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

AUGUST/September NEWS-Think Fall...

SUMMER is almost over and it's time to think about upcoming poetry opportunities for fall and beyond. 

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 350 N 200 W. All welcome to join us. Contact lin at sunriver today dot com for more info.

CONTEST OPPORTUNITIES

1. PANORAMA 2020-22 is accepting entries for publication by any members of UTSPS for those years. With Covid we lost a few years of sharing our poetry. It can be poems you have published or not. If you submitted poems last year, please resubmit. Our current editor is Russell Aspslund. 

If your poem has been published elsewhere/not by UTSPS or received an award, please note that. You will not be notified whether your submission will be published in Panorama but we surprised when you receive your issue. Every paid UTSPS members for the last 3 years will receive a free copy of the Panorama.  Due by Sept 30, 2022. Submit 1-3 poems via email to panorama37.2020@gmail.com or by mail to Russell Asplund 2223 E 1200 N, Layton UT 84040. No entry fee.   

                            

                    GUIDELINES:

Line limit: 40 lines, does not include epigraph or blank lines.  

Spaces per line: 55 or less.  

Subject: Any

Form: Any

Please no vulgarity or political statements

2. For other INFORMATION-check out National Federation of State Poetry Societies http://nfsps.com or the newly revised UTSPS website http://utahpoets.com or see our UTSPS blog with spotlights on new members and the new UTAH POET LAUREATE at http://utahpoetry.blogspot.com If you are on Facebook, join our Utah State Poetry Society group for more info and poems to enjoy.

3. Meet our new UTAH POET LAUREATE! in St. George UT -click for details.

Celebrating National Poetry Month

Dixie Poets returns...we had a joint reading at the St. George Library with Dixie State University poets on Thursday April 14. It was nice to be together and sharing our poems publicly. Dixie Poets will continue meeting on our regular schedule 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month and during the summer (no meeting on July 5th) at the St. George Active Life Center from 1:30-3:30 pm. Everyone welcome to join with us.

Poets-l-r 1st row: Marian, Silivia, Marilyn and Roxie
2nd row: Julie, Denis, Lin, Barbara and Markay

Don't forget the National Federation of State Poetry Societies annual Summer conference this year in Columbus, Ohio June 23-26th. Also available on Zoom. For details see http://www.nfsps.com/NFShttp://www.nfsps.com/NFSPS2022ConvReg.pdf

NEW CONTEST OPPORTUNITY-Utah Arts and Museums Annual contest for writing and poetry has one category for poetry. Great prizes. Deadline May2-June 30th, 2022.

See details on entering at http://www.slcc.edu/cwc/utah-original-writing-competition.aspx 

We are FAMOUS...lol!

 Our Poetry WORDSHOP group is famous. At least our photo is in the St. George Senior Center though our group is for all ages. We had two new poets join us who are in their 90s and still writing. Poetry is for everyone and a great stress reliever... Click to enlarge.

SPRING into SUMMER POETRY Activities

With SPRING comes APRIL which is POETRY MONTH...

DIXIE POETS WORDSHOP will continue meeting every 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at the St. George Active Life Senior Center at 250 N 200 W from 1:30-3:30 pm. All ages welcome to participate in short lessons on poets and  poetry-how to write better plus helpful critiques-bring 10-12 copies of your original poem/s. For more info. contact Lin Floyd  lin at sunrivertoday dot com

UPCOMING CONTESTS and ACTIVITIES

April-month long activities-see https://utahpoetryfestival.com organized by Paisley Rekdal-Utah State Poet Laureate.

Apr 8-9  Utah State Poetry April Festival on Zoom. Details available at utahpoets.com  Need to register before April 5th-annual awards and workshop.

Apr 14-Celebrate Poetry-free poetry reading at St. George public library 6-7 pm featuring Dixie Poets and DSU Poetry Students in Dr. Cindy King's class.

Apr 15 PA'RUS POETS ADULT CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST! Submissions accepted Feb. 1 through April 15.  Awards ceremony on Thursday, May 12 $5 entry fee per entry. Anyone ages 18 and older living in the Intermountain West can enter the contest, which features the same two categories as the students: poetry and personal essay, as well as the same theme of "Reaching New Heights." Each adult can submit one entry per category. Here is the adult contest submission link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZn4x9m2fVVqwFzxPHwNVAZoWXliXinKwnQHkWpP2n3qwKow/viewform

June 23-24 National Federation of State Poetry Societies Annual Convention in Columbus, Ohio. Will be in person and on Zoom. Details https://nfsps.com/Strophes2022-Apr.pdf 

Poetry in the NEW YEAR 2022

POETRY WORDSHOP CONTINUES

Meeting on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at the ST. GEORGE ACTIVE LIFE

 CENTER 250 North 200 West-upstairs from 1:30-3:30 pm with gentle critiquing to help us get ready for the many contests available to win cash prizes sponsored by UTSPS. Contact lin at sunrivertoday dot com for more info.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Time to join Utah State Poetry Society to receive reduced prices for entering contests, and opportunity to submit to the Panorama publication. Online April Awards Festival (April 8-9) with prizes for contests and mini workshops available. Dues ($30/years) due postmarked by Wed, Jan 5, 2022. See form: utahpoets.com . You can still contest without paying dues but less categories are available. They need our support! Feb 1st is deadline for this contest and for National Federation of State Poetry Societies society see http://nfsps.org

Lola Haskins

2. Annual POETRY IN THE PARK at Zion Park Nature Center with Lola Haskins on Friday, March 4th at 8:45 am to 3 pm. Fee-$50 for a day of poetry instruction, free pass to the park, etc. REGISTER NOW... details at https://zionpark.org/event/poetry-in-the-park/

3. Annual REDROCK CREATIVE WRITING SEMINAR-Sat, March 5th -details coming check out http://redrockwriters.org for info and also about CHAPARRAL CONTEST awards. See flyers below for details:

Registration Form for Redrock Writers Seminar

Program for Redrock Writers Program

4. Also coming up SOUTHERN QUILL DSU's literary magazine, deadline March 7th-see poster for details: poetry, photography, visual art, fiction and non fiction. No entry fee. https://www.thesouthernquill.com/submit

5. HERITAGE WRITERS GUILD writing workshops on Sat, March  12 at 10:30-12:30 at Washington Country Library in St. George will feature Dorothy Allred Solomon discussing writing memoirs, 

On Sat Mar 26th same time and place author Julie Olsen will be discussing how to write children's books, illustrate and young adult books. Free lecture, for more info contact email Marilyn Richardson <jayrich@infowest.com> or  for details check out www.heritagewritersguild.com 

6. Due Mar 15th  NFSPS-National Federation of State Poetry Societies annual contest. Open to all but especially UTSPS members: https://www.nfsps.com/poetry_contests.htm 

7. PA'RUS POETS ADULT CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST!

Submissions accepted Feb. 1 through April 15.  Awards ceremony on Thursday, May 12 $5 entry fee per entry

        Anyone ages 18 and older living in the Intermountain West can enter the contest, which features the same two categories as the students: poetry and personal essay, as well as the same theme of "Reaching New Heights." Each adult can submit one entry per category. Here is the adult contest submission link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZn4x9m2fVVqwFzxPHwNVAZoWXliXinKwnQHkWpP2n3qwKow/viewform There is a $5 fee per entry in the adult contest. Entries will not be considered if the entry fee has not been paid. The entry fee is simply to raise funds for the prize money and other costs associated with the contest. We are a non-profit entity. You can pay your entry fee one of three ways:

Pay on our EventBrite site: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/parus-poets-adult-creative-writing-contest-tickets-255419495587  (this site charges an extra administrative fee, FYI) Pay via Venmo @Reuben-Wadsworth (3315 last four of phone number) Pay via check made out to me sent to: Reuben Wadswort 395 N. 200 West, Room 205 Hurricane, UT 84737 Any questions about the adult contest can be directed to me or adult contest chair, Jenny Drummond, jenny.drummond@washk12.org