The National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Inc. (NFSPS) is a national organization of state
poetry societies in the United States. It was established in 1959 and now includes affiliates in 32
U.S. states. The federation hosts conferences and maintains awards and educational programs related to poetry.
History
The National Federation of State Poetry Societies was established in
Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-sma ...
on October 17, 1959, by Mary B. Wall. The first conference was held in conjunction with the Louisiana State Poetry Society where national officers were elected. A constitution was adopted in
Philadelphia in 1960, and the organization was incorporated in
Madison, Wisconsin, in July 1966. The federation included 10 state affiliates at that time. By 2020 that number had grown to 32.
Activities
The NFSPS normally sponsors fifty annual poetry contests offering cash prizes, including a grand prize of $1,000. It also sponsors the Stevens Manuscript contest for a collection of poems by one poet, the BlackBerry Peach Poetry Awards, and the College Undergraduate Poetry competition. All members of the national organization are members of an NFSPS-affiliated state organization. The Federation encourages and supports the institution of
Poets Laureate
A poet laureate (plural: poets laureate) is a poet officially appointed by a government or conferring institution, typically expected to compose poems for special events and occasions. Albertino Mussato of Padua and Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) ...
in the various cities and states.
The federation publishes the ''Strophes'' official newsletter quarterly, which provides both national and state society news. The newsletter also announces contests and awards and lists current state presidents and board members. NFSPS conducts an annual national convention to handle business and offer poetry workshops and presentations. The Federation Library Collection is housed at
Baylor University in
Waco, Texas, and includes the ''Encore'' poetry anthologies published annually by NFSPS.
Affiliates
*
Alabama State Poetry Society
*
Arizona State Poetry Society
*Poets Roundtable of Arkansas
*
California State Poetry Society
*
Columbine Poets of Colorado
*
Connecticut Poetry Society
*
Florida State Poets Association
*
Georgia Poetry Society
*
Illinois State Poetry Society
*
Poetry Society of Indiana
'Poetry Society of Indiana'' is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit state-level poetry association in the U.S. state of Indiana, which is affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies
The National Federation of State Poetr ...
*
Iowa Poetry Association
*
Kentucky State Poetry Society
*
Louisiana State Poetry Society
*
Maine Poets Society
*
Massachusetts State Poetry Society
*
Poetry Society of Michigan
*
League of Minnesota Poets
The League of Minnesota Poets (LMP) is a non-profit state-level poetry association in the U.S. state of Minnesota, which is affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS). The organization conducts monthly and annual con ...
*
Mississippi Poetry Society
*
Missouri State Poetry Society
The Missouri State Poetry Society (MSPS) is a non-profit state-level poetry association in the U.S. state of Missouri, which is affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS). The organization promotes poetry, conducts m ...
*
Nevada Poetry Society
The Nevada Poetry Association (OPA) is a non-profit state-level poetry association in the U.S. state of Nevada, which is affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies
The National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Inc. ...
*
New Mexico State Poetry Society
The New Mexico State Poetry Society (MSPS) is a non-profit state-level poetry association in the U.S. state of New Mexico, which is affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS). The organization promotes poetry, con ...
*
New York Poetry Forum
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...
*North Dakota State Poetry Society
*
Ohio Poetry Association
The Ohio Poetry Association (OPA) is a non-profit state-level poetry association in the U.S. state of Ohio, which is affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS). The organization promotes poetry, conducts monthly and ...
*
Poetry Society of Oklahoma
*
Oregon Poetry Association
*
Pennsylvania Poetry Society
*
South Dakota State Poetry Society
*
Poetry Society of Tennessee
*
Poetry Society of Texas
The Poetry Society of Texas (PST) is a 102 year old non-profit state-level poetry association in the U.S. state of Texas, affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. The organization promotes poetry, conducts monthly and an ...
*
Utah State Poetry Society
*
WyoPoets (Wyoming)
Alabama State Poetry Society
The Alabama State Poetry Society (ASPS) is a non-profit state-level
poetry association in the
U.S. state of
Alabama which is affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. The organization promotes poetry, conducts biannual contests, and organizes workshops, meetings, readings and other events.
The Alabama State Poetry Society was founded in 1968 and incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit in 2015. The organization is based in Huntsville and is affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. ASPS welcomes both new and active poets who write, publish and participate in readings and slams.
ASPS conducts Spring and Fall meetings where poets meet and read their work, and sponsors programs and workshops to improve writing abilities through local readings and critique groups. ASPS also sponsors two rounds of poetry contests annually that feature cash prizes.
ASPS publishes a quarterly newsletter, the ''Muse Messenger'', which features articles on writing, publishing opportunities, news about poetry events and publications, and contest information. In the past, the society published an annual anthology, called ''The Sampler.''
Poets Roundtable of Arkansas
Poets Roundtable of Arkansas (PRA) is a non-profit state-level
poetry association in the
U.S. state of
Arkansas, affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS). The organization promotes poetry, conducts monthly and annual contests, issues poetry publications and organizes periodic meetings and conferences.
The Poets Roundtable of Arkansas was founded on February 5, 1931, by a group of seven women interested in developing as poets. The group was originally named Round Table Poets. The PRA adopted its current name on July 25, 1939, and is currently a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
PRA is an affiliate member of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. In 2020 PRA had ten affiliate branches in Arkansas. The archives of the organization are stored at the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.
PRA hosts contests, study groups, an annual workshop, and celebrates
National Poetry Day annually in October. It publishes a quarterly newsletter, the ''News 'N' Notes''.
In 2013 the PRA published a retrospective of 80 years of members' poetry.
References
External links
*{{Official, https://www.nfsps.com
Alabama State Poetry SocietyPoets Roundtable of Arkansas
Poetry organizations
Literary societies
1959 establishments in the United States
Non-profit organizations based in Wisconsin
501(c)(3) organizations