WyoPoets
WyoPoets Officers
Elected Positions:
President – Abbie Taylor Vice President - Linda Coatney
Treasurer - Art Elser Secretary - Patricia Buck
Non-Elected Positions:
Historian - Midge Farmer Newsletter Editor – Chris Valentine
Website - Nancy Curtis
b Site – Nancy Curtis Correspondent - Lee Ann Siebken
Historian Notes by Midge Farmer, WyoPoets Historian, November, 2006
The history of any group is important and should be retained and constantly maintained. The records show when, how and why we began, what has happened since that start and the roads traveled to where we are today. Our successes, both as a group and as individuals, are noted. Sometimes even things that did not work are mentioned so we can know that years later. Our official paperwork is kept here.
Test Your WyoPoets Knowledge
Did you know we were born in the fall of 1977 as a “committee” of Wyoming Writers with 25 members? Did you know our name was Poets of Wyoming Writers when we joined the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) that year? Did you know we could not call ourselves the Wyoming State Poetry Society because a fly-by-night scam had operated in WY the previous year under a like name? Did you know we compiled a beautiful book of poetry called WORDWEAVERS published by Wyoming Writers, Inc. in 1986?
Do You Have History With WyoPoets?
All this and more is in our files. The most interesting historical tidbits are often copies of the newspaper clippings, photos, fliers, certificates, programs, etc. that members send when they give readings or work in the schools or do anything to share poetry in our state. Please add your history to our history. Send historical items to:
Midge Farmer
1117 Indian Hills Drive
Gillette, WY 82716
307-682-3488
Email: WyoPoets Historian
June 2010
Tayloring Words
I was elected president of WyoPoets in April of this year. Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I’ve had experience as a President. In college, I was President of the music therapy club. Recently, I was President of the Wyoming Council of the Blind and of my singing group. So I guess you could say I’ve done this a few times and haven’t lost anybody yet.
Here are my writing accomplishments. My novel, We Shall Overcome, was pub lished in July of 2007 by iUniverse. My work has appeared in Emerging Voices, Wyoming Fence Lines, and Voicings from the High Country. Two of my poems will appear in Distant Horizons, the WyoPoets latest Chapbook, which I hope will be reprinted soon. I would like to eventually publish a collection of poems, a book of poems, a book of memoirs, and maybe even a book of short stories.
Last, but not least, here is some personal information about me. I live in Sheridan, Wyoming, with my husband, Bill, who is legally blind. Soon after we were married in 2005, Bill suffered two strokes that left him partially paralyzed. When I’m not writing or caring for him, I facilitate a support group for the visually impaired, sing in a women’s barber-shop group, and participate in water exercise classes at the YMCA. Please vist my website at http://www.abbiejohnsontaylor.com. Oh, by the way, I’m visually impaired. But since everyone else in this organization has good eyes, this won’t be a case of the blind leading the blind.
As president of WyoPoets, I’ll do my best to lead our group over the next few years. But let me tell you all something. Our past President, Myra Peak, is one tough act to follow. Kudos to her for all her hard work in getting us where we are today.
Abbie Taylor
Treasurer - Art Elser
Pat Frolander has been our treasurer for two years. We thank her for her stellar service with managing our funds. She has developed some new cost summaries which should help us budget for various activities in the future.
Co-Chair Eugene V. Shea National Contest – We need a volunteer or two.
Eugene V. Shea has been the national contest chair for many years. He has decided that this fall will be his last contest to chair. He was the first recipient of our Excellence Awards and we named the contest for him. We must continue to thank him since we will be enjoying the results of his efforts for many years to come. We need a volunteer (or more) to assist Gene this fall so that person can learn more about the contest and then hopefully take it on in 2011 and continue for multiple years. Our vision is that the contest can have two co-chairs since there is some division of labor that can be assigned to two people.
Historian/Archivist – We need a volunteer or a group of volunteers
Midge Farmer has served in this capacity for many years including the last four. She has organized our history and incorporated current events (which soon become history) in order to show how WyoPoets and its members have served the world of poetry. We thank Midge for her diligence and her continual networking for us to provide her with materials about our achievements.
We will also be asking for volunteers with other activities so please contact me or one of the people listed on page 2 of the newsletter if you have questions or wish to volunteer or be nominated.
Pat Buck, our secretary, will be out of town for both our April workshop and Wyoming Writers, Inc. meeting in Cody in June. Cindy Bower has volunteered to take notes for our business meetings.
Quick Links
WyoPoets Meetings
WyoPoets meets during the Wyoming Writers, Inc. annual conference, and also meets at WyoPoets sponsored workshops around the state, conducted at various times during the year.
ⓒ 2006-9 WyoPoets ▪ All rights reserved.
Web Page Design by Nancy Curtis
Members Only Contest - Chris Williams & Aaron Holst Strophes
National Contest - Linda Ruhle Chapbooks - Myra Peak