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The National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) is a
non-profit organization, exclusively educational and literary. Its purpose
is to recognize the importance of poetry with respect to national cultural
heritage. It is dedicated solely to the furtherance of poetry on the
national level and serves to unite poets in the bonds of fellowship and
understanding.
The NFSPS sponsors fifty annual poetry contests with cash prizes totaling
over $6,000, including a grand prize of $1,500. It also sponsors a contest
for a collection of poems by one poet, with a cash prize of $1,000.
Strophes is the national society's official newsletter. It
is published quarterly with national news but also with state societies'
news. It announces numerous contests and lists the national board members
and state presidents. The summer issue provides names of judges and winners
for the national contests.
Annual conventions are conducted for business, instruction, and
fellowship. Poets who attend share poetry, ideas, and inspiration, which
they carry home to their local organizations. The 2008 convention was
held in Layton, Utah, on June 19-22.
The Federation Library Collection is housed at Baylor University in Waco,
Texas. In addition to the Encores (prize poem anthologies which contain winners of
the national poetry contests), the collection includes books and materials
provided by organizations and individuals.
The emblem of the Federation is the Athenian Greek coin insignia that
appears on all NFSPS publications and has been incorporated into the design
of the medal (see above) which is presented to NFSPS presidents at the end
of their terms.
The members of the Federation are members of an NFSPS affiliated state
organization. Any poet wishing to know the location of his or her state
society may contact NFSPS for this information. Send a business-sized SASE
to Russell H. Strauss, 18 S. Rembert St., Memphis, TN 38104.
These officers were elected at the national convention in
2008 in Layton, Utah.
Honorary Chancellor
Lewis Turco Executive Board: The Executive Board shall be comprised of all elected officers of the NFSPS
and the immediate past president. This body shall serve as the governing body of NFSPS.
[NFSPS Bylaws, Article VI--Executive Board, Section A.] President: Nancy Baass, 2306 N. DeLeon St., Victoria,
TX 77901 -nbaass@earthlink.net
1st Vice President: Russell H. Strauss, 18 S. Rembert
St., Memphis, TN 38104 - RSTRpoet@cs.com
Membership
2nd Vice President: Jeremy Downes, 832 Tacoma
Drive, Auburn, Al 36830 - downejm@auburn.edu
Judges Selection
3rd Vice President: N. Colwell Snell, P.O. Box
520698, Salt Lake City, UT 84152-0698 - SBSenior@juno.com
College/University Level Poetry
4th Vice President: Eleanor Berry, 22614 N. Santiam
Hwy., Lyons, OR 97358 - eberry@wvi.com
Stevens Manuscript Awards
Chancellor: Steven Concert, 6 Kitchen Ave., Harveys
Lake, PA 18618 - paperlesspoetsonline@hotmail.com
Youth Chair
1st Vice Chancellor: Caroline Walton, 6176 W. Pine-
dale Circle, Crystal River, FL 34429
carolinewalton@embarq.com
Strophes Editor
2nd Vice Chancellor: Dena Gorrell, 14024 Gateway
Dr., Edmond, OK 73013 - thepoetrylady@aol.com
Poetry Day/Poetry Month Liason
Treasurer: Lucille Morgan Wilson, 2325 61st St., Des
Moines, IA 50322 - lucille_e_wilson@hotmail.com
Secretary: Christine Delea,
christindelea@cs.com
Appointive Board
Contest Chair: Christine Beck, Box 270554,
W. Hartford, CT 06127 connpoetry@comcast.net
Contest Sponsors/Brochures: Mildred Vorpahl
Baass, 408 E. Warren Ave., Victoria, TX 77901-4847
mybaass@yahoo.com
Convention Coordinator: Roslyn Ostler, 7685 Dell Rd,
Salt Lake City, UT 84121 - rosieo1@juno.com
Encore Editor: Valerie Bailey, 2207 Parhaven Dr., San
Antonio, TX 78232 - vbailey@satx.rr.com
Historian: Michael E. Strosahl, 2307 North A. St.,
Elwood, IN 46036 - mes.wordsmith@prodigy.net
Librarian: Peggy Zuleika Lynch, 4917 Ravenswood Dr.
#260. San Antonio, TX 78227 - margrettel@aol.com
Manningham Trust Awards: Madelyn Eastlund, 310
S. Adams St., Beverly Hills, FL 34465,
verdure@tampabay.rr.com
Manningham Advisor: Sam Wood, 1570 Auburn Way,
Reno, NV 89502
Publicity: Deborah Halstead, 5604 Bagwell Point, Citrus
Springs, FL 34434 - debbyh@tampabay.rr.com
Special Awards: Amy Jo Zook, 3520 State Rd. 56,
Mechanicsburg, OH 43044
Website: Billy Pennington, P.O. Box 7842 Moore, OK 73153
zodnoyeb@aol.com
Presidential Advisors: An advisory board shall be composed of past presidents of the federation to
take advantage of their expertise and experience. The president shall call on the advisory board for
adviceand guidance whenever the president shall deem it prudent. The immediate past president shall
be the chairperson of the advisory board and shall be its representative on the executive board.
[NFSPS Bylaws, Article VI--Advisory Board}
Doris Stengal, Budd Powell Mahan, Madelyn Eastlund, Clarence P. Socwell Parliamentarian & Legal Advisor to the Board:
Susan S. Chambers, 57310 166th Lane, Good Thunder, MN 56037
poetsue@aol.com
Past NFSPS Presidents:
*Cecilia Parsons Miller, *Clinton Larson, *Robert D. West, *Edna Meudt,
*Marvin Davis Winsett, *Max Golightly, *Hans Juergensen, *Russell Ferrall,
Jean Jenkins, *Catherine Case Lubbe, Glenn Swetman,
*Carl Morton, *Alice Briley, *Wauneta
Hackleman, *Jack Murphy, *Barbara Stevens, *Henrietta Kroah, *Jerry Robbins, Pat Stodghill, Wanda Blaisdell,
Ralph Hammond, Amy Jo Zook,
Susan S. Chambers, Clarence P. Socwell, Madelyn Eastlund, Budd Paul
Mahan, and Doris Stengal
* Deceased |
