Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I have a few important things to discuss with you today: the video/anthology of this year’s prize winners; volunteer opportunities; and our end-of-year fundraising drive, which–with your help–will place the Club on a solid footing for a new year of exciting programs.
But I must begin in a much more somber mood: this year has been one of tremendous losses for the poetry community–especially ours here in New England: we lost Danielle Legros Georges, Fannie Howe, Jennifer Martelli, and Baron Wormser. And just a few weeks back, there was the sudden passing of Charles Coe–a wonderful poet, NEPC mainstay, and a friend to many of us. I sent out a letter with the news shortly afterward, but we’ve added a little reminiscence for Charles and the other New England figures (featured below). Keep them and their loved ones in your thoughts, especially this holiday season–and, when you want to remind yourself how important it is to savor the day, take out some of their poetry and read it aloud. It’s what we are still able to hold onto.
***
I just finished watching the poetry reading honoring the winners and finalists of our NEPC contests. It was hosted by our Director of Programming, David Miller, who admirably navigated the typical technical demands of Zoom events while still creating a welcoming space for both the poets and audience. I was so moved by many of the poems, and cannot help but be impressed by the variety of poetic voices and the diversity of approaches employed within the works. Let me add my congratulations to those of the judges who selected these poems from among the many fine submissions, bolstering the applause of the appreciative listeners who were there to receive them. If you were not able to attend the Zoom celebration, you can watch the video of the reading on our YouTube channel. The ‘print anthology’ is on our site as well. I know I’ll be going back there so I can experience these poems again and think about them in quiet moments. Here’s the link.
***
NEPC has begun to hunt for a contest coordinator to provide logistics for the yearly competitions we run–and also for final judges for the book and chapbooks contests (the first readers will come from the board and advisory members). For the first time,we will be offering honoraria for these positions and will look for judges from both within and outside of Club membership. If you are interested or have suggestions for names to be considered, please contact Linda, our VP, at vicepresident@nepoetryclub.org.
***
Poetry contests, reading series, workshops, and a variety of outreach and membership support offerings, such as social media postings of events, awards, and publications: these are just some of the programs NEPC provides every year. Membership dues supply far less than half of our yearly budget; fortunately, we’re aided by the benefactors who perennially contribute more than the standard $30 (a fee which, by the way, has hardly been raised over the decades), plus a few members who are able to make generous donations even beyond that. I announced in an earlier letter that we are finally going to engage in a larger fundraising effort–not only to support our continued work but to enable us to expand our offerings, and to elevate the Club’s voice in the literary landscape.
Last summer’s WE (too) THE PEOPLE series at the Longfellow Historical House is just such an example, bringing in some of the most acclaimed poets writing today, framed by stirring musical performances. It was well-attended and enthusiastically received, and new audiences continue to discover the readings online. Soon we’ll even have edited versions accompanied by study guides, which we’ll make available to schools for free. We are already planning for the readings of the final WE (too)… event, to be held in the summer of America’s 250th anniversary–and these artists will again be proof
that American culture is diverse and vital (though some in the halls of power would try to convince us otherwise).
As I say in almost every President’s letter, we are living in extraordinary times–and you don’t need me to tell you how our democracy and culture are being assailed. The NEPC mission has long been to continue expanding the audience for poetry while empowering the multitude of poets across New England engaged in this solitary, utterly necessary work. These seem to me more important now than at any time in recent memory. If you are able to afford to make a contribution beyond your dues, this would be a perfect year to step forward.
As 2025 draws to a close, and you’re thinking about those organizations to whom you’ll make donations, I hope NEPC is included in your list, deciding that our efforts deserve your support. If you are ready to donate now, DONATE HERE. We hope you’ll want to do this for the Club’s sake––and for poetry’s sake–-but there are a few enticing rewards we can offer to coax your support.
While supplies last, we have a small number of the WE (too) THE PEOPLE white cotton t-shirts (size large and extra large) which we’ll send along for any donation of $50 or more. (Need a sleepshirt for the coming cold nights? Take a look at the WE (too)… page on our site for pictures.) And if you are able to contribute $200 or more, we have exactly eight remaining 8.5”x30” full-color WE (too)… cardstock flyers, autographed by all of the summer’s featured poets: Robert Pinsky, Stephanie Burt, Diannely Antigua,Richard Blanco, and Martha Collins. (This will be quite a collectible item. I don’t know about you, but I quickly made my large donation so I could secure one and plan on framing it for my office.) Fear not, we will not only rely on membership largess for this fundraising drive; leadership has been exploring possible grant programs to which we might apply. Together, we hope to add to the economic stability of our organization and keep us growing for the next 110 years!
As the holiday season is almost upon us, let me wish you and yours the very best–and our beleaguered world a little oasis of peace.
With my regards,
Steven Ratiner
–President, NEPC