President's Message

Tim Kahl, SPC’s VP, poet, translator, and general organizer of events poetic, is in Denver this week at the AWP conference, sharing his experiences about the Sacramento poetry scene in a presentation to the convention. A number of other local writers are there – Susan Kelly-DeWitt, Lisa Jones, Indigo Moor – networking, learning, and enjoying the array of poets and poetry. I’m writing this vicariously, because I wanted to go, but had a lot to catch up on. Ah, well – good things to work on here, too.

The R25 Fundraiser is off to a good start – we’ve raised over $500 in the first two weeks. That’s the good news – the bad news is the fence will cost over $6000 to complete. The good news is we have incredible support from Alliance Francaise – they are matching up to $2500. And California Stage and Matrix Arts are fundraising too. Danyen Powell has generously offered to provide labor for the project, and with all these groups pulling together, we will have a new, inviting, and artistic fence that highlights our artistic and cultural center – by the end of May, in time for the R25 June 5-6 art festival, in the newly anointed “courtyard.” Please send what you can – checks to SPC, marked for R25 Beautification to Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th St, Sac 95816.

Mark your calendar – or better yet email Tim (tnklbnny@frontiernet.net) to register for the upcoming Poetry Workshop – Free – April 16 and 17. Let’s fill the house for Indigo’s reading – another award-winning book – on Friday night the 16th, and fill up all the rooms all day Saturday – Tim’s put together a superb line-up of workshop leaders. See website for details.

Other events to consider

Thursday, April 22 – 5 to 7pm Earth Day poetry reading at Sac State at “The Buzz” in the University Union

Thursday, April 22 – 8pm and beyond – Come honor BL Kennedy as he hosts his last reading at Luna’s Poetry Unplugged. Word on the street is that this Open Mic will continue well into the evening!

Sunday, April 24 – Arden-Dimick Library, 2 to 4 pm – Indigo Moor, Kathleen Lynch and I will present an afternoon of poetry. Watt Avenue and Northrop.

Saturday, May 15 – Aid for Haiti – Fundraiser at the Newman Center – Poetry, Music and Community. Featuring Patrick Grizzell and Junkyard Burlesque. Poetry from Mary Zeppa, Quinton Duval, Dennis Schmitz, Victoria Dalkey and more! Hosted by Loretta and Dennis Schmitz and SPC.

Bob Stanley