Newsletter of the Poetry Society of Virginia, February 2004
A Common Wealth of Poetry

From the President
Ed Lull

Soon we emerge from the Winter doldrums and begin our Spring poetry season ? and there are some excellent activities ahead. On March 20, Larry Turner hosts the Northern Region Poetry Meeting, including a poetry slam like the one enjoyed by many members last year. The meeting will be held in Fredericksburg; registration information is in this issue.

Our Annual Poetry Contest drew significant response again this year, and the judges are in the midst of their challenging responsibilities of selecting the best poems for recognition. The new category of prose poem has drawn a lot of attention. The Contest Awards Luncheon will be held in Richmond on April 24. More information will be published in the April newsletter.

As usual, the Poetry Festival will be held in Williamsburg in May; the new dates are May 21?23. Our workshops and seminars should be placed in the not?to?be?missed category. Seminars by Michael Mott and David Partie will be part of the Friday program, as will workshops by Vivian Teter and Shann Palmer. Saturdays events will include an open reading, the PSV Annual Meeting, a presentation by our featured poet, Ron Smith, and a slam. Saturday evening�s theater event will feature readings by Margaret Ward Morland, Joseph Awad, Grace Simpson, and George Garrett, all Poets Laureate of the Commonwealth. On Sunday, Claudia Gary Annis will wrap up the weekend with another interesting workshop. More detailed information will be included in subsequent issues. However, now is the time to put this on your calendar ? in ink.

Elsewhere in this issue you will find information that calls for member action. It is time for PSV to produce our recommendations for our next Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth. Members� participation in this process is important.

I hope to see you at the slam in Fredericksburg!

PSV Loses Another Pro: In Memory of Joseph Pendleton Campbell
Ed Lull

On November 10, 2003 the Poetry Society lost a longtime member, friend, and leader with the passing of Joseph Pendleton Campbell. A World War II Navy veteran, Joe�s professional career was as interesting as it was varied. He was a songwriter, a television personality, and a radio talk show host. He was one of the founders of the Nelson County Players and wrote a column for the Nelson County Times. Having been a Methodist minister he later founded the Eonian Church in 1968. Most of the PSV members enjoyed his poetry as well as his books: Eon Isle Chronicles, Reluctant Shepherd, and On the Edge of Greatness (but no cigar). Joe�s service to the Poetry Society of Virginia was extensive, having served three terms as its president, several years as an Executive Director, and for the last couple of years, as a member of the Advisory Board. He journeyed to and actively participated in the regional meetings, annual meetings, and Executive Committee meetings for as long as he was physically able. He never let his limitations dim his spirit. From his many, many poetry friends, we bid Joe farewell, wishing for him �fair winds and following seas.�

His autobiography, On the Edge of Greatness, is available through Xlibris.
Email: Orders@Xlibris.com
Book page: www.xlibris.com/OnTheEdgeOfGreatness.html
Author page: www.xlibris.com/JpendletonCampbell.html

Fax: 215.599.0114
Telephone 1.888.795.4274 x 276 or 215.923.4686
Mail: Xlibris Corp.; 436 Walnut Street, 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Poetry Tapes on Sale
Stu Nottingham

For a limited time The Teaching Company of Chantilly, Virginia, has its series "How to Read and Understand Poetry" on sale.

This series of twenty-four lectures of thirty minutes each covers many topics of interest to poets, including: Picturing Nature, Metaphor and Metonymy, Poetic Tone, Forms and Meters, The Enduring Sonnet, and others. Professor Willard Spiegelman of Southern Methodist University conducts the classes on the tape.

The series is available on videotape, audio CD and audio tape. The audio version is a nice companion during a long auto trip.

The sale continues to April 15 for members of the Poetry Society of Virginia. Identify yourself as a member when you call. The salesman I talked to on the phone was Dave Maiden.

Prices for this series are:
Videotape $54.95 (Regular Price $199.95)
Audio CD $49.95 (Regular Price $179.95)
Audiotape $34.95 (Regular Price $129.95)

Order from :
The Teaching Company
4151 Lafayette Center Drive Suite 100
Chantilly VA 20151-1232
1-800-832-2412
www.teach12.com

Remember to identify your self as a member of the Poetry Society of Virginia.

Member News

Jack Trannell won a 2004 Jesse Stuart award from the Kentucky State Poetry Society for his poem entitled, Spring Homily.

Sofia Starnes of Williamsburg has been awarded first prize in the nationwide CCL Poetry Contest for her poem Provinces. She will present an invited reading of her works at the award ceremony, to be held March 26 in San Diego, Calif., at an annual meeting of the Conference on Christianity and Literature. (The Virginia Gazette, Feb. 25, 2004)

William Reuben Smith, former treasurer of the PSV and long time president, poetry editor, and newsletter editor for The Piedmont Literary Review (no longer published), has published a collection of his poetry, The Prodigal Poet.

Copies of The Prodigal Poet are available for $10.00 plus $1.00 toward postage from: William R. and Ruth Smith, 4230 Elm View Road, Roanoke, VA 24014.

IN MEMORY

Eva Victoria Hancock Harding, 90, a long time resident of Alexandria, VA, died Jan. 8. She was a published short-story writer and poet. Her writings were published in Midwest Poetry Review magazine and the PSV Anthology.

West Virginia Poetry Society Contest

Included with this newsletter is the announcement of our sister state�s poetry contest. West Virginia sent to all their members an announcement of our contest last year. This year we return the favor. There are many interesting categories. Give it a try.

Poetry in the Schools

PITS Program, Poetry Society of Virginia, Volume 1, Issue 2, February 2004
Contact Information: Learn more about the PITSA Program by contacting Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda through the PSV website: Poetrysocietyofvirginia.org

Poetry in Integrated Teaching

By Beth Huddleston
Daniel Morgan Middle School, Winchester

During recent years public educators throughout Virginia have felt the pressures of SOL test scores as we attempt to prepare our students for the end of the year assessments. Many teachers state that they have to abandon some of the activities they would previously teach in their classrooms because they do not feel they are SOL focused. There are others, however, who find creative ways to tie in the SOL skills to those units the students most enjoy. Poetry is one of those areas that lends itself to integrated teaching.

In each grade level of 6-12, the study of poetry is a state objective. During the fall months of this school year, I have made the study of poetry the focal point for an integrated unit that I am teaching. In doing so, I have actually covered not just the poetry objective, but parts of all sixth grade English objectives, as well. This unit has included a study of the elements of poetry, reflective writing, editing skills, reading comprehension, vocabulary, critical listening skills, and cooperative group learning. In addition, our unit has offered support to several of the social studies objectives that regard early exploration and the beginnings of imperialism.

The major focus for our poetry study has been a narrative, historical fiction poem published by our PSV President, Ed Lull, Cabin Boy to Captain, written in blank verse, has served as an excellent example to incorporate all of the project objectives I have developed for our integrated study. Students not only read the book answering the traditional comprehension questions, each embarked on an extension project related to his/her own skills and interests. These projects included artistic representations of the explorations covered in the book, Elizabethan sonnets, battle plans, ship diagrams, and fashions of the day.

During the course of study, we welcomed visits from three members of the Poetry Society. Early in the unit, Linda and Stuart Nottingham came to present a classroom activity in poetry analysis. At the end of the unit, students welcomed Ed Lull and discussed not only his book, but also techniques a writer uses to develop his/her own writing style. Of particular interest to the students was the discussion of establishing voice in writing. Hopefully, the students will be able to incorporate these ideas into their own writings.

Poetry is an important element in any English classroom. Even though studying poetry for the sake of poetry is valuable in itself, the study of this literary form can also be valuable in other ways in the classroom. It is an excellent vehicle for use in developing an integrated unit. For adolescents, in particular, making connections to more than one contest area strengthens the concepts on which they are focused. This can be an exciting ay to meet classroom objectives and at the same time encourage creativity.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
BALLOT FOR
POET LAUREATE NOMINATIONS

The two-year appointment of the current Poet Laureate of Virginia, George Garrett, expires in June. In May, the President of The Poetry Society of Virginia must write to the Governor, recommending at least three candidates for his consideration as the next poet laureate. The Governor may reappoint the current laureate for a second two-year term.

The following poets have been proposed as nominees by the Executive Committee of The Poetry Society of Virginia.

George Garrett (Reappointment). . .Gregory Orr. . . . . . . . . . . . . Rita Dove

Patsy Anne Bickerstaff. . . . . . . . . . . .Nikki Giovanni. . . . . . . . . . .Ron Smith

Write-in nominee_______________

You may write in a candidate if you wish. Mail the ballot by March 31, 2004 to:

Edward Lull, President
The Poetry Society of Virginia
100 North Berwick
Williamsburg, VA 23188-6459

Please vote for up to three in the order of your preference.

1.______________________________________

2. ______________________________________

3. ______________________________________

Signed (optional)_________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________
A Celebration of Poetry

Saturday March 20, 10:00-3:30
Central Rappahannock Regional Library Theater
1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg

Sponsored by The Poetry Society of Virginia
and The Riverside Writers of Fredericksburg

We had a good turnout at our Celebration of Poetry last year, but hope more Fredericksburg residents and High School and College students attend this year. Dave Lankford, who was so well received last year, will be back to speak and lead the slam. (See Dave�s bio on the back.)
Schedule
(Everything free except lunch)
10:00 Registration and Book Display Table
(Books by members of Sponsoring Organizations are welcome)
10:30 Open Mike Poetry Reading
(in order of signing up, so sign up early by mail or email)
12:00 Buffet Lunch $20 (Check must be received by March 10.)
Menu
Chicken Teriyaki
Meatballs in Sweet and Sour Sauce
Whole Smoked Salmon
Vegetables, Green Salad, Assorted Desserts
1:00 Introduction of Sponsors
1:15 Talk �Poetry: The Spoken Word� by Dave Lankford,
followed by a poetry slam. (If more want to participate in the slam than time permits, the slammers will be chosen by drawing numbers.)
(More Information on Back)

Registration Form for Open Mike, Lunch, and Parking
Send to Joe Metz, 8005 Pembroke Circle, Spotsylvania, Va. 22553,
(540) 582-9745, METZJS@ADELPHIA.NET

Name _________________________________
Address _________________________________
_________________________________
Phone _________________________________
Email _________________________________
Do you want to sign up for the open mike poetry reading? ________
Do you want a parking permit? ________
Do you want lunches ($20 each)? ________ How many? ________
(Make check payable to Poetry Society of Virginia,to be received by March 10.)

Driving Directions
From I 95 (Exit 130A) or US Route 1:
East on Route 3
Left on Business 3, Williams Street, just after US 1 overpass. (1.2 mi from I 95, 0.2 mi from US 1)
Drive through town on Williams Street. (1.4 mi)
Cross Princess Anne (PR. ANNE) Street
Left at next light, Caroline Street. Go two blocks.
Library on right, 1201 Caroline Street.
Parking
On-street parking is generally restricted to two hours, but we have all-day parking permits you can pick up at the library. Also volunteers will be at the library to help you find a parking place.

For More Information
Contact Larry Turner, 4208 Stonehaven Way, Fredericksburg VA 22408, 540-710-2518, Thanz3000@aol.com
Rules for a Poetry Slam, Courtesy of Dave Lankford
Poetry and Performance:
1) All poetry must be the original work of the slammer.
2) Slammer cannot use props or musical accompaniment (other than that which they can make with their own body). Slammers cannot employ costumes, nudity, or animal acts.
3) Any subject matter or style is acceptable.
Rounds:
1) A slam is typically 1 or 2 rounds. The first round in a two round slam can be an elimination round.
2) Each slammer has 3 minutes to perform during a round. There is also a 10 second grace period. A deduction of .5 points occurs for every ten seconds (or fraction thereof) that the slammer goes over 3 minutes, ten seconds. At 4 minutes, the slammer is cut off.
Judging:
1) 5 judges are randomly picked from the audience. Judges cannot be directly connected to any of the slammers.
2) Judging is done Olympic style, 0-10 with one decimal place. The high and low score are dropped and the remaining scores are added together. The highest score during a round wins the round.
3) A calibration poet will be provided for judges to �practice� judging. The calibration poet�s score should be used as a benchmark (anything better should be scored higher; anything worse should be scored lower).
4) Giving a perfect �10� is a privilege, not a right.
Audience:
1) Judges SHOULD NOT be influenced by the audience.
2) The audience SHOULD try to influence the judges.

When it is all said and done ... the points are not the point; the point is poetry!

Biography of Dave Lankford
Dave Lankford: 1) recently jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and lived to tell about it, 2) is leaving a six-figure career to become a struggling actor, and 3) performs poetry. Yes, that's right: he performs poetry.

Dave is a veteran member of the 2000, 2001, and 2002 Washington, DC National Poetry Slam Teams. He has featured on stages across the East coast, the West coast, and the Gulf coast at venues ranging from book stores to bars, from theaters to television studios. In 2003, Dave put his touring on hiatus and has preferred to bring his words to the classroom. Dave, teamed with three of the Nations top ranked performance poets, teaches students of all ages the virtue of the spoken word and the power of Slam.

The Poetry Society of Virginia