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Poetry & Politics: Protest in Verse

Spoken Word performances, political haiku slam, musical performance & “open mic” opportunities on Thursday, May 8

April 29, 2008

Charleston , WV - Poetry & Politics: The liveliest open mic in Charleston featuring some of the highest caliber Kanawha Valley emerging poets, singers, musicians, and spoken word artists.

First up, we’ll hear from six gifted, young Spoken Word poets who speak from the heart about love, dreams, self-respect, politics and everything that makes today's world a fascinating, complex place. “True artists, writers and performers,” describes Covenant House Director, Amy Weintraub. “They are the voices of the next generation: If Langston Hughes or Virginia Woolf was alive today... this is what they'd sound like.” Already slated to perform: Tuesday Taylor, Holly Cross, Elliott Roseberry, Patience Deweese, and MiC Group members John James and Dave Roberts.

A local celebrity Political Haiku Slam is also in the works. Hear some of your favorite Charleston personalities compete for top honors in this haiku poetry contest.

Hosting the event will be Covenant House Assistant Director, Crystal Good, a well-known poetry organizer, and Randy Elsea, Drop In Center Coordinator and notorious comic. They are the go-to folks if you want an event that is not only hype, but conscious and spirited. Mixing hip hop and spoken word, with soulful rhythms, they will keep the audience stimulated and entertained. Come join Good, Elsea, and other poets and artists, for a night of the best Spoken Word around the state.

Experience a casual atmosphere with refreshments. Grace the mic yourself (sign in 30 minutes before event or by email to cgood@wvcovenanthouse. org) or simply enjoy the poetry, deejaying, and fun-loving atmosphere.

This is definitely a food-for-your- soul event of the year, so get your fill now!

Sponsored by Covenant House, the West Virginia Poetry Society, the Keep Your Faith Corporation, the West Virginia Mental Health Consumers Association, and the MiC Group.

Thursday, May 8

6:30-8:30 PM | Laundry soap powder collected to benefit the Covenant House Drop In Center.

Covenant House, 600 Shrewsbury Street (parking in rear of building)
For more information, contact Covenant House Assistant Director and Event Host Crystal Good at cgood@wvcovenanthouse. org

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UUC Sunday Service - 11pm -
April 27: Pianfetti Poetry Sunday

In honor of long-time UUC member and poetry-lover Lucille Pianfetti, we close out National Poetry Month by sharing poems and the importance of poetry in expressing what is going on in our lives. We have Haiku Poetry written by Lucille. We are looking for poems you have written or ones that are especially meaningful to you that you would like to share. In keeping with the theme of concern for our earth, we encourage you to share poems with a nature or earth-centered theme. If you would like to share a poem (yours or someone else’s), please get in touch with us (http://www.uucharlestonwv.org/)

Stay after the service for our annual May Day dancing of the Maypole and picnic.

A forwarded message from WV Poet Colleen Anderson

Hi, friends,

I'm leading several writing workshops during the next few months, and
I hope you'll help me spread the word to interested writers. Here's a
quick round-up:

MAY 18-23: Elderhostel Creative Writing Workshop at Cedar Lakes,
Ripley, WV
OCTOBER 6-12: Radio Essay Writing at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico
NOVEMBER 21-23: 2nd annual Women's Writing Weekend, Tygart Lake, WV

There's more information on my website: www.motherwitdesign.com/
workshops.html

Thanks much!

Colleen

Mother Wit Writing and Design
P.O. Box 525
Charleston, WV 25322
304-342-1213
motherwit@suddenlink.net
www.motherwitdesign.com

First, there is the WVPS and The MiC sponsored event at the WV Mental Health Consumer's Association Drop-In Center at 910 Quarrier Street (the Davidson Building) in Suite 317. This open mic, called "Speak Your Mind" is on April 12th. Registration starts at 5:00 p.m. The event will start at 6:00 p.m. There will be baked goods for sale and free coffee. All proceeds go to the Drop-In Center.

Second, there is Common Good Day at WVSU on April 15th. They will be having an open mic for poetry all day and a SAAM Poetry Slam starting at 2:00 pm. You can read more about it on their website: http://www.healingt hroughcreativity .org/ If you scroll down the page a little ways, the info is there.

A contest you don't have to be a poet to enter! :)

http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/339

Hey guys, if you all know about this, could you post here or email me at wvpoetry@yahoo.com ? I've heard there will be a slam on campus on April 15th, but I need more details.

Thanks!

Okay, datebooks everyone :)

March 12 -- Paths Chapter Meeting -- has been moved to the Shoney's in Kanawha City, 6:00. Everyone is welcome.

March 15 -- Poetry Out Loud State Finals at the Cultural Center 2:00 p.m.

March 15 -- Allegheny Echoes Annual Fundraiser at the Empty Glass.

March 21 -- World Poetry Day -- Mini Prompt-a-thon on WVPS and WV Writers (if there is interest)

March 22 -- Slam Chapter Planning meeting -- 910 Quarrier St (that's the Davidson Building) Suite 317, 5:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. We will be meeting to plan an open mic there in April.

April 12 -- Charleston Chapter meets at the Dunbar Public Library from 1-3. Nominations for next year's officers will take place at this meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend.

April 12 -- Open Mic at 910 Quarrier St (Davidson Building), Suite 317 6:00 p.m. All are welcome. (please note that I have been telling people April 5th and was just notified of the change today).

April 12, 13, 14 -- Major Prompt a Thon on WVPS and WV Writers in honor of National Poetry Month.

April 19 -- Raising Poetry Workshop at the UU Building 520 Kanawha Boulevard, Charleston 2-4:30. Pre-registration required. $35. Call 345-5042 to register. This workshop is intended for beginners who are just getting ready to start setting their poems free by submitting them to contests and publications. There will be a guided meditation, writing prompts and editing and submission advice.

June 7 -- State Board Meeting -- Jackson County Library in Ripley -- 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome.

Please feel free to forward this message to everyone. :) Thanks! Holly

This is reposted from Vic Burkhammers Mountain Word. :)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 4, 2008

Contact: Norman Jordan

(304) 658-5526

WV State holding monthly poetry workshops in Malden

Institute, WV – Beginning March 8, 2008 a series of adult poetry workshops will be conducted from 10:00 a.m. to noon on the second Saturday of each month at the Norton House in Malden, West Virginia. Participation is for adults only. Norman Jordan, poet and historian, will serve as facilitator.

The Norton House is located at 315 Commerce Drive in historic downtown Malden. It is owned and operated by West Virginia State University. Poets interested in participating in the workshop should bring ten copies of an original poem to be shared by others. The workshops are hosted under the guidance of WVSU’s History and Culture Committee and are free of charge.

For more information call Norman Jordan at (304) 658-5526.

Directions: From Charleston take route 60 East to the Rand-Malden exit. The Norton House is located across from the Fas Chek grocery store at 315 Commerce Drive.

I got the following in the mail recently. Sorry I've been MIA, dear readers.

H

Greetings fellow poets and writers,

I am the new chair for Tallahassee Writer's Association's Poetry Contest. After 10 years overseeing our Penumbra Contest and Journal, Carole Timin has passed the torch to me. She set a very high standard which I hope to follow. I look forward to corresponding with you on all matters poetry. Please send to me any contest and/or writing news you would like shared with TWA. (We can exchange web links, too.)

The guidelines for the 2008 Penumbra Poetry Contest (our 21st year) will seem very familiar all of you. Please share then with your writing and poetry groups, websites, and friends. They can be found on our website at www.tallahasseewriters.net They are as follows (I have also attached a PDF Document to this email):

2008 PENUMBRA

POETRY & HAIKU CONTEST

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JUNE 30, 2008

Sponsor web site www.tallahasseewriters.net

Contest email: poetry@tallahasseewriters.net

Categories No limit on entries in either or both categories. All skill levels welcome.

Poetry up to 50 lines, any style or subject; line length may be edited to fit chapbook publication format

3-line haiku (need not conform to strict syllable count)

Contest does not accept simultaneous submissions or work previously published or having received awards in other competitions

Prizes Poetry $200, $60, $40; haiku, $100, 40, $20.
Top winners and finalists in each category are published in the annual contest chapbook and mailed a complimentary copy.

Entries: Submit 2 copies of poetry on 8-1/2x11 paper; haiku on 3x5 index cards.

One copy should show name, address, phone, email and source of contest info; 2nd copy should be anonymous for judging purposes. Include a brief bio with most recent or noteworthy awards and publications.

Notification: Winner and finalist notifications mailed no later than August 31 2008.

Winners list returned to entrants if SASE included. List posted to sponsor web site no later than September 30 2007.

Fees: $5 per poem; $3 per haiku in $US check, cash or money order

Mail entries, fees, SASE for winners? list and book orders to :

TWA Penumbra
P. O. Box 3428
Tallahassee, FL 32315-3428

Judging Judges are published, recognized poets and haiku experts.

Book Orders Order form for PENUMBRA chapbooks available at sponsor website.

Trudy Plotz
Poetry Chair
Past President
Tallahassee Writers Association
email: WriterTWA@juno.com or poetry@tallahassewriters.net

It's been a while since I posted here. Things have been hectic and tragic here at my house. I apologize for that.

The National Federation of State Poetry Societies holds annual contests every year. There are still three weeks to the deadline if you all would like to submit anything, and they are open to nonmembers. Here is the link:

http://www.nfsps.com/poetry_contests.htm

Also, WVPS contests are just about to start. We start taking entries on March 1st. Here is the info on those. They are also open to non-members.

http://www.wvpoetrysociety.org/contests

I hope you all will consider entering. Good Luck!

EVENT: Poet Norman Jordan, others writers to be at Black History Month celebration Feb. 9 at Cultural Center

Everybody, spread the news. Norman Jordan, “West Virginia’s most published African-American poet,” is one of a number of authors taking part in a celebration of Black History Month Feb. 9 in the Great Hall of the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston.

Meet this poet and other authors, invited by The West Virginia Center for the Book, at this special event.

Get autographs, buy books by W.Va. black writers from Capitol Market bookseller Frog Creek Books and others.

Special guests will talk about growing up in West Virginia, beginning at 1 p.m. Commentaries begin at 2 p.m. in the Norman L. Fagan Theater. “Colored People: A Memoir” by Henry Louis Gates Jr. will be presented by Gordon Simmons, W.Va. literary scholar and editorial assistant for Goldenseal.

Other writers involved in this event include Dolores Johnson, scholar and author, Duke Jordan, Charleston law enforcement officer and author and Theresa Burriss, contributing senior editor of “Pluck! The Journal of Affrilachian Arts & Culture.”

Ancella Bickley, retired West Virginia State University vice-president of academic affairs, author, scholar and playwright will present “My Personal Odyssey: Experiences of a West Virginia Black Woman Scholar and Author.” Bickley will be available for book signing.

The book center Web site says, “The West Virginia Center for the Book celebrates the rich literary heritage of West Virginia through its projects and programs. It is hosted by the West Virginia Library Commission in partnership with the West Virginia Humanities Council and is located in Charleston, West Virginia. For more information about the program in West Virginia, contact WVCFTB Coordinator Karen Goff at 558-3978.”

Charleston Area Poets!
There are two new chapters having their first meetings this month. Everyone is welcome to join either or both groups. We'd love to have you!

Here are the details:

*******************************************************************************
West Virginia Poetry Society
Slam Chapter

WHAT?!

The Slam Chapter of the WVPS will be holding an interest meeting for anyone interested in poetry, spoken word and slam competitions. This will be our first meeting. We will discuss plans for the new group, set meeting dates and locations and nominate officers. First and foremost, we’d like to meet poets and spoken word artists in the Charleston area and get something started!

WHEN?!

Saturday February 16, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.

WHERE?!

Books-a-Million at Dudley Plaza in South Charleston.
We will have a table with a sign on it that just says “SLAM!”

For more information, check out our MySpace pages:
http://www.myspace.com/wvpoetrysociety
http://www.myspace.com/themicgroup
or contact us by email: wvpoetry@yahoo.com

********************************************************************************

West Virginia Poetry Society
Paths Chapter

WHAT?
A poetry group for people who write and appreciate poetry from all religious and cultural perspectives. An open poetry group for the open-minded.

WHERE?
The Book Exchange.
1588 E Washington Street
Charleston, WV 25311-2509
We're on the corner of Maxwell and Washington St E.,
(near the dog park and Delish Express)

WHEN?
February 6, 2008
6:00 p.m.

For more information, call 342-4466 or email wvpoetry@yahoo.com

FROM THE WV WRITERS BLOG
http://www.wvwriter s.org/blog. html
Outside the Bricks Poetry Slam in Lewisburg Carnegie Hall is proud to bring
the following special events to the community.

Outside the Bricks Poetry Slam at The Wild Bean Cafe
Presented by Carnegie Hall and The Wild Bean
February 8, 2008
6:30pm
General Admission $5 at door or in advance

Emcee: Eric Fritzius - President of the WV Writers, Inc.
Doors open at 5:30pm. Junior Slam (under 18yrs of age) begins at 6:30pm,
Adult Slam (over 18yrs of age) follows. Guidelines for participation are as
follows:

A completed registration form and an entry fee of $5 must be submitted
Poets may present up to 5 different compositions ($5 additional fee per
poem)
Each poem must be of the poet's own construction
Each poet gets three minutes (plus a ten-second grace period) to read one
poem. If the poet goes over time, points will be deducted from the total
score
The poet may not use props, costumes or musical instruments
Click here<http://carnegiehall>to
download the registration form then mail or fax it to Carnegie Hall
105
Church St. Lewisburg, WV 24901 Fax: 304.645.5228

Prizes for First and Second place winners in each category.

Tickets are limited to 100 and may be purchased from the Carnegie Hall Box
Office at 105 Church St, Lewisburg WV and at The Wild Bean

Labels: poetry slam <http://www.wvwriter>

Writer's Digest Writing Competition Open
(This news courtesy of Fay Thompson, via WV Writer's blog http://www.wvwriters.org)

The 77th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition is now open for submissions. Top prize is $3000 and a trip to New York to meet with four editors or agents. There are ten categories for both fiction and nonfiction. The entry fee is $15 and the deadline to enter is May 15, 2008. All the details are online at https://www.writersdigest.com/contests/annual/77th/

Patsy Pittman, contest chairman for WV Writers, won three honorable mentions last year for her short stories. Nancy Merical won 2nd place for her children’s fiction a couple of years ago. I won an honorable mention for a short story the last time I entered. So, it’s doable, folks. Give it your best shot.

http://www.wvwriters.org/contest.html
This Newsflash Courety of WV Writers 2nd VP Terry McNemar

January 24, 2008

Did you forget to send in your entry!??

THE WV WRITERS, INC. ANNUAL
WRITING COMPETITION IS IN FULL SWING!!! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

That's right folks, it's time to get those short stories, poems, essays, and novels tuned up and mailed to our contest administrator. You only have until the end of March, so don't procrastinate. And remember, this thing has far better odds than the lottery. The more you enter, the more chance you have to bring home the mula! WV Writers, inc. will give away over $6,000.00 in prize money!

To enter go to our website and follow the instructions closely. I'll list those web addresses below.

Now, I need a favor.... a big favor. If you are a student, if you know a student, or teacher, or parent of a talented up and coming writer, please forward this message to everyone, regardless of age, location, or affiliation. We have requested help from many schools, media, and government agencies and they have been wonderful but it only takes one person to break this chain. Fortunately, we have our members and friends to help this contest reach more students every year. The more entries we have from students, the more we will be able to do for them.

Thank you so much, and GOOD LUCK, Terry

For adult and young writers entry forms here are doc. and pdf. format:
http://www.wvwriters.org/contest.html
You'll never know until you try!

The main reason I am reminding you of this contest is that I don't want you to miss this opportunity. It just adds to the fun of being at the conference in June. . . kinda like being at the Oscars, plus it helps me to remember to enter as well.

SEND THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!!!

7th Annual War Poetry Contest
Seventh year. Fifteen cash prizes totaling $5,000. Top prize $2,000.

Submit 1-3 unpublished poems on the theme of war, up to 500 lines in all. Winning entries published online. Sponsored by Winning Writers. $15 entry fee, payable to Winning Writers.

Postmark deadline: May 31.
Judge: Jendi Reiter.

Include cover sheet with contact information. No name on poems.

Submit online or mail to:


Winning Writers,
Attn: War Poetry Contest,
351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222,
Northampton, MA 01060.


Winning Writers is proud to be one of "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest, 2005-2007).

More information: www.winningwriters.com/war

WVPS' own Salvatore Buttaci is the featured poet reading on Mountain Word today. You can hear him reading his poem "Thunder in the Hollow. Here is the link:

http://thegazz.com/gblogs/mountainword/2008/01/23/audio-poet-salvatore-buttaci-reads-thunder-in-the-hollow/

Vic Burkhammer at MountainWord is accepting poetry submissions over the phone, where he plans to post the audio of them online. What a cool idea! A notice was also posted in The Gazz this morning.

http://thegazz.com/gblogs/mountainword/2008/01/16/the-joy-of-reading-mckinney-bibliophiles-random-book-list-and-lets-hear-your-short-poem/#more-215

From his blog:

"If you’d like to recommend a book of poems or read one of your unpublished short poems over the phone, just call me at 348-5184 and wait for the voicemail to kick in, leave your name and number for verification and then read away. I’ll consider posting the audio on MountainWord. I’m looking for work of under 20 well-written lines. Nothing sentimental or old-fashioned. Prose poems of exceptional quality are eligible too. The tone can run the gamut from humorous to serious."