free presentation An Evening of Plein Air Poetry with visiting poet: David J. Rothman in Springdale's Canyon Community Center.

Fri, Mar 4, 8:45 am-4 pm at Zion Park Lodge 7th annual POETRY IN THE PARK with poet David J. Rothman presenting Plein Air Poetry Workshop.

Sat, Mar 5, 9 am -4 pm 20th annual REDROCK CREATIVE WRITING SEMINAR at Social Hall in St. George with featured speakers: Marleen Bussma-Passing it on: cowboy poetry, Marilyn Richardson-Tension in Prose: Why it Matters, Brian Passey-Get Lost: Photo Journalism, and David J. Rothman-Arrive at the Intellect by Way of the Heart.