News!

FALL POETRY FESTIVAL  SUNDAY  SEPTEMBER 26, 2010 

The poet laureate of the State of New Hampshire,

W.E. Butts  has agreed to read at the festival,  

Also on the program two 2010 Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellows in Poetry 

   REGIE O. GIBSON   ( National Slam Champion, teacher and author)

   JENDI REITER    (Northampton resident who anticipates publication of a new book by the Festival, Vice President of WINNING WRITERS the popular writing contest website)

 Former Northampton Poet Laureate

         JANET AALFS     

FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY MEMBERS WILL READ.  

GREAT POETRY FROM FINE LOCAL POETS          

THERE WILL BE MUSICAL AND POETRY RELATED ACTIVITIES

SPECIAL OPEN MIC SEGMENT FOR POETS TO PRESENT THEIR WORK PRODUCED AT AND FOR THE FESTIVAL.

FESTIVAL TO BE VIDEOED FOR BROADCAST ON NCTV and other local cable networks.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP OUT PLEASE CONTACT :   CARL RUSSO  fpoets@localnet.com

 

NEXT MEETING IS JULY 8,  2010 

Another great meeting with fine poetry and great poetic vibes June 10th. 19 poets were there to share .

We had a terrific reading at Invisible Fountain on Sat. Feb. 20,  it is on video and being broadcast on NCTV also includes an extended interview with Luke Cavagnac the owner of the Invisible Fountain Art Gallery.

Anita Gallers, Martina Robinson, Harry Azmitia,Jr, Linda Wlodyka, Michael Arraj, Teri O'Shea, Tommy Twilite (read, sang and interviewed Luke Cavagnac), Hazel Adolfson and Lori Desrosiers (read and sang).

ARCHIVE NOTES

Cold January nite, hot poetry to warm the soul, a fine evening of sharing poems. 15 members discuss upcoming reading at INVISIBLE FOUNTAIN.

Next meeting Feb. 11, at the Lilly Library Community Room,  bring a poem, bring a poet friend join in or just listen. We look forward to seeing everyone.

GREAT December MEETING

WE REALLY ENJOYED OUR EVENING 19 POETS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEXT MEETING IS January 14, 2010


We have a new leader for the monthly writing group MARTINA ROBINSON contact her with questions etc.

In other news the POETRY SHACK   has arrived at Lilly Library, a place for poets to find solitude to write. Unconventional but inspirational. 

October Meeting overwhelmed with religiousity. Yes the poets went on the religious theme WITHOUT any prior prompt or even knowledge, there appears to be an undercurrent of mental telepathy among the membership.  Seriously several fine fine poems were shared this evening .  The quality of the presentations was exciting and deeply interesting,  M. Arraj, L. Desrosiers, T. O'Shea, M. Robinson A. Gallers, T. Clark and several others presented outstanding poems.

wow  WHAT   A   FESTIVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   SEVEN SUPER POETS,  over 70 attendess including a  15 members of FPS  attended and Agreed the poetry was GREAT.   IF YOU MISSED IT ASK A MEMBER WHO ATTENDED OR   see  THE READERS do their stuff on NCTV .

THANKS AGAIN TO THE NORTHAMPTON ARTS COUNCIL for their support

LESLEA NEWMAN WAS PRESENTED WITH THE QUILL and INK AWARD for her phenomenal service to the poetry community as poet laureate of Northampton.

September kickoff meeting another fine evening with fine poetry and Oonagh's magic picking pen  chose readers all evening. Elizabeth Crowell noted that five Florence Poets Society members will be published in the next issue of the journal "ConciseDelight" which features poems of less than 9 lines.

HUGH SILKWORM SUCCESS

LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF POEMS SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION. WE ARE HARD AT WORK EDITING.

R-E-M-I-N-D-E-R-     membership  dues  of $15.00 per year (SEPTEMBER 1 TO AUGUST 31) are due in SEPTEMBER.  Though there is no fee to attend meetings, writing group or any event your membership helps us put on FloPoSo events including Fall Festival, SILKWORM, Jan Slam and other reading events,  where cost is involved,  membership fees an invaluable  help to  communicate with members and the public with this website  (over $100 a year) and our post office box (almost $100.00 each year).
 Last year 30 people joined and supported Florence Poets Society.    Thanks to them for last year  we need  your support NOW for the 2009 - 2010 poetry year.
Remember only members can chose their own submission to be published in SILKWORM without recourse.


FLORENCE FALL POETRY FESTIVAL  SUNDAY OCTOBER 4  AT PINES THEATER IN LOOK PARK. 

In an effort to get poetry to more people in a high traffic setting we explored the use of Pulaski Park in downtown Northampton.    Efforts to move Fall Festival to downtown Northampton unsuccessful.   Pulaski Park EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE TO USE.  City of Northampton requires NUMEROUS DETAILED TIME CONSUMING STEPS FOR PERMIT TO USE PARK.  Lengthy letter requesting use and providing extensive information on event must be presented along with numerous approvals. It is no wonder there are so few events held there, formal approval of ACADEMY OF MUSIC BOARD of Directors (technically Academy owns Pulaski Park -- however the city of Northampton owns the Academy of Music) ,  Formal meeting approval BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, formal approval CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, required.  The City demands a $100,000 bond to protect them from liability,  (request to waive bond refused) for any event the cost to obtain it is very high: For our event 5 hours insurance is $300  not a prudent use of grant money or cost effect for a poetry reading event.( The chances this insurance would be utilized at a poetry reading can be considered as minimal to unlikely) In addition a $50 permit fee and $35 for use of electricity are required.  


22 poets shared a poetry filled evening at July Meeting.  Several newer members in attendance, Linda Wlodyka presents her new chapbook.  The Evolution Cafe Thursday Open Mic is on summer hiatus.                  ALL POETS ENCOURAGED---  keep on writing new work to submit to submit for SILKWORM 4.      Poets Em Jolie and Chaya Grossberg have moved west,  Em to Maryland and Chaya to San Franciso area. Chaya had participated in many meetings and readings held by FLOPOSO since its beginning, she will be missed. We wish them the best, and encourage them to get new work to SILKWORM  4.!!!!!!!!!

 

BREAKING NEWS        FLORENCE POETS  Awarded Northampton Arts Council grant for 5th year running..  This grant of $750.00 supports our Annual Outdoor Poetry Festival to be held in OCTOBER.     ALSO the grant supports the publication of SILKWORM 4.

  GRATEFUL  THANKS TO NORTHAMPTON ARTS COUNCIL FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY events.

ALSO  FLORENCE POETS MEMBER, JAMES F. CAHILLANE, HAS BEEN AWARDED A GRANT by the Northampton Arts Council to do a poetry project on the history of Northampton, involving the 300th anniversary of Northampton  which was in 1950. He was awarded $350.00

GREAT MEETING LAST THURSDAY 15 MEMBERS.

FLORENCE POETS  AWAITS INFORMATION ON MASS POETRY FESTIVAL EVENTS TO BE KICKED OFF IN AMHERST.  WE ARE EAGER TO PARTICIPATE IF INVITED BY JUNIPER PROJECT.

SILWORM 4  IS NOW IN PROGRESS    SEND US YOUR SUBMISSIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  SEE THE SILKWORM PAGE FOR DETAILS.

Great meeting on May 14 with twenty five participants, lots of great discussion and fine poetry,  Member Lori Desrosiers missed meeting to read at the Green Street Cafe downtown congrats on her fine reading.  Several members read early and left to attend her event.

Florence Poets Society   to  submit proposal to Massachusetts Poetry Festival for a kickoff event in Northampton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Rich Puchalsky  is requesting help  from members to get out the word to local poets about the fine venue available for reading on the first Thursday of every month at Evolution Cafe. 

NEXT MEETING IS  June 11, 2009  AT LILLY LIBRARY COMMUNITY ROOM.  THE BUSINESS STARTS AT 6:30 AND POETRY AT 7:00. 

OBAMA INAUGUATION POETRY EVENT CAN BE SEEN BELOW. 


OBAMA INAUGURATION POETRY READING from carl russo on Vimeo.

Here is a video of Jan Slam


     Our fourth annual spoken word competition drew fewer entrants who shared a nice pot of cash.

  MARTINA ROBINSON  was the winner

  PAUL RICHMOND   a close second

  Michael Arraj  an even closer third

  Anita Gallers

  Lori Desrosiers

This terrific afternoon of spoken word competition is also showing in much better quality picture on Northampton Community Television.

ARCHIVE NEWS

INAUGURATION POETRY

     We are teaming with Northampton Poet Laureate Leslea Newman to promote  a unique event.   ALL POETS are welcome to write an original poem celebrating the inauguration of our new president Barack Obama and read that poem on the night of his inauguration  JANUARY 20, 2009.

  Thnis event  will be held at the YELLOW SOFA on  Main Street in downtown Northampton beginning with a 6:00 PM  signup. 

FALL  FESTIVAL 

 AS OF THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 28,  2008  THE FESTIVAL IS STILL PLAYING 2 OR 3 TIMES PER WEEK ON NCTV.  CHECK THEIR WEBSITE FOR VIEWING SCHEDULE.

  CHECK THE NORTHAMPTON CABLE TV SCHEDULE  STARTING WEEK OF NOVEMBER 16  FOR PART I  AND PART II   OF THE FESTIVAL.   The show is broken into two hourly segments with some editing to address time constraints and technical problems with some of the video footage (one of our tapes malfunctioned leaving us with only our back up footage which was not complete as it was shot for supplemental not primary broadcast)

    It's history now and what a great day.

             FINE READINGS,  EXCELLENT MUSIC  AND FUN HOOPING!!!!!

  The nite before celebration was a gas!!!

  Hey  let's do it all again next year!!!

A BIG THANK YOU  TO  NORTHAMPTON ARTS COUNCIL FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE FALL FESTIVAL AND SILKWORM  VOL 3

NEW YEAR  FOR  FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY 

    We kicked off our new year with our September 11 meeting.     23 poets  of us had a fine evening and  several   high quality poems were shared.  Our next meeting is  10/9 at Lilly Library in Florence (as usual).  

Florence Poets  has OVER 20  members for the new year    

Please consider joining!!!   

  Dues of $15.00   are  now due for 2008 --- 2009   year.

 Rich   Puchalsky   reminds  us  that the UMASS  LIBRARY Chapbook  Archive is actively seeking  chapbooks  from local  poets  as well as any and all information on the poetry scene  (INCLUDING   POSTERS,  ARTICLES  AND VIDEOS)  here in the  Valley.

to friends and members:

 We receive  announcements of poetry events and publishing opportunities on a daily basis.   ALTHOUGTH MOST ALL OF THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS TO PARTAKE MORE FULLY IN POETRY IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO LIST THEM ON THIS SITE. 

   I URGE MEMBERS TO VIEW AND USE  LORI DESROSIERS  EXCELLENT  POETRY NEWS  BLOG    it is available every week and is very comprehensive (if we got it here at FPS website she will have it on her blog.)

SUNDAY AFTERNOON   June  29   IN CUMMINGTON

              FLORENCE POETS AGAIN  HONORED THE MEMORY OF THE GREAT 19TH CENTURY POET     WILLIAM  CULLEN   BRYANT.   Jim Cahillane,  Howie Faerstein,  Saundra and Harry Azmitia,  Elizabeth  Crowell.  Nancy  Denig,   Anita Gallars  and  Tommy Twilite

THIS  EVENT  WAS FILMED  FOR  Northampton Community TV .  It was produced by  Florence Poets Society, Carl Russo and The Trustees of the Reservations.  Entitled Poetry in the Country, it is currently being broadcast on that  system.  Nozzle Productions filmed and edited the program.

CONTEST HAS   A WINNER      

     SEE   CONTEST PAGE FOR DETAILS

BREAKING NEWS        FLORENCE POETS  Awarded Northampton Arts Council grant for 4th year running..  This grant supports our Annual Outdoor Poetry Festival to be held on OCTOBER 5, 2008 at LOOK PARK.     ALSO the grant supports the publication of SILKWORM 2008.

  GRATEFUL  THANKS TO NORTHAMPTON ARTS COUNCIL FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY events.

This year there  were grant requests to NAC of  $103,000 and a budget of less than $20,000.  We are most fortunate to be in very select company,   THANK YOU   again to  NORTHAMPTON    ARTS   COUNCIL.

LOCAL POETS

   DON'T FORGET THE CHAPBOOK PROJECT

CONTACT  US TO GET YOUR POETRY CHAPBOOK INCLUDED IN THIS ARCHIVE.

Poets on television!

THE INVISIBLE FOUNTAIN READING ON APRIL 12, 2008 WAS PRODUCED FOR NORTHAMPTON CABLE TV by Carl Russo,

 Also note that a recent reading by Northampton Poet Laureate  Leslea Newman was filmed  broadcast by NCTV.  It is the mission of FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY to get poetry out to everyone. Readings are often not well attended. Event readings like Florence Poets does lend themselves to filming and broadcast.  We will be doing more of this.  So keep writing those fine new poems. 

Writing group has openings contact Rich Puchalsky. 

INVISIBLE FOUNTAIN ART GALLERY   Reading 7:00 PM  on Saturday, April 12, 2008  at Eastworks on Pleasant Street in Easthampton, second floor.  A fine turnout,  a really fun time, with great readings and  exciting poems.  We enjoyed some beer, wine and food.  We also had  a few members read over at the Blue Guitar Gallery later in the evening and that was fine experience as that Gallery ran a Carbaret with music, dance and readings.

JAN SLAM  huge success great afternoon of fun and fine poetry. 

Yes---- if you were there and saw it you know how great it was. Lots of fine poetry, (neary a klinker in the bunch) and 26 readers from 12 to (well fairly older).  The final duel in the last round of six fine poets Anita Gallers, Paul Richmond, and Lori Desrosiers were wonderful the scoring showed it came down to a showdown between Northampton High Slam Champ Ya Ya Yazerack, Former Jan Slam winner Dane Kuttler and Michael Arraj it was a thing of poetic beauty. although Michael's fine presentation ultimately prevailed Ya Ya and Dane were excellent. The hall was basically full the entire afternoon people came and went throughout the day with perhaps 80 to 100 attendees and participants. WHAT A PHENOMENAL TURNOUT FOR POETRY.
  Also we must profoundly thank our judges who were faced with difficult decisions all afternoon, the second round was scored very closely and presented the judges with a real challenge.
  Florence Poets Society deeply thanks everyone who was involved in promoting the event, supporting it, and helping with the logistics of getting chairs and tables up and then putting them back.
  Northampton Community TV videoed the event for later broadcast check out their program guide for a replay.
  Finally it was a real honor to present Lori Desrosiers with the Quill and Ink Award for her contributions to poetry in the Valley.
   THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE JAN SLAM SUCH A GREAT SUCCESS.

 

 FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY MEMBER participated in  Five-College Poetryfest!

Kimberley Rogers AC 08 at Smith College and member of the Florence Poets Society represented Smith at the February 21st Poetryfest.

Florence Poets Society  has agreed to work with the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System to provide assistance to them in an extensive Poetry Slam  competition program.  

CHAPBOOK PROJECT  moves forward.  Florence Poets Society will be collecting books and transmitting them to the UMASS library special collection.   The same is  true of Forbes (but Northampton poets only). We will also soon post an instruction sheet with names and address to send your book to.

FESTIVAL  GREAT SUCCESS.

SILKWORM 2007 well received.

Sunday   October 7, 

 FESTIVAL schedule FINDS NEW AND EXCITING READERS bringing us fine poetry with impact and passionate delivery.

Great   weather caps a fine day.

A special Thank You to Northampton Arts Council. This support made the Festival and Silkworm 2007 possible. We are deeply grateful to this organization.

The writing group is up and running. It had a good attendance on Thursday nite. Look for it once a month on the third Thursday nite at Lilly Library 6:30 to 9:00 (NB the group is limited to about 8 members so please contact Rich Puchalsky if your interested in participating

GREAT NEWS:  FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY ANNOUNCES:

FLORENCE POET'S SOCIETY PRESS

OUR OWN IMPRINT READY FOR PUBLISHING POETRY.

Forbes Library wishes to archive all information regarding the formation and operation of the Florence Poets Society. We will be working with the staff there to provide information to them.

TWILITES POETRY PUB          POETRY RADIO   

First, Third and fifth (if there is one) Wednesday from 9 to 10 am.

   103.3 FM  also streaming on the internet at Valley Free Radio.org

 

THANK   YOU  

 NORTHAMPTON  ARTS COUNCIL

GRANT   for   $1,000.00 received from NORTHAMPTON ARTS COUNCIL.  

 

 Carl Russo and Tom Clark enjoyed their "teaching" experience with poetry workshops at Northampton's JFK  Middle School on Wednesday May 23 and May 24 respectively..  Approximately 50 students attended the workshops held by the FPS directors.   These students then presented their work to the public on the evening of June 4. 

The group  had a great  reading at Arms Library on Friday evening May 18.  Tom Clark,  Howie Faerstein,  Anita Gallers, and Bob Susskind brought a different slant on poetry to the usual group that reads at that venue.  It was a difference that was well appreciated that evening.

 

 April 14, 2007 at the Invisible Fountain, Eastworks Building, Easthampton - 7:00 pm -
"Poetry Night Out, A Night To Remember"


     In conjunction with "Captain" Luke Cavagnac and Easthampton Arts Night Out, the Florence Poets Society presented: "Poetry Night Out, A Night To Remember".  This no-holds-barred, group reading event featuring members of the society and a special guest or two.  This material included a healthy dose of the kind of poetry your grandmother warned you to stay away from.  Light refreshments included beer, wine and a wide array of Apollo Grill goodies along with good old reliable chips and salsa.
The amazing artwork was a sight to behold and a this truly was a cheap date and one major FPS extravaganza!!!
Thanks to our host LUKE CAVAGNAC

______________________________________________

 
Florence Poets team up with other area poets for a good cause!
 
New Beginnings fund raiser was held on 4-27-07
7-9 pm Brick House 24 3rd street Turners Falls,  
This was a fun event at a vibrant youth center with several youth listening in to some fine poetry. Poets who appeared included Maurice "Soulfighter" Taylor, Tommy Twilite, Crystal Senter Brown, Stephen Lindow, Lori Desrosiers, and Carl Russo.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 28, 2007 at the Lilly Library, Florence - 1-3 pm
Kidz Poetry Workshop with Tommy Twilite 

        The only ingredients for this workshop are were equal measures of  FUN and IMAGINATION!!!  Tommy, and children's librarian Kim Perez, will encouraged the kids to express themselves using magnetic words and cookie sheets (and maybe actual cookies, too).  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Florence Poets Society Events keep on rolling along:    
may 18- arms library- shelburne falls- 7 pm- group reading fps
june 24 -bryant homestead- cummington- fps group reading-2 pm
-----------------------------

All events are free and open to the public except as noted
For more information, Call Tom at (413) 584-5914
or email at:  tommytwilite@gmail.com
or: FPOETS@localnet.com
or visit:  www.florencepoetssociety.org
or visit: www.tommytwilite.com



.  1. JAN SLAM was held Sunday January 28, 2007.  This was the second year for this event. It was held at the Florence Community Center Auditorium. The Society is grateful to Peter St. Martin and Maureen McGinness owners of both Sylvesters Restaurant and Roberto's Pizza for their generous contribution and one of equal generosity from the Florence Savings Bank. Rich Cooper of State Street Fruits Store and Coopers Corner in Florence provided some of our refreshments. Over twenty poets joined in the friendly competition and another thirty listeners rounded out a great crowd. Crystal Senter Brown, and Karen Johnston were first and second respectively several poets recieved smaller awards. A wonderful afternoon was capped by a broadcast of the recording of the Slam by Valley Free Radio that evening.

2.

 

3.   WE  WERE THE  FEATURED GROUP ON  MAY 18,  2007  AT THE  ARMS  LIBRARY IN  SHELBURNE FALLS.  

4.FPS POETRY FESTIVAL AT THE FLORENCE COMMUNITY CENTER  AUDITORIUM, in FLORENCE. COMPLETE SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well over 100 attendees heard 25 poets read their fine work. The Society wishes to thanks these fine poets for their time, efforts and energy which made the Fall Poetry Festival a great success: Harry Azmitia, Jr., Saundra Aszmitia, Howie Faerstein, Kate Bell, Alyssa Lovell, Lori Desrosiers,  Stanley Pollock, Stephen Lindow, Maria Arroyo, Maurice Taylor, Christel Warren, Eileen Doherty, Claire Dacey, Bob Susskind, Karen Johnston,  Johnna Bossuot, Virginia Settle,