26th ANNUAL LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA POETS
BLIZZARD WRITERS’ POETRY RETREAT
REQUIRED: Please do not come if you have COVID symptoms. We will not be requiring masks over the weekend, so these precautions are necessary.
WHEN: 4th weekend of January. Come Thursday, January 23rd. Check in time 3:00 p.m. at afternoon. Let Sue know when you will arrive. Dinner will be ready for those arriving. The Retreat will continue through Sunday, January 26, 2025. Single day participations welcome as well.
WHERE: Luxury Log Cabin: Whispering Oaks Retreat, near Rochester, Minnesota. Note, we have limited overnight space: Priority will be given to those members who are first to pay and reserve a spot. You will likely have a roommate in your assigned room. There are other motels/hotels in the Rochester vicinity.
WHO: You! This retreat is for all League of Minnesota Poets Members who are interested in poetry. (Not a member? You can join by paying dues before the retreat. Go to: https://www.mnpoets.org/
COST: $65.00 total for overnight retreaters for the entire weekend. $25.00 per day or $50.00 for entire weekend for those who are NOT staying overnight. Two Scholarships, based on need, will be given. Apply for a scholarship by contacting us at leagueofmnpoets@gmail.com before you register. Priority given to first registrants and when we have reached our limits, we will close registration. NO REFUNDS, if you have to cancel, contact Sue regarding allowing someone on the wait list to reimburse you and take your place.
WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE RETREAT: 1. Each participant will bring some food/beverages to share. If you have food allergies or intolerances, be prepared to bring what you need. 2. You will be assigned to a breakfast, lunch or dinner crew to assist with food preparation. Let Sue Chambers know if you are a morning person or a night owl, or if you have a preference for a certain crew. Being on a meal crew does not mean you have to plan the whole meal. There will be cleanup crews as well after each meal. 3. Bring a poetry program that is at least half an hour in length. The program can be anything that tickles your fancy–a physical activity that will stimulate writing; a writing workshop; a favorite author; a new form; a lecture; a special taped program that you want to lead a discussion on…the possibilities are endless. Joint programs are also permissible. We have access to projectors, microphones, flip charts and other equipment. 4. Bring plenty of your own poems for read-arounds.
The League of Minnesota Poets is sad to report the passing of Doris Stengel. Doris was a long standing member and served as the president as well as the Poet Laureate of the League. She will be deeply missed as our memories of her, and her poetry, live on. We invite you read her obituary and comment on her tribute page. Details of the service can also be found there. Her family is graciously suggesting people donate to the League in her honor in lieu of flowers.
The 2024 Minnesota Poetry Prize Results are in!
Congratulations to the winners and much applause for those who entered. We had a blast announcing our winners with all who attended our fall conference and gala. A wealth of gratitude goes out to our judges and all the donors for the prizes. We could not make it happen without them! We hope you keep writing and working on poems through the year and submit next year. Scroll through the slide show below to see our winners.
THE LEAGUE GETS A NEW LOGO
Here is your opportunity to weigh in on what it will look like. Here are options we are considering and would appreciate your input. Rank the four choices from the survey below:
John Rezmerski Memorial Manuscript Competition 2024
Submissions are now closed
Our 3rd Annual John Rezmerski Memorial Manuscript contest is now closed for submissions. Please stay tuned for an announcement in December of 2024 for the results.
LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA POETS
John Rezmerski Memorial Manuscript Competition
The 2023 Winners are in!
FIRST PRIZE: Of the Earth and Other Desires
by Megan Muthupandiyan of Elm Grove, Wisconsin
Congratulations to Megan for winning our second annual John Calvin Rezmerski Memorial Manuscript Competition! This years competition was judged by Shirley Blackwell. This manuscript will be published by the League of Minnesota Poets Press in the Spring of 2024. Along with the first place award, the following awards were also noted by the judge as follows:
1st Honorable Mention: Caliche Road – Budd Mahan, Dallas, Texas
2nd Honorable Mention: Refugee – Erika Michael, Woodway, Washington
3rd Honorable Mention: Hammock – Charles Salmons, Pickering, Ohio
4th Honorable Mention: Xtopias – Raymond Luczak, Minneapolis, Minnesota
5th Honorable Mention: Flowers & Bones – Amy Irish, Lakewood, Colorado
6th Honorable Mention: Southland – Budd Mahan, Dallas, Texas
7th Honorable Mention: Bodies in Transition – G Gazelka, Minneapolis, Minnesota
8th Honorable Mention: Rights of the Dead – Pamela Wynn, New Brighton, Minnesota
Judge: Shirley Blackwell, New Mexico
In retirement after a career in national security where she served as researcher, writer and editor covering topics from Afghan militias to space technology, Shirley Blackwell has focused on her childhood love of poetry. She has published two books of poetry, both finalists in the NM-AZ Book Awards. She has poems in many anthologies, essays on poetry, and wrote a monthly poetry column for her local newspaper from 2008-2011. She is a past president of the New Mexico State Poetry Society and currently serves as chancellor. She chaired the College Undergraduate Poetry competition 2014-2018 for the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. She is a co-funder of NFSPS BlackBerry Peach Prize (BBP) for spoken/performance poetry and advisor to its offshoot, the NFSPS-sponsored BBP National Slam Competition.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2023
RICHFIELD LAKE PARK POETRY WALK WINNERS!
Thank you to all who participated in our contest! Here are the winners and links to their poems.
Winning poems have been placed on signs at the Richfield Lake Park Preserve. The Poetry Walk is located right behind the Lake Winds Coop off Lyndale and 65th and is a beautiful .8-mile walk, with benches for rest and contemplation. On the stroll around the lake, you can read or listen to the poems on each of ten signs, which include a QR code, so you can hear the poems read in English and in Spanish. You can also read and hear the poems at the links below.
Judged by: Paula Cisewski
Translator: Sarah Degner Riveros
Narrator: Maggie Gagliardi
Nature Poetry Walk Winners – 2023-2024
- Windblown – Margit Berman
- Walking Alone – Kelly Westhoff
- Translation – Athena Kildegaard
- For Autumn Murray McCartan
- Little Prayer – Kait Quinn
- Shush – Becky Boling
- Urban Wetland – Mary Lux
- Look Now – Mary Kay Rummel
- To Do Better – Donna Isaac
- Frog – Marsh Muirhead
The Richfield Lake Park Poetry Walk is made possible by sponsors and donors. If you would like to contribute to keep this project running, please donate using the button below
