17th annual blizzard writers poetry retreat · to meet each other, but an unforgettable evening of...
TRANSCRIPT
upcoming dates >>>
about us >>> League of Minnesota Poets
(LOMP) holds biannual meetings,
supports regional chapters in
Minnesota, and publishes the
Moccasin poem anthology.
LOMP has been creating and
encouraging a community of
poets since 1934.
www.mnpoets.com
Advertising Rates:
Fees for an 2.5” x 5” ad are
$25 for members, $35 for
non-members. There can be no
more than 8 ads per edition.
membership >>>
Annual membership fee:
$20 ($10 for K-12 students)
Membership includes the
quarterly newsletter,
LOMPLighter, National
Federation of State Poetry
Societies membership, and
the NFSPS annual publication,
Strophes.
Mail fees to LOMP Treasurer
Susan McMillan
6327 Oak Meadow Ln NW
Rochester, MN 55906
chapters >>> Polaris Poets ..................... Duluth
Heartland Poets ... Brainerd Lakes
Mississippi Valley Poets &
Writers ...................... Twin Cities
Southeastern Minnesota
Poets ........................... Rochester
Southern Minnesota Poets
Society ......................... Mankato
Grand View Poets
.................. St. Cloud/Sartell
NOVEMBER 2015 A Quarterly Publication of the League of Minnesota Poets
January 6, 2016
January 13, 2016
January 28-31, 2016
Deadline to reserve a place at the Blizzard Writers Poetry Retreat
Deadline to submit poetry for Crossings’ Poet Artist Collaboration XV
Blizzard Writers Poetry Retreat
17th Annual BLIZZARD WRITERS POETRY RETREAT Join us Thursday, January 28th midafternoon through Sunday, January 31st, 2016.
(Or who knows how long if we get snowed in!) Single day participation welcome
as well. We will feature readers from Southern Minnesota Poets Society “4th Thurs-
day” Poetry Night.
WHERE: At the home of Sue Chambers and Henry Panowitsch, located on 10
wooded acres next to the Big Cobb River, 10 miles south of Mankato, MN.
(Detailed directions on page 4.) There are many bedrooms in the main house.
There are fireplaces to curl up in front of, a full library so we can consult the author-
ities, and good places to hike, ski or skate.
WHO: You! This retreat is for all who are interested in poetry.
LOGISTICS: Bring food to share and a poetry program that is at least 30 minutes in
length. The program can be anything that tickles your fancy—physical activity that
will stimulate writing; a writing workshop; a favorite author; a new form; a lecture;
a special taped program that you want to lead a discussion on…the possibilities are
endless. Joint programs are also permissible.
Please notify Sue Chambers at least 3 weeks in advance so that beds and food selec-
tions can be coordinated. (507)278-4200 or [email protected]
LOMP SPRING MEETING Rochester (Southeastern MN Poets) is hosting the spring
2016 LOMP conference and, as a part of that, they have
arranged with Crossings in Zumbrota to schedule Poet
Artist Collaboration XV on Saturday, April 16, 2016, so
that everyone may participate in both events.
Submitting your work is optional but encouraged. (See
page 3 for details). Since most attendees at our April
conference will want to attend the Crossings poet-artist
reception and reading whether or not they submit poet-
ry, we will include this in our agenda for the day.
LOMP MEMBERSHIP BENFITS >>> Your membership in the League of Minnesota Poets has these benefits:
You may publish your work in our annual poetry magazine, The Moccasin.
Membership in the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS)
Lomplighter, our quarterly newsletter
Reduced rates to attend the spring and fall LOMP conferences
An invitation to participate in our two annual poetry retreats (winter and summer)
Reduced rates for participating in the LOMP and NFSPS annual contests
Opportunities to meet and share work with other poets
Access to members-only portions of our website (including our online poetry forum)
Opportunity to sell your books at meetings and online
From your LOMP President >>>
I know this message may be disquieting, but January 1, 2016, is beginning to breath its frigid breath on our
necks, and you know what that means. You don't? It means it's time to renew your LOMP membership for
another year.
The good news is that membership was up last year, almost 150 at last count. The bad news, and disturbing
to me, is that, although we gained many new members, over thirty previous members did not renew.
Now, some have passed away, some may have extenuating circumstances, or some may have simply gotten
too busy with other endeavors, but the fact is we need you!
I urge you to take time today to renew your membership. You have options. Either go to our website at
www.mnpoets.com, click on join, and you can pay your dues by credit card. Or, if you prefer, you can
download the membership form and send a check directly to the LOMP treasurer. Don't care to use a
computer? Use the membership form included in this copy of the LOMPlighter.
Along those lines, the cost of joining and supporting LOMP is a mere $20 for the year. That's $1.67 per
month, 38 cents per week, 5 cents per day. What a deal! For only a nickel a day you receive four copies of
the LOMPlighter, have the opportunity to attend four writing events a year, can enter poetry contests at
both the state and national levels, and can feel good about helping to support our literary community.
As your president, I feel strongly about contributing to the arts, something that has always been at the heart
of a strong society.
At our fall LOMP Board Meeting, we discussed the possibility of raising our dues by a small amount.
Instead, we decided to urge those of you who can to make a small (or large) donation to LOMP. That also
can be made on-line on the membership webpage. Donations are tax deductible, and need not be
astronomical. Five dollars, ten, fifteen, anything will be used to offset the costs of maintaining your
organization.
Enough of all this money and membership talk. On behalf of the officers
of your League of Minnesota Poets, I sincerely wish you a happy
Thanksgiving, a most wonderful and blessed Christmas, Hanukah,
Kwanzaa, whatever other holiday you may observe, and a most
productive New Year with your writing. Peace!
Dennis Herschback
MINNESOTA MAGIC The League of Minnesota Poets
will host the June 9-12, 2016
NFSPS convention — but the
location has yet to be determined,
so please watch our Facebook
page and website for more
information.
TALKING STICK Congratulations to the League
members who were selected for
the 24th volume of The Talking
Stick, a literary journal published
by the Jackpine Writers' Bloc. The
Stick is a Minnesota collaboration
of poetry, creative nonfiction and
fiction, produced to encourage
and publish Minnesota writers,
Order a copy online at
www.jackpinewriters.com/
published-books for $10 (payable
via PayPal).
And watch for a December call for
submissions for the 25th volume.,
Submissions will be due March 1,
2016.
CROSSINGS CALL FOR POETS In honor of National Poetry Month in April, Crossings at Carnegie
(Zumbrota, MN) invites poets and artists to submit their work to the
15th annual Poet-Artist Collaboration, an exhibit in which artists create
work inspired by poetry.
Entry deadline: Wednesday, January 13, 2016.
Poets may submit up to three poems, each typed (single-spaced, 12
point Times New Roman) on an 8½-inch x 11-inch sheet of plain white
paper. A poem may be 2 pages long, but no longer. Previously
published work is permitted.
Entries should be submitted online by Wednesday, January 13, 2016.
Fill out the form on our website, www.crossingsatcarnegie.com/
exhibit_html/PACpoetformXV.html
Then, email your poems as a Microsoft Word document attachment,
using the email address provided with the form.
Complete your registration by paying $5 entry fee online (a $1.50
credit card convenience fee will be added), by mailing a check to
Crossings PAC, 320 East Ave, Zumbrota, MN 55992, or by calling
Crossings at (507) 732-7616 with your credit card info (there will be
no handling fee). Notification of acceptance will be given before
February 1.
POET/ARTIST RECEPTION APRIL 16
The Poet Artist Collaboration XV exhibit will be available for viewing
at Crossings from April 4—May 4, 2016.
Poets and artists are encouraged to attend the poet/artist reading and
reception on Saturday, April 16, at 6:30 p.m. at Crossings. This special
event will feature the poets reading and discussing their work, and the
artists discussing how the poems inspired their art. The reading takes
place at a vintage theatre next door and features the artwork displayed
on a large screen. It is not only an opportunity for the poets and artists
to meet each other, but an unforgettable evening of camaraderie for
all those who love the arts.
Painting is poetry that is
seen rather than felt, and
poetry is painting that is
felt rather than seen. ~Leonardo da Vinci
About LOMP
officers >>> PRESIDENT: Dennis Herschbach
(218) 343-1522
VICE PRESIDENT: Peter Stein
RECORDING SECRETARY:
Evelyn Klein
TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP:
Susan McMillan
(507) 281-3507
ASSISTANT TREASURER:
Susan Stevens Chambers
(507) 278-4200
CORRESPONDING
SECRETARY: Meredith R. Cook
(507) 526-2653
PAST PRESIDENT:
Christina Flaugher
(507) 381-4633
appointments >>> LOMP Poet Laureate:
Shirley Ensrud
MOCCASIN EDITOR:
Meredith R. Cook
HISTORIAN:
Shirley Poliquin
LOMPLIGHTER EDITOR:
Joe Anderson
PUBLICITY CHAIRMAN:
SuzAnne Wipperling
YOUTH CHAIRMAN:
Peter Stein
DIRECTIONS TO BLIZZARD POETRY RETREAT You’ll need to find County Road 16 where it becomes 169th Street.
If heading south on Highway 22 from Mankato, go 7 or 8 miles, then
watch for a little white church on the right— about a half-mile further
and turn west (right) onto County Road 16 (AKA 169th Street).
If heading south on County Road 16 from Mankato, cross two rivers,
the Le Sueur and the Big Cobb.
If coming from Mapleton, head north on Highway 22, go 6 miles
(through Beauford) and turn west on County Road 16.
Continue to the second gravel road on your left, a t-intersection where you’ll
turn south (left) onto 574th Avenue, follow it for about 2/3rd of a mile, then
turn right onto
166th Lane. You
will note a
"dead end" sign.
We are the first
house on the
right, look for
the large garage
and brown
house. If you go
down the hill
on the minimum
maintenance
road, you have
gone too far.
CONVENTION MADNESS POETRY CONTEST Win your way to the 2016 NFSPS Convention in St. Paul! First prize is a 4-
night stay at Hotel 340 ($556); second prize covers the cost of meals for one
attendee ($200) and third prize is the $75 registration fee.
Poems may be any form or subject but must not exceed one page (10 point
text or larger). You may submit previously published poems and there is no
limit on the number of submissions. Mail entries to Susan Stevens Chambers,
57310 166th Ln, Good Thunder, MN 56037 by JANUARY 5, 2016. Submit
two copies of each poem: one anonymous copy and one that includes you
name, phone number, email address and state poetry society membership.
The submission fee for NFSPS members is $10 per 3 poems ($20 for 6 poems,
$30 for 9 poems, etc.) or $18 per 3 poems for non-members. Make checks
payable to LEAGUE OF MN POETS. Winners will be notified by March 1,
2016.
57310 166th Ln
MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Friday, November 20, 7pm—Stefan
Lovasik presents Persona and
Shadow, Subtext Books, 6 W 5th St,
St Paul.
Saturday, November 21, 2pm—
Mississippi Valley Poets & Writers
Monthly Meeting, Uptown
Plumbing, 514 Lowry Ave NE,
Minneapolis. Bring a poem to share.
Thursday, November 26, 7pm—
Southern Minnesota Poets 4th
Thursday Poetry, Emy Frentz Art
Gallery 532 S 2nd St, Mankato. Join
us for wine and light snacks.
Wednesday, December 2, 6:30pm—
Southeastern Minnesota Poets
Monthly Meeting, Buena Vista
Condos, 121 14th St NE, Rochester.
Wednesday, December 2, 6:30pm—
Lee Kisling hosts poetry night. Join us
every first Wednesday as we
celebrate poetry. Chapter 2 Books,
226 Locust St, Hudson, WI
Saturday, April 16-17—LOMP Spring
Meeting.
Poetry Readings & Retreats INTERNATIONAL POETRY RECITAL Minnesota State University, Mankato's Department of World Languages and
Cultures will be holding an International Poetry Recital on Wednesday,
November 18 from 2-3:30 p.m., during the International Education and
Cultural Diversity Weeks, in the Casual Lab of Memorial Library (ML 45).
Faculty, staff, students, and other members of the community are all invited
to attend and participate. There will be snacks and refreshments, sponsored
by the Kearney International Center.
Contact Enrique Torner, professor of Spanish, by phone (507-389-5519 or
507-389-2116) or e-mail ([email protected]) for more information.
GOOD THUNDER READING SERIES Minnesota State University, Mankato’s 2015-2016 Good Thunder Reading
Series will host nine writers during six events in the series’ 34th year. The
annual Series invites emerging and established writers to Mankato to meet
with community writers and readers, be interviewed on public radio, lead
discussions on the craft of writing, and read from their published works. All
events are open to the public. For more details and specific locations of each
event, please visit the Good Thunder Reading Series facebook page
www.facebook.com/gtreadingseries
2.11.16—Poetry, essayist, literary critic Stephen Burt
3.15–3.18.16—EDDICE B. BARBER VISITING WRITER RESIDENCY Poet
Jonathan Johnson
4.14.16—ROBERT C. WRIGHT MINNESOTA WRITER RESIDENCY Writer
Susan Power, Poet Taylor Tolchin
MANNINGHAM POETRY COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS All Minnesota students in grades 6-12 who attend public, parochial, private or home-schools are eligible.
Limit one entry per student. No entry fee. Poems must be original but may have been published and/or have
won previous awards. Submit two (2) copies of each poem. In the upper left corner of each copy, write the
division entered (Grades 6-8 Junior Division, and Grades 9-12 Senior Division). In the upper right corner of
one copy, list: the author’s name, home address, grade, school name, address and phone. Include this state-
ment with the author’s signature: “This is my original work.” Type the poem (NO Handwritten copies will be
accepted). It must not exceed 50 lines, and if it continues on more than one page, staple the pages together.
The ten top poems will be selected by the League of Minnesota Poets will be submitted to the National
Manningham Contest and published in a chapbook given to the student authors and participating schools.
Mail entries to: Peter Stein, MN Manningham Poetry Competition Chair, 2029 103rd Ave NW, Coon Rapids,
MN 55433. All submissions must be postmarked by December 21, 2015.
LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA POETS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
ANNUAL DUES: Adults $20.00, Students (K-12) $10.00. Dues are payable in January of each year.
The League’s fiscal year begins January 1st and ends December 31st. To receive all membership advantages,
please pay promptly. Dues cover basic operating expenses. All League officers are volunteers who donate
their time to the organization.
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS: League of Minnesota Poets dues entitle you to full participation in all League events
and automatically make you a member in the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. Events include
state and national poetry contests, conventions, and annual workshops. Also included are state and national
newsletters, as well as the opportunity to publish your poetry in our nationally distributed annual publica-
tion, The Moccasin.
The League of Minnesota Poets promotes poetry at local, state, and national levels. We sponsor annual
student contests and participate in the national Manningham student poetry awards.
Members who plan to enter poetry in the national contest need to pay their dues by January 1st of each
year in order to participate at the member rate. Those joining after that date must pay the non-member
rate to participate in that contest.
PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM.
Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone: ____________________________ E-mail: _____________________________________________
Signature of applicant: ___________________________________________ Date: ______________________
Make checks payable to LOMP and mail to:
Susan McMillan
6327 Oak Meadow LN NW
Rochester, MN 55901
Membership questions? E-mail [email protected]
For more information about our organization, visit our website at mnpoets.org
Have you written a chapbook or have produced some other work of literature you'd like
people to know about? You can place an ad in the LOMPlighter for only $25 if you are a
member, $35 for non-members. That buys an 2.5” x 5” ad.
Email ad copy and/or graphics to [email protected] and send payment to
Susan McMillan, 6327 Oak Meadow LN NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Ads for the February 2016 issue of the LOMPlighter are due February 4, 2016.