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Home > Archive > Apr 10, 2008

By Thaya Gilmore
Poetry lovers and aspiring poets will be rewarded in many ways by attending the Dixie Poetry Chapter of the Utah State Poetry Society (USPS). The USPS is an organization dedicated to the creation and appreciation of poetry, with a focus on writing.
More than 200 members meet in chapters around Utah including 30 members who meet locally, reading and critiquing each other's poems. The group meets on the second Tuesdays of every month, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the St. George Library. D. Gary Christian gives monthly lessons.
The 2007-09 USPS state president is Vera Bakker, of Bountiful, and LaVerna Johnson, of St. George, is the state president-elect. The local Dixie Poetry Chapter President is Candy Fowler, who took the top prize in the state contest last year.
The big event of the USPS is the April Awards Festival, this year, April 18-19 at the Airport Hilton, Salt Lake. Writing workshops will be given, and the winners of the contest are announced. Members and nonmembers are encouraged to meet and learn from renowned poet W. D. Snodgrass.
In October is the Book Concert, honoring the Poet of the Year. The event will gather Utah poets together statewide for a reading of the winning Book of the Year published by USPS.
USPS members are automatically members of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, which also holds contests. Workshops and winners of the Book of the Year contest will be announced June 19 - 22 at the Convention Center in Layton.
“Utah is one of the top winning states and ranks the highest of all the states in awards for that national contest,” said Johnson. 
She is published in several anthology books, and her poetry can be found online at www.cowboypoetry.com/laverna.htm.
The USPS membership fee of $25 entitles the member to workshops, the newsletter, two “Poetry Panorama” anthologies to which members may submit poems for publication consideration, a copy of the Book of the Year, a directory of members, and direct notification of state contests, workshops, and other events.
“I love all forms of poetry,” Johnson said. “I feel that poetry belongs to the people. As a member of the poetry society, it gives you some incentive to keep writing. In my heart, there’s a place for poetry for everyone.”
Utah State Poetry Society encourages student poets also. The USPS Junior Creative Poetry contest is open to all Utah students. Winning poems are also entered in the National Poetry competition. Teachers can find information online or e-mail LaVerna at bwt@infowest.com.
The Utah State Poetry Society is assisted by the Utah Arts Council and National Endowment of the Arts, Washington, D.C.  For more information, visit their Web site at www.usps.net

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