HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-02 Poet Laureate Committee Minutes North Andover Poet Laureate Committee Meeting Minutes
March 2, 2023 7:00 PM
Stevens Memorial Library— Community Meeting Room
Public access email: ii iii it ii
1. Attendees: Karen Kline (PLC chair),Jason O'Toole, Dan Speer, Mark Bohrer(Poet Laureate), Kaleb Rhoton, NAHS
Youth Poet Laureates
o Visitors/New: Signe Spencer,Tina Klein (NAHistSoc)
o Not Present: PLC members: Christa Lamb,Taylor Mace, NAHS Youth Poet Laureate: Lily Crane
2. Introduction to new member Dan Speers and Intro to the PLC committee mission and role
o Reviewed PL Cmte charter and organization and annual activities to support Poet Laureate
3. Welcome-Invite reading of an opening poem
o Mark read "The Secret" by Denise Levertov
o https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48725/the-secret-56d22a326e5a8
4. Tina Klein from North Andover Historical Society—spoke about NA Hist Soc Black History Month program
o Invited for Poet laureate and PL committee to take part in next year's Black History Month
5. Poet Laureate changes
o Mark is stepping down as of July 2023
o Not discussed further at this meeting
o Jason is interested in being PL
6. PL committee recruiting—updates
o New PLC member: Dan Speers
o Signe Spencer is also interested in joining committee
o (post meeting) Karen talked to a woman at St. Michaels who is interested in joining
o Jason—ACTION—advertise on Next Door
o Karen—ACTION—send invitation for new PLC members to local churches
• North Parish - Kim Adami,Trinitarian Church—contact? St Pauls—contact?
7. Anne Bradstreet Poetry Contest 2023—schedule (moved up by 2 weeks this year)
Sun Mar 5t" send teaser email with short summary of contest rules to schools& last 2 years of
submitters, an "It's coming..." kind of email.
Sun March 19t" Event Announced to schools and public
• this gives 4 full weeks (same as last year)
• website, signs,flyers in stores, email to schools/past submitters
■ Sat April 15t" Submissions Due: (Friday before school vacation)
■ Sat Apr 29t"Announce Winners
Sat May 6-Awards Ceremony on North Andover Common: Saturday
• Sat May 13t" rain date
o Popup poetry April 1St and April 8t"to promote contest—Mark will host in 2 outdoor locations in town,
likely town hall and possibly youth center(?)
8. Theme: Anne Bradstreet poetry—pick a verse or poem of hers
o Post meeting idea: In addition to her poetry, it can be something about her life
Contest Title: "Let Anne Be Your Muse"
The theme is Anne Bradstreet poetry.
Find a verse or poem you love from Anne Bradstreet and use it as a prompt for a poem—let
Anne be your inspiration!
In the contest announcement,to help out adults and kids, we'll provide 4 suggested prompts
(verses)from her poems, plus pointers to other poems. But lines from any of her poems can be
used as the starting point.
o The themes are eternal -she wrote about these topics:
o Awards-T-shirts to the winners/finalists?
o Karen—ACTION—reach out to Melissa Rodrigues for funding promotions and awards
o Reminder—do a survey to all the submitters (surveymonkey)
o PROMOTION PLANS
1. website: annebradstreetpoetrycontest.com
2. Yard signs—we have these from last year. Only day needs to be changed.
3. Flyers
• Mark to prepare—need people to post
4. (Mark) Email to school administrators, Lorene Marx, prior submitting teachers and town
leaders
5. (Mark) Email to all past submitters
6. (Mark) Facebook—NA Poets Corner
7. (Mark) NextDoor
o Judging Panels
1. Plan for 2 panels of approx. 5 judges each—PLC members +other invited poets
• #1 for Grades 1-2 & 3-5 and#2 for MS/HS/Adult
9. Not discussed:
o Announcements:
Mark has an upcoming feature show:April 191" Haverhill River Bards
o Youth Poet Laureate and HS poetry- No events/activities planned at HS
10. Any other business
11. Next meeting date—Monday March 13 or Wednesday March 15
12. Closing poem by Dan Speers
13. Adjournment