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.

APRIL is POETRY MONTH

Spring is Here!

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

Mon, Apr 3-POETRY DEMO at UTU Intro to Art classes by Denis Feehan, Silvia Mangen and Marissa Alvarez

Tues, Apr 4-DIXIE POETS meetings-1:30-3:30 pm at St. George Active Life Center-250 N 200 W-practice for Poetry Reading at St. George Library and Tues Apr 18-just Critiques 

Thurs, Apr 13-POETRY READING 6-7 PM at SG Lib. with UTU Poets, FREE

Fri-Sat Apr 14-15 UTAH POETRY FESTIVAL FREE and online, register at https://utahpoetryfestival.com/ Special presentations, lectures, classes, etc.

Fri, April 28 6 pm, and Sat, April 29 8:30 am.  UTSPS SPRING FESTIVAL  Contest awards given plus special guests Lisa Bickmore-Utah Poet Laureate. To register: 1. Email your registration request to the UTSPS Zoom manager, Paul Ford at pmford3@gmail.com. 2. In the Subject line of your email, please include “Registration” so your email will be easily identified as a request to register. 3. In the body of your email, please include the following information: - your name - your email address- that you're registering for the UTSPS Poetry Festival - let us know whether you are a "Member" or a "Non-member"*

COMING IN MAY....Note time change BELOW on Sat, May 13 to 1 pm so those wanting to attend Dr. Cindy King's Poet in the Patio at 2 pm at the Book Bungalow can attend. See details on

Tues, May 2 and thereafter NOTE CHANGE DIXIE POETS voted to only meet once a month on the 3rd Tuesday only, same time STARTING in MAY at the same location-St. George Active Life Center 250 N 200 S at 1:30-3:30 pm. 

June 21-26 NFSPS Summer CONVENTION in Des Moines, Iowa in person or on Zoom details see  https://www.nfsps.com/CMPC.pdf

NEW 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

To join our group contact lin at sunrivertoday dot com or come visit Dixie Poets. 

Poetry is ALIVE in the NEW YEAR

Lots happening in the NEW YEAR. Keep updated here. Also check Utah State Poetry Society at utah poets.com

MONTHLY meetings for DIXIE POETS continue on our regular schedule 1st and 3rd TUESDAYS from 1:30-3:30 pm with a lesson on the 1st Tuesday and critiques both times-bring 10-12  copies of 1-2 original poems for suggestions on improvement. We meet at the ST GEORGE ACTIVE LIFE CENTER at 250 N 200 W. All welcome to join us.

CONTESTS and WORKSHOPS

FEB 1st-UTSPS 2023 CONTEST ENTRIES DUE for details on contest rules see 
 https://www.utahpoets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2023-UTSPS_2023-Rules_Guidelines.pdf Prizes and certificates awarded at the annual UTSPS April Awards Contest on April 28, 29 on ZOOM. More details coming soon.

SAT, FEB 4th-HERITAGE WRITERS GUILD of St. George invites us to come to their WINTER WRITERS WORKSHOP at Utah Tech University 10 am -3 pm, classes TBA, FREE. Details: https://www.heritagewritersguild.com/winterconference  There will be special session on Poetry by local poem Candy Fowler who was UTSPS Poet of the Year in 2015.

FRI, MARCH 3-POETRY IN THE PARK at ZION NATIONAL PARK at Zion National Park Nature Center, Registration for the event closes on February 28. https://zionpark.org/event/poetry-in-the-park/.  TIME TO REGISTER...

Poetry in the Park welds nature and poetry beautifully in its setting at the Zion National Park Nature Center before the crowds start coming. Sponsored and hosted by Zion National Park Forever Project, this year the event will feature two presenters energized by poetry, high school English teachers Rachel Robins (Crimson Cliffs High School) and Susan Wiese (Hurricane High School). These two ladies will engage the mind and senses, using the serene setting as inspiration. The experience will also include a guided nature hike, silent poetry writing time and time to share the poetry participants wrote that day and receive feedback from other participants.. Tuition for the event is $30 for adults and free for high school and college students accompanied by their teachers.

MARCH 6th is deadline to submit online to UTU's SOUTHERN QUILL MAGAZINE https://southernquill.submittable.com/submit   3-5 unpublished poems, stories, photos and artwork.

MARCH 15th-Deadline for NFSPS Summer June 22-27 Conference POETRY CONTEST in Des Moines Iowa. Details on https://www.nfsps.com/brochure2023.pdf 

APRIL 13th Thursday 6-7 pm at Washington County Library in St. George.JOINT POETRY READING with Dixie Poets and UTAH TECH poets. Open to public. Contact Lin Floyd to participate.

PANORAMA 2021-22 publication for those who paid UTSPS dues in last 2 years is at the press and will be given out this month at Dixie Poets.

Fri, April 28 evening, and Sat, April 29 during the day. On Zoom. UTSPS April CONFERENCE. More details on http://utahpoets.com

 

June 21-26 NFSPS Summer CONVENTION in Des Moines, Iowa https://www.nfsps.com/CMPC.pdf