upcoming dates >>>
July 11, 2015
Deadline to submit poems for The Moccasin
July 16-19, 2015
Woodtick Poetry Writing Retreat, Horseshoe Lake, Merrifield, MN
July 31, 2015
Deadline to submit poems for the LOMP Contest
October 17-18, 2015
LOMP Fall Meeting, Hotel 340, Saint Paul, MN
A Quarterly Publication of the League of Minnesota Poets
about us >>>
League of Minnesota Poets
(LOMP) holds biannual meetings,
supports regional chapters in
Minnesota, and publishes the
Moccasin poem anthology.
LOMP has been creating and
encouraging a community of
poets since 1934.
www.mnpoets.com
Advertising Rates:
Fees for an 2.5” x 5” ad are
$25 for members, $35 for
non-members. There can be no
more than 8 ads per edition.
membership >>>
Annual membership fee:
$20 ($10 for K-12 students)
Membership includes the
quarterly newsletter,
LOMPLighter, National
Federation of State Poetry
Societies membership, and
the NFSPS annual publication,
Strophes.
Mail fees to LOMP Treasurer
Susan McMillan
6327 Oak Meadow Ln NW
Rochester, MN 55906
chapters >>>
Polaris Poets ................... Duluth
Heartland Poets ... Brainerd Lakes
Mississippi Valley Poets &
Writers...................... Twin Cities
Southeastern Minnesota
Poets .......................... Rochester
Southern Minnesota Poets
Society ......................... Mankato
Grand View Poets
.................. St. Cloud/Sartell
May 2015
Manningham Student Poetry Winners
Thank you to the many students who contributed to an abundance of great poems,
and to the teachers who encouraged these students. After careful consideration,
these six poems were chosen by the judge from the many submissions. Read the
winning poems in the digital chapbook at http://issuu.com/pwilliamstein/docs/
manningham__15_chapbook or via the LOMP website under the Students tab.
Senior Division (Grades 9-12):
Until We Are Washed Away
Mine Alone
Daniel
Sydney Lo - Sartell
Jack Cordero - Saint Paul
Aidan Speckhard - Sartell
Junior Division (Grades 6-8):
Yu
Black, Night Sky
Perspective
Kayla Chan - Woodbury
Abby Feuer - Woodbury
Isabella Wu - Woodbury
Each of these winners receives an honorary membership to LOMP, and these poems
will be will be entered in the National Manningham Contest, where, if selected by
national judges, will be published in the Manningham Trust Poetry Student Award
Anthology, and will be read to NFSPS members at the national convention in June
2015. The schools of each nationally-recognized student will receive a
complimentary copy of the anthology for the school library.
The Manningham Poetry Trust was established in 1981 by the late J. Howard and
Mary Manningham in memory of Gertrude E. Stiller, for the purpose of
“Encouraging the art of poetic expression" in middle and high school students. Poems
for next year’s contest are due to Peter Stein by January 15, 2016.
Woodtick Retreat July 16-19
Let the woods and water of Northern Minnesota inspire you at this annual
Woodtick Poetry Writing Retreat on Horseshoe Lake, Merrifield, MN, held
Thursday, July 16 through Sunday, July 19. Join fellow poets for writing, reading,
presenting, swimming and swatting mosquitoes. Bring food, your swimsuit, and a
long-sleeved shirt for evening wear. Each poet should be prepared to lead a 30minute (or longer) session on a topic of their choosing. Contact Sue Chambers at
[email protected] to register.
From your LOMP President >>>
The League of Minnesota Poets is alive and well, as evidenced by the chapter reports presented at our
spring convention. I put them in a packet titled "Tootin Our Own Horn" which included some of the
accomplishments of the League and of individual members since the last LOMPlighter went out.
1) Grand View Poets hosted the spring convention in St. Cloud. Twenty-seven participants were registered
for the sessions, and thirty-six attended the evening meal at Anton's restaurant. Our keynote speaker,
Margaret Hasse, conducted three sessions, and Doris Stengel presented one. The overall evaluation of
the event was 4.7 out of 5.0, a very commendable rating, I think.
2) Three of our members had poems exhibited at Crossings in Zumbrota, MN. Poems by Susan Stevens
Chambers, Henry Panowitsch, and Susan McMillan were selected from nearly 200 poems. Each poem
was displayed with the visual art it inspired.
3) Student member Sidney Lo, a member of Grand View Poets, won the state Manningham poetry contest.
Her poem has been forwarded to the national competition.
4) Micki Blenkush, also a member of Grand View Poets, was recently honored with an Emerging Artist
Award provided by the Central Minnesota Arts Board.
My congratulations to each and every one of you for jobs well done and for the much deserved
recognition, and to any others of whom I am not aware who have received awards.
As one of the speakers at our convention said, "Get your pony in the race." Every accomplishment listed
above was made possible because someone did just that. They got their ponies in the race. Think of the
publicity LOMP received because of their efforts and willingness to share their talents!
Currently, our membership count is about equal to last year's despite the fact that several "old" members
have not re-upped. This is because we gained many new members this year. I expect that as our contest
draws near, several former members will join again.
Finally, I'm getting to the crux of my message. The League of Minnesota Poets is only as strong as its
members, and each of you is important to the organization's well being. I encourage you to "get your pony
in the race." Perhaps you don't want to enter contests or seek grants, but you can be a productive League
member in other ways.
Invite a friend to a chapter meeting. If your area doesn't have a chapter of LOMP, consider starting one.
Writing group members encourage each other, provide direction to our writing, and at the same time, offer
camaraderie. If you'd like to start a chapter in your area, contact me, Dennis Herschbach, for advice. My
contact info is listed on our website, www.mnpoets.com.
Become active in our gatherings. The Woodtick Writer's Retreat will be
held in July, followed by our fall convention in October. Attend the
Blizzard Writer's Retreat in January, 2016, and in April, 2016, the spring
convention. And if that isn't enough, LOMP will host the 2016 NFSPS
convention in St. Paul where you can meet poets from across the U.S.
Thank you to every member who has contributed to the growth of LOMP
by your willingness to "get your pony in the race." In the remaining two
quarters of 2015, why not make a concerted effort to make a difference?
Find your niche and help spread the joy of this fantastic form of writing:
poetry.
Dennis Herschback
NFSPS 2016 Convention in Florida
LOMP membership >>>
The Florida State Poets Association (FSPA) will host the annual get-together
of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies on June 24-28 at the
newly renovated Bayfront Hilton Hotel located in the waterfront district of
downtown St. Petersburg. The convention’s Keynote Speaker will be Peter
Meinke, Poet Laureate of St. Petersburg. This year’s event will include
opportunities to visit the Dali Museum (a half-mile walk from the hotel),
the Ringling Museum in Sarasota (about
30 miles from the hotel), Old Town
Tampa (also about 30 miles from the
hotel), and St. Pete Beach (10 miles from
the hotel).
Your membership in the League of
Minnesota Poets has these benefits:
Enjoy a variety of poetry readings and
performances; be present for the
announcement of the NFSPS contest winners; and explore a poetic heritage
that includes cowboy poetry, nautical poetry and poetry influenced by
Cuban immigrants. Visit the association’s website for more details:
www.floridastatepoetsassociation.org/nfsps-2015-convention-in-florida

Reduced rates to attend
the spring and fall LOMP
conferences

An invitation to participate
in our two annual poetry
retreats (winter and summer)

Reduced rates for
participating in the LOMP
and NFSPS annual contests

Opportunities to meet and
share work with other poets

Access to members-only
portions of our website
(including our online
poetry forum)

Opportunity to sell your books
at meetings and online
Registration and hotel reservations are due Monday, May 25, 2015.
Reserve your room at the Hilton by calling Mindy Cobb at (727) 8257018; ask for the Poetry Convention Rate of $119/night.
You may publish your
work in our annual poetry
magazine, The Moccasin.

Membership in the National
Federation of State Poetry
Societies (NFSPS)

Lomplighter, our quarterly
newsletter
To pay online via PayPal, visit
www.mnpoets.com, click the white
“Join” button, then click the “Pay
membership online here” link.
Pay with your PayPal account
or use a credit/
debit card. Your
payment will be
processed
securely by PayPal.
About LOMP
officers >>>
PRESIDENT: Dennis Herschbach
(218) 343-1522
[email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT: Peter Stein
[email protected]
RECORDING SECRETARY:
Evelyn Klein
[email protected]
TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP:
Susan McMillan
(507) 281-3507
[email protected]
ASSISTANT TREASURER:
Susan Stevens Chambers
(507) 278-4200
[email protected]
CORRESPONDING
SECRETARY: Meredith R. Cook
(507) 526-2653
The Moccasin in Progress: Send Poems!
Each year the League of Minnesota Poets publishes The Moccasin, a chapbook
featuring poems by LOMP members, and distributes a copy to each current
member. Please submit your best work, especially poems that have won an
NFSPS contest prize or have been published. Award-winning poems provide
examples of quality work and encourage participation in NFSPS contests.
Send your poems to the editor, Meredith R. Cook, 427 N Gorman St, Blue
Earth, MN 56013-2459, by Saturday, July 11, 2015. Please follow these
guidelines for your submission:

Vary the subject matter, form, length, and width; keep quality strong.

Short poems of 8 lines or fewer are especially desirable, and do not
exceed 24 lines (unless your poem won an NFSPS contest prize).

All poems (except haiku and senryu) must have titles.

Proofread your work carefully. Check your spelling, especially hyphenated
words. Ensure the verb agrees with the subject and that the tense remains
consistent. Do not use inversions or archaic language.

Type or print your submissions on 8-1/2 inch x 11-inch paper. Do not type
on both sides of the paper, and do not put more than one poem on a
page. Include your name and phone number on each page.

If you submit a book of poetry, please include $1.00 for every 20 pages to
cover the cost of photocopying.

If you deliberately punctuate a poem unconventionally, verify that the
editor is aware of this and does not make corrections.
PAST PRESIDENT:
Christina Flaugher
(507) 381-4633
[email protected]
Please consider sponsoring this year’s edition. Monetary donations of any size
are welcome and will be acknowledged. Send checks to LOMP Treasurer,
Susan McMillan.
appointments >>>
SAVE THE DATE: LOMP FALL MEETING
LOMP Poet Laureate:
Shirley Ensrud
The LOMP Fall Meeting will be held Saturday, October 17 and Sunday,
October 18 at the Hotel 340, 340 Cedar St, Saint Paul.
MOCCASIN EDITOR:
Meredith R. Cook
Located in an iconic, century-old
building in the heart of downtown
Saint Paul's business district, Hotel
340 is the region's premiere
boutique hotel.
HISTORIAN:
Shirley Poliquin
LOMPLIGHTER EDITOR:
Joe Anderson
PUBLICITY CHAIRMAN:
SuzAnne Wipperling
YOUTH CHAIRMAN:
Peter Stein
All guest rooms and suites feature
cherry hardwood floors.
Complimentary Wi-Fi is available,
and continental breakfast is
included with every stay. The Saint
Paul Athletic Club is located within
the building.
Meetings and Events
Poetry Contests
BLOOMINGTON SENIOR POETRY CONTEST
Participants ages 50 and older may submit up to two poems of any length to
the Bloomington Senior Program Poetry Contest. All poems must be original
and unpublished. A cover sheet with each entry should include the title of the
poem and author’s contact information. Contact information should not be
included on the poem. Send poems to Creekside Community Center, c/o
poetry contest, 9801 Penn Ave, Bloomington, MN 55431. Poems must be
postmarked by Wednesday, July 1, 2015.
ST CLOUD SIDEWALK POETRY CONTEST
St. Cloud poets have a chance to leave their mark on the city. The city will
accept submissions to the Sidewalk Poetry Contest from St. Cloud residents of
all ages and experience levels. The winning poems will be imprinted into
sidewalks throughout the city. Submissions are due at 4 pm, Friday, May 22.
Poems must be in English, or include an English translation; and must fit
within a maximum of 6 lines, 40 characters per line including spaces, and 240
characters overall, including spaces.
Entries may be emailed to Jennifer Penzkover or mailed to Poetry in
Sidewalks, St. Cloud Arts Commission, 400 Second St S, St. Cloud, MN 56301.
Contact Jennifer Penzkover for more information: 320-650-3148 or
[email protected]
BIG BRIDGES DEADLINE IS MAY 15
See your poem turned into a film! Calling all artists, designers, engineers,
poets, and the entire community. Join us in a creative dialogue to establish
the expectations, possibilities, and aspirations for the future of our Big Bridges
over the Mississippi River. America’s bridges are failing. According to the
American Society of Civil Engineers, 25% of America’s bridges are structurally
deficient or functionally obsolete.
Saturday, May 16, 2pm—Mississippi
Valley Poets & Writers Monthly
Meeting, Mojo Coffee Gallery, 2205
California St NE, Minneapolis. Bring a
poem to share.
Wednesday, May 20, 4:30pm—
Unforeseen Poetry and Art, a
collaborative group exhibition pairing
poets with artists in all media. Gallery
One TractorWorks, 800 Washington
Ave N, Minneapolis. Free and open
to the public.
Thursday, May 28, 7pm—SMPS 4th
Thursday Poetry Live. Emy Frentz Art
Gallery, 532 S 2nd St, Mankato. Join
us for readings by one or two poets,
followed by an open-mike reading.
Saturday, June 6, 7pm—Cracked
Walnut Readings at Café Steam in
Rochester.
Wednesday, June 17, 7pm—Pollution
to Poetry: Celebrating River
Restoration Through Words and
Images. Amazing Grace Café, Duluth.
Learn about the St. Louis River
Estuary with the people who live and
work there. Admission is free.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Sea
Grant and the Lake Superior National
Estuarine Research Reserve.
To inspire future engineers, Motionpoems and Target Studio at the Weisman
Art Museum of the University of Minnesota invite poets to dream big about
bridges. We want poems to inspire our nation’s designers, engineers, and
architects to reimagine the future of America’s big bridges. You might send us
a poem that imagines a physical bridge of the future or one that
conceptualizes the idea of bridging in a big way or you might send us a poem
that reinterprets bridge-crossing for a new age. Broad interpretations of the
theme encouraged. Executive director of the Poetry Society of America and
former New Yorker poetry editor Alice Quinn will judge this poetry contest.
Saturday, July 11—Deadline to submit
poems for The Moccasin. Mail to
Meredith R. Cook, 427 N Gorman St,
Blue Earth, MN 56013-2459
Submit poems online via Submittable https://motionpoems.submittable.com/
submit/c275e219-2ef4-4d1a-894b-e0fad461f65a
Saturday, October 17-18—LOMP Fall
Meeting, Hotel 340, Saint Paul, MN
Thursday, July 16-19—Woodtick
Poetry Writing Retreat, Horseshoe
Lake, Merrifield, MN. Contact Sue
Chambers to register:
[email protected]
LOMP annual Poetry Contest deadline July 31
Subject
Limits
1
Claire Van Breemen Downes Memorial
any
50 lines/8 poems
2
Stevens Family Award
relationships
50 lines
3
Woodtick Poets Award
any
24 lines
4
So MN Poets Society Award
any
narrative, 45 lines
5
Writ In Water Award
making poetry
40 lines
6
Grand View Award
the elephant in the room
45 lines
7
Helen Pappas Memorial Award
ancestry/heritage
50 lines
8
Florence Hynes Willette Memorial Award
humor
30 lines
9
Roy B Moore Memorial Award
changing your life
20-30 lines
10 Lilian Osborn Memorial Award
any
40 lines
11
music, song and/or dance
lyric, 40 lines
12 Blizzard Writers Award
aging
40 lines
13 You Go, Alan! Award
intentional commitment/partners
40 lines
14 Southeastern MN Poets Award
journey
free verse, 50 lines
15 Lost in Translation Award
foreign language
40 lines
16 Heartland Poets Award
any
35 lines
17 Going Global Award
global health, climate change
40 lines
18 Stepping Off the Cliff
moving on, letting go
40 lines
19 Bring Back the Prairies Award
prairies
40 lines
Musica Award
20 Mississippi Valley Poets Haiku Award
Japanese form
21 My Mother’s Purse Award
my mother’s purse
40 lines
22 Let Love Show
a love poem
40 lines
Submit original, non-published, non-compensated entries by July 31, 2015, to Peter Stein, 2029 103rd Ave NW, Coon
Rapids, MN 55433. Make checks payable (US$) to LOMP CONTEST. Poems (except haiku) must be titled.
Fees for LOMP members:
 Category 1: $1 per poem (limit 8 poems)
 All other categories: $1 per poem or $5 for 5 or more poems (limit 1 poem
per category)
Fees for Nonmembers:
 Category 1: $2 per poem (limit 8 poems)
 All other categories: $1 per poem (limit 1 poem per category)
Format poems in 1 column per page, without artwork or copyright marks,
single-sided on 8-1/2 x 11 paper. Staple multiple-page poems together. Submit 2
copies of each poem. In the upper left corner of both copies, indicate the category
# and award name. One copy should be anonymous but include the author’s
name, address, email address and LOMP membership status in upper right corner
of the other copy.