Mar 12

COVID-19 Updates to Poetry Events

It is with deep regret that we’ve cancelled this year’s annual benefit for the Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center which was scheduled for April 5. It is more important that all our supporters and friends stay well and safe, so we are forgoing the benefit this year. We won’t be rescheduling, but we do hope to be back with shining colors and bells on in 2021.

The Poetry Out Loud competition set for this weekend is changing to a virtual event. Of course, this is a huge disappointment as the students won’t be able to meet in person and share their poetry, but huge kudos to the State for not cancelling entirely. Each student will call in and deliver their poems online this Sunday. The winner will be announced on Monday morning.

Additionally, we are continuing our work in all things poetry including publishing the work of young poets, our monthly and quarterly reading series, our initiative to donate stacks of new poetry books to each elementary school in the county (37 so far!), our summer poetry workshops, and our quarterly poetry book clubs, the New Year’s Poetry Challenge, as well as other opportunities for community and publication. Your donations help us keep up the good work with our all volunteer nonprofit organizations. Thank you!

Mar 10

7th Annual MoSt Benefit

Support poetry in Stanislaus County and buy a ticket to our annual fundraiser. Only $20; purchase online or at the door.

7th Annual MoSt Benefit – CANCELED

It is with deep regret that we’ve cancelled this year’s annual benefit for the Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center which was scheduled for April 5. It is more important that all our supporters and friends stay well and safe, so we are forgoing the benefit this year. We won’t be rescheduling, but we do hope to be back with shining colors and bells on in 2021.

Feb 29

Aileen Jaffa Young Poets Contest

Co-sponsored by MoSt (Modesto Stanislaus Poetry Center) and the National League of American Penwomen (NLAPW), Modesto chapter.

Read the complete rules and download the entry form HERE.

This contest is offered as a means of encouraging young writers throughout Stanislaus County and as a way to remember poet Aileen Jaffa, the founding President of the Poets of the San Joaquin and member of the Modesto Branch of the National League of American Pen Women.

See our Aileen Jaffa Contest page for details.

Deadline: 4th Annual Lee Nicholson-George Rogers Poetry Contest

young poets contest flyer imageMODESTO-STANISLAUS POETRY CENTER
THE FOURTH ANNUAL LEE NICHOLSON – GEORGE ROGERS POETRY CONTEST
CONTEST GUIDELINES
MONETARY PRIZES!!!
DEADLINE: MARCH 1, 2020

ABOUT LEE NICHOLSON AND GEORGE ROGERS
Beloved by generations of their students, Lee Nicholson and George Rogers dedicated much of their lives to  teaching and inspiring the youth of our community. Lee Nicholson was an instructor at Modesto Junior College for thirty-two years, and had earlier taught at Turlock High School. A Modesto native, George Rogers taught for thirty years at Orville Wright Elementary School in Modesto. Both Lee and George were highly accomplished poets and lovers of the creative process, and both will long be remembered for their passionate devotion to the young people whose lives they touched.

This contest is open to all poets residing in Stanislaus County who are 16 to 25 years of age.
􀀀 Send up to three (3) poems, with subjects and themes of your own choosing
􀀀 Poems must be typed in 12 point, Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins
􀀀 32 line limit; longer poems will not be considered
􀀀 Poems must be the poet’s original work and previously unpublished
􀀀 If sending through regular mail, please send two copies of each poem – one copy with the poet’s name, address, email, phone number in the upper right hand corner, as well as the title of the poem, and a second copy of the poem, with the title of the poem, but without the poet’s name, address, e-mail, and phone number.
􀀀 If sending through email, send poems as doc or docx attachments (one attachment with page divisions is fine; three attachments with one poem each is fine); include two copies of each poem – one copy with the poet’s name, address, email, phone number in the upper right hand corner, as well as the title of the poem and a second copy of the poem, with the title of the poem, but without the poet’s name, address, e-mail, and phone number; include CONTEST in the subject line of the email.

2 ways to submit:

Through regular mail to:

MoSt Poetry Center
PO Box 578940
Modesto, CA 95357

or by email to info@mostpoetry.org

Include the word CONTEST in the subject line of your email.

PRIZES:

First Place (awarded for best poem): $100.00
Second Place: $60.00
Third Place: $40.00

Submission dates: November 1, 2019 to March 1, 2020

Poets will be notified via email or phone following the judging process.

Selected poems will be published in a chapbook. All poets submitting
poems will receive two (2) copies of the chapbook

For more information contact: info@mostpoetry.org