CHANGES AHEAD

As SUMMER concludes DIXIE POETS will continue with some changes in leadership as current Pres. DAN GLAHN and his wife are departing for a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So we have a new Pres.

MARILYN RICHARDSON-a very busy 90 year old non-stop writer/poet and organizer will be taking over with the help of other poets including MONA CLARK. Meetings are only on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 1:30-3:30 pm  at the St. George Active Life Center. 250 N 200 W. Contact Marilyn for details <jayrich@infowest.com>

SUMMER 2024 Poetry Activities

Monthly SUMMER meetings will continue on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays for DIXIE POETS from1:30-3 pm at St. George Active Life Center 250 N 200 W with critiques for improving your original poems. Bring 6-8 copies of your poem/s to share for gentle suggestions, 

OTHER ACTIVITIES 

 1. UTSPS Summer Workshop in ATLANTA, GA and other activities. poetry contests, etc. See http://utahpoets.com & https://nfsps.com

 2. Fri, June 14 FREE Poetry WORKSHOP  with Shanan Ballam-USU teacher and Logan Utah Poet Laureate presented by Redrock Writers and St George Literary Arts Society. See flyer below for details-register at  http://redrockwriters.org

SPRING is COMING

Time is moving quickly as WINTER retreats and SPRING tries to spring. 

DIXIE POETS continues its twice monthly meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays with DAN GLAHN in charge and Mona Lee Clark helping with critiques on the 3rd Tuesday. Bring 8-10 copies of 1-2 poems for suggestions on improving. 

We meet from 1:30 pm-3 or 3 pm at the St. George Active Life Center on 250 N 200 W. All welcome.

SPECIAL POETRY EVENTS COMING SOON

1. DONE-Friday, March 1st- Deadline for entries to SOUTHERN QUILL magazine at Utah Tech University. Details at https://southernquill.submittable.com/

2. DONE-Friday, March 8-POETRY IN THE PARK with SHANON BALLLAM from USU at ZION PARK. Filled-Register now only $30. New location in Springdale. Info https://zionpark.org/event/poetry-in-the-park/ 

3. FOR POETRY MONTH: Th Apr 11 at 6ph COWBOY POETS, and Th, Apr 18 6-7:30 pm Dixie Poets JOINT READING with UTU Poetry Students with Dr. Cindy King at County Library in St. George. FREE

4. UTAH STATE POETRY FESTIVAL-Fri-Sat, April 19-20 mostly online presented by POET LAUREATE-Lisa Bickmore, Free,  See details https://utahpoetryfestival.com/  

5.  Friday-Sat, Apr. 26-27 annual UTSPS APRIL AWARD FESTIVAL to be held LIVE in Provo, Utah at the

Residence Inn where you can reserve a Studio Suite with a king-size bed for the discounted rate of $139 dollars. Book your room here.  If needing accommodations. You can still make a reservation over the phone at 801-734-9740 if you prefer. Mention that you are with the Utah State Poetry Society to receive your discounted rate. Register soon and make arrangements to stay in Provo if going in person-no Zoom broadcast this year. https://www.utahpoets.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/UTSPS-Spring-Festival-Flyer_January-2024_006.pdf 

CHANGES are COMING

Winter brings CHANGES to DIXIE POETS as Pres. Lin Floyd is PARTIALLY RETIRING after a busy busy spring and summer of poetry activities. Welcome to DAN GLAHN (photo on the left) who is taking over for Lin who is retiring as President but staying on as Secretary. 

DIXIE POETS will be RETURNING to twice a month meetings on the FIRST and THIRD Tuesdays of each month from 1:30-3 pm at the St George Active Life Center-245 North 200 West. (On the 3rd Tuesdays Mona Lee Clark will be in charge of critiques.)

All welcome to attend either or both meetings and bring 8-10 copies of their original poetry to  be gently critiqued. Future activities to be announced include UTSPS's annual contest and conference in April 2024. See http://utahpoets.com for more info. Tuesday Dec 5th is our annual CHRISTMAS PARTY POTLUCK-bring something to share including poems. 

FUTURE DATES

1. Jan 5, 2024 $30 DUES DUE for those wanting to "officially" join UTAH STATE POETRY SOCIETY and participate fully in their contest, conferences, etc. All welcome to attend our monthly meeting without paying dues, but we do contribute $1 to Active Life Center for use of their facilities each time we attend-just drop your $1 in donation box or ask for change if needed. Thanks.

2. Feb 1, 2024 Deadline for the ANNUAL UTSPS POETRY CONTEST entries-more details at https://www.utahpoets.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/UTAH-STATE-POETRY-SOCIETY-2024-CONTEST.pdf   Sat, Feb 2nd WRITE ON-ST. GEORGE workshop at Kayenta https://www.heritagewritersguild.com/winterconference?fbclid=IwAR2mMwrEx0-MLmiEitf_ymCp5Du_4ShoSThwOMVEm2OlQxx29MfGHMwWRJI

3. March 8 is POETRY IN THE PARK with Shannon Ballam at ZION PARK. Register now only $30. https://zionpark.org/event/poetry-in-the-park/  March 1st deadline for entries to SOUTHERN QUILL magazine at Utah Tech University https://www.thesouthernquill.com/ 

4. April-annual POETRY MONTH. TBA Joint reading with UTU Poetry Students with Dr. Cindy King at St. George Library. Also annual UTSPS April Awards conference to be held in Provo, Utah April 26-27. TBA.

FALL Poetry Activities

It's been a busy Spring, Summer and now Fall filled with these events: 

APRIL-Annual JOINT READING with UTU Poets at the St. George Library, 

MAY-EPHRASTIC POETRY created for the Red Cliff Gallery and a public reading,

SEPT-POETRY to ART CONTEST for St. George LITERARY ARTS FESTIVAL-submitting poems for artists to choose as inspiration for creating an art piece which was then judged. 1st place winner-Bonnie Anderson and artist Nance Brook-photo below, 2nd place-Solid Stehl and artist Sue Kroll, and 3rd place-Marissa Alvarez and artist artist Colleen Gianatiempo.

It's time now to continue with our DIXIE POETS monthly meetings with a short lesson and critiques every 3rd Tuesday of each month at the St. George Active Life Center 1:30-3:30 pm at 250 N 200 W.  Come join us.

OTHER POETRY ACTIVITIES

1. ILLINOIS STATE POETRY SOCIETY Contest-open to all https://www.illinoispoets.org/pdf/2023-isps-contest.pdf for details, deadline Oct 31, 2023. There is a submission fee.

2. Southern Quill Magazine-coming in March 2024.

3. Oct 7th-2 pm Poet of the Year's Book-Susan Foster in Orem Utah library. All UTSPS MEMBERS will receive a copy of Falling Water Calls It Grief.

POETRY SELECTIONS ANNOUNCED

ARTISTS and POETS are SELECTED

Here is a LIST OF POETS and ARTISTS with the poems that were chosen listed below. Only 7 artists are participating and will be bringing their art piece to display and be judged Th-Sep 7th, 2023 at the ST GEORGE LITERARY ARTS FESTIVAL at the Children's Museum between 7:30-8 am 86 S. Main St in St. George. Awards announced at 1 pm. Hope you'll all attend this exciting day of Literary Arts events. Admission is free (lunch included), but please preregister ASAP for this exciting event at  http://stgeorgelitartsfest.org  THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED.

Boni Anderson-First People chosen by Nancy Brook

Marissa Alvarez-Broken Heart Installation Piece chosen by Colleen Gianatiempo

      Denis Feehan-Ordinary Things chosen by Caroll Shreeve Ripley

      Marian Morgan-Endings chosen by Karen Bettilyon 

      Michael Kruse-Elephant Love chosen by Diane Wahlert

      Markay Brown-Flurries chosen by Deena Millicam 

      Stolid Stehl-Wildflower chosen by Sue Kroll

SUMMER POETRY Activities

Th, JUNE 20, JULY 18 and AUG 15-Come join DIXIE POETS on the third Tuesdays of each month from 1:30-3:30 PM at ST. GEORGE ACTIVE LIFE CENTER-250 N 200 W for gentle critiques and lessons on poetry and publishing. Bring 8-10 copies of your original poetry to share. For more info contact Lin Floyd   < lin at sunrivertoday dot com>

JUNE 21-26 NFSPS National Federation of State Poetry Society's Summer CONVENTION in Des Moines, Iowa available on Zoom details see  https://nfsps.net/event/4929357/628547768/nfsps-zoom-convention-catch-poetry-stage-page

CONGRATULATIONS to DIXIE POETS for their recent participation in ART to POETRY event at RED CLIFF GALLERY in St. George where they created poetry for art pieces on exhibit. Visit the Gallery at 220 N 200 W in St. George to see the exhibit before it closes June 5th. 

(l-r) Julie Boe, Marissa Alvarez, Lin Floyd, Chyrrel Maupin,
Barbara Funke, Markay Brown, Pam Tucker, Denis Fenihan,
Marian Morgan. Not shown-Marilyn Richardson, Dan Glahn
 and Bryan Adams

COMING SOON 

JUNE 22-Special POET in Residence JASON GRAY reading at ZION PARK at 7 pm at Sprindale Community Center presented by Z-Arts.   (more details coming.) 

JUNE 30 DEADLINE for Utah Division of Arts and Museums yearly contest for poetry and literature. Details https://artsandmuseums.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-UOWC-Guidelines.pdf

NEW Heritage Writers Guild is taking poetry and prose entries for those who are or have been members for their 50th Anniversary publication. Details...NEW DEADLINE July 15, 2023  https://www.heritagewritersguild.com/anthology

Coming up-Th, SEPT 7, 2023  SGLAF St. GEORGE LITERARY ARTS FESTIVAL at Electric Theatre featuring Lisa Bickmore Utah Poet Laureate and Dixie Poets with Poetry to Art or Art to Poetry. More info soon.