January 2019

Poets NorthwestPoets NorthwestPoets NorthwestPoets Northwest

NewsletterNewsletterNewsletterNewsletter

The Mission of Poets Northwest Founded in 1986, by Susan Daubenspeck, Betty Kersh and Claire Ottenstein-Ross, our main objective is to facilitate and inspire poets to write more poetry. We provide information about current poetry contests, feature guest poets on a regular basis, study the masters of creative verse, and encourage members. Poets are also encouraged to read their poems at each meeting. Membership is $15 annually (Jan-Dec) & $7 for 12 & under. Meetings are held the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10 AM to noon at the Windwood Presbyterian Church, 10555 Spring Cypress., Houston, TX 77070.

A chapter of the Poetry Society of Texas

www.poetrysocietyoftexas.org

PNW Board Members

Eric Blanchard

President

Karen Mastracchio Vice President/ Program Chair

Lynn Roberts Grice Treasurer/Membership

Newsletter

Sharon Young Secretary

Maxine Kohanski Events Coordinator/

Fundraising

Lynn Roberts Grice Historian

Lisa Toth Salinas

Judge

Franchesca Alamo Publicity Chair

Karen Mastracchio Webmaster

Saturday January 19th

10:00 A.M.—12 Noon at

Windwood Presbyterian Church 10555 Spring-Cypress Rd.

Houston, TX 77070 Room 124

PST WINNERS – 2018 Congratulations to the PST Annual Contest Winners 2018 Poets Northwest had 14 of its members place in the top 10. Many won 1st Places. At our January meeting we invite the winners in the top 10 to read several of their poems (as time allows.) Come and listen to the award winning poems from the Poetry Society of Texas. We are proud of our Chapter for produc-ing so many fine poets. Winners in the top 10 include: Cheri Bell, Eric Blanchard, George Fredric Campbell, Leslie Ann Engle, Daniel Hunter, Maxine B. Kohan-ski, Karen Mastracchio, Michael Owens, Lisa Toth Salinas, Courtney O’Banion Smith, Jenna Pashley Smith, Warren Spates, Mary Creviere Turner, and Sharon E. Young.

Please bring up to 4 of your winning poems to read.

Read-Around

Everyone is invited to bring 1 or 2 original poems 1 page limit each

Door Prize provided by—??? Call or e-mail Lynn to volunteer

“Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.” ~Leonard Cohen

Poetry Society of Texas News & Information

All members of Poets Northwest are encouraged to join the Po-etry Society of Texas—Dues are only $25/year (year runs July—June) and their Annual Contest/Banquet, Summer Conference and

“The Bulletin” will keep you in contact with other Texas poets and offer oppor-tunities you won’t want to miss. Membership in PST also means you are a mem-ber of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies and eligible for their annual contest. Go to www.poetrysocietyoftexas.org for more information.

July 11-13, 2019 Prompts & Pathways

Poetry Society of Texas 50th Annual Summer Conference in Denton Texas See the PST website for further information

Member News

Share your publishing or personal news with your fellow poets. If you have news for the newsletter, please send it directly to Lynn Grice at e-mail texaspoet53@hotmail.com by the 1st of each month. � Daniel Hunter’s poem, “Ghosts of Christmas Past,.” won the PNW Christmas Poem Contest � Mike Owens’ poem, “Never Captured,” will be published in the Spring edition of Metonym Literary Journal. � Courtney O’Banion Smith’s poem, “Around the Fire,” was published in Syntax and Salt Magazine in Decem-

ber. It can be viewed at https://syntaxandsalt.com/2018/12/21/around-the-fire/ Her poem, “Documentarian,” was accepted to appear in The Ocotillo Review Volume 3.1, later this year.

� Ann Barber’s husband, Ken, is recovering from a liver transplant. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Find Us Here:

www.poetsnw.com

www.facebook.com/PoetsNorthwest

@HoustonPoets on Twitter

Poetsnorthwest on Instagram

PNW’s 2017 anthology, Honoring Art—

An Eckphrastic Anthology, will be available for purchase

at the meeting, or contact Lynn Grice. $6 each.

2019 PNW Board

President—Eric Blanchard; Vice-President/Program Chair—Karen Mastracchio; Treasurer/Membership/Newsletter/Historian—Lynn Grice; Secretary—Sharon Young; Events Coordinator/ Fundraising—Maxine Kohanski Publicity—Franchesca Alamo; Judge—Lisa Toth Salinas; Webmaster—Karen Mastracchio

Poets Northwest 2019 Dues are Due!

At a recent Board meeting, because it has been many, many years since the last increase, it was decided that we needed to raise the annual dues to $15, beginning in January, 2019. Costs for events we hold, and other expenses, have out-paced our income in the past few years. Please do not let this increase preclude you from renewing your membership. If you have any questions or personal financial concerns about the increase, please contact Lynn Grice, Treasurer. The Membership form is included in this newsletter. You can mail them or pay at the January meeting.

Lucidity Ozark Poetry Retreat #27 April 2-4, 2019 in Eureka Springs, Arkansas Nathan Brown, will be one of the presenters!

www.luciditypoetryretreat.com

National Federation of State Poetry Societies Contests Go to www.nfsps.com for details on all contests—If you are a member of PST, then you are a member of NFSPS

2019 Annual Contest—Deadline March 15, 2019. Electronic submission available also, through Submittable.

2019 BlackberryPeach Prizes for Poetry (BBP3): Spoken and Heard. Deadline March 15, 2019

2019 PNW MEMBERSHIP

NAME _______________________________________________________

ADDRESS ___________________________________________________

PHONE ____________________ E-MAIL __________________________

I want my Newsletter by: $15 Dues Paid Cash __ or Check # ________ Mail __ E-Mail __ $ 7 Dues Paid Cash __ or Check # ________

Mail complete form/check to: Lynn Grice, 9611 Magnolia Ridge Dr, Houston, TX 77070

Make checks payable to POETS NORTHWEST

Regular Membership $15 Junior Membership (12 years and younger) $7

2019 Dues are due!

You can either mail them to me, or better yet, bring them with you to January’s meeting.