Roanoke Valley Pen Women

11th Annual Poetry Contest Winners

2011-09-26T04:18:00.000-07:00

The Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of the American Pen Women are pleased to announce the winners of their 11th Annual Poetry Contest.

The judge for the contest was Rene Parks Lanier, Jr., Professor of English emeritus at Radford University.

Prizes are First Place, $100, Second Place, $75, and Third Place, $50.

First Place: Elisabeth Murawski for her poem, Cumberland

Second Place: Catherine Moran for her poem, The Neighborhood Scene

Third Place: Viki Quinn for her poem, Fly

Honorable Mentions will be awarded to the following:

Lorraine A. Vail for her poem, Grandmother

Carol White for her poem, Being There

Carol White for her poem, Rockport Farewell

Amanda Rhodes for her poem, Kent Anthony Rhodes

The Roanoke Valley members would like to thank all who entered and helped to make this contest a success.

11th Annual Poetry Contest

2011-08-17T07:17:00.000-07:00

11th Annual Poetry Contest!

$100 First Prize

Roanoke, VA – Virginia’s Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women, winner of the 2009 Perry Kendig Award, is pleased to announce its 11th Annual Poetry Competition.

Proceeds from the Poetry Competition fund an annual scholarship, given to adult women who have returned to school.

Postmark deadline for entries is August 15, 2011. Cost per poem is $5.00; make checks payable to Roanoke Valley Branch, NLAPW. Prizes are $100, $75, $50 and Honorable Mention $5. Rules are available at http://roanokepenwomen.blogspot.com. Entries which do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified.

Rene Parks Lanier, Jr., Professor of English emeritus at Radford University, will judge the poems. Professor Lanier served for many years as Poet-in-the-Schools at numerous Virginia counties and has been published in many small press and academic magazines. He also served five years as president of the Appalachian Writers' Association.

Here are the complete rules:

Entry Deadline: Postmark August 15, 2011

Poems will be accepted from May 15, 2011 to August 15, 2011

Any Form
Line Limit: 40*

RULES:

1) Only original, unpublished poetry accepted. Websites are considered publishing.*

2) Submit 2 copies of each poem, typed on 8 ½" x 11" paper, Times New Roman 12 point type, single space, flush left, black ink. No bold in text. Name, address, telephone number and e-mail address on only one copy.* Entry by e-mail is not allowed.

3) Contest entry grants permission for a one-time non-exclusive right to publish winning entries in any future Roanoke NLAPW publications.

4) Winners will be notified by October 15, 2011.

5) Entry Fee: $5.00 per entry*. No limit to number of entries but payment must accompany each entry. Make checks payable to Roanoke Valley Branch, NLAPW.

6) Prizes: $100, $75, $50 and Honorable Mention $5.

7) Winning poems will be read at the November 2011 meeting of Roanoke NLAPW. Proceeds from the contest will be used to help fund a scholarship.

8) Names of award winners will be available on the website, roanokepenwomen.blogspot.com, only. Poems will not be returned.

Mail entries to:

Co-Chairman, Peggy Shifflett
700 Cherrywood Road
Salem, VA 24153

10th Annual Poetry Contest Winners Announced

2010-09-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

Roanoke, VA - Virginia’s Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women is pleased to announce the winners of the 10th Annual Poetry Competition.

The winners are:

(1st) Saundra Hartman of Jacksonville, FL for Reverie for Art on Exhibition

(2nd) Lorraine A. Vail of Sanibel, FL for Women in Black

(3rd) Susan Major-Tingey of Quincy, MA for Flannery O'Conner's Peacocks

Honorable mentions: Bruce A. Rae of Moneta for A Surreal Canvas

Catherine Moran of Little Rock, AR for We Leave Only One Footprint

Joan Gelfand of San Francisco, CA for I Know Why Sylvia Plath Put Her Head in the Oven

For this contest, the theme was Women in the Arts. The winning poems addressed this theme.

The contest was judged by Rene Parks Lanier, Jr., Professor of English emeritus at Radford University. Professor Lanier served for many years as Poet-in-the-Schools at numerous Virginia counties and has been published in many small press and academic magazines. He also served five years as president of the Appalachian Writers' Association.

Proceeds from the Poetry Competition fund an annual scholarship, given to adult women for expenses related to a return to school or for a creative project.

2011 Pen Women Scholarship

2010-08-04T07:32:00.000-07:00

The Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women is offering a scholarship to a woman who is working on a creative project or taking a class in the arts.

Scholarship Requirements:

The Roanoke Valley Pen Women will grant a scholarship of a minimum $100 to a woman age thirty or older who is taking a class in the literary, visual or performing arts; or who is working on a creative project involving the literary, visual or performing arts. The applicant must live within 50 miles of Roanoke.

The money is to be used either for supplies (textbooks, art supplies, paper, software, etc.) or for other expenses directly related to the project (tuition, travel expenses, conference fees, etc.).

Women interested in receiving the grant for 2011 must apply to the Roanoke Valley Pen Women on or before February 1, 2011. The application should include the following:

•Statement of interest:

Contact information at top of page: name, address, phone, email.

A proposal that includes the following: (1) a paragraph that either explains the recipient’s reason for taking the class or describes the creative project, (2) a statement about the applicant’s career goals, (3) verification that the applicant is committed to the project (Verification for class enrollment could include a photocopy of acceptance letter, student ID, or receipt for payment of tuition. Verification for a creative project might include receipts for materials already purchased, photos showing that the applicant has worked on a similar project, preliminary sketches for an artistic project, etc.)

•A work sample in one of the following:

Literary Arts: an example (2-10 pages) of either published or unpublished fiction (short story, novel excerpt), non-fiction (article, essay), poetry (three poems) or a combination thereof.

Visual Arts: CD or DVD of jpegs of artwork (paintings, drawings, sculpture, pottery, fiber art, photographs, etc.).

Performing Arts (composer, performer, choreographer): CD or DVD of performance.

Applicants who want work samples returned should provide a self-addressed mailer with sufficient postage.

The scholarship recipient is encouraged to report back to the Roanoke Valley Pen Women, either by mail/email or as a guest at a future Pen Women meeting to inform the membership how the scholarship helped her accomplish a goal.

Send applications to Peggy Shifflett, 700 Cherrywood Street, Salem, VA 24153 or to Becky Mushko, 8 Listening Hill Road, Penhook, VA, 24137

10th Annual Poetry Contest!

2010-07-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

10th Annual Poetry Competition
$100 First Prize

Roanoke, VA – Virginia’s Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women, winner of the 2009 Perry Kendig Award, is pleased to announce its 10th Annual Poetry Competition.

This year the organization is celebrating Women in the Arts and all poems should address this as the theme of the work.

Proceeds from the Poetry Competition fund an annual scholarship, given to adult women who have returned to school.

Postmark deadline for entries is July 30, 2010. Cost per poem is $5.00; make checks payable to Roanoke Valley Branch, NLAPW. Prizes are $100, $75, $50 and Honorable Mention $5. Rules are available at http://roanokepenwomen.blogspot.com. Entries which do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified.

Rene Parks Lanier, Jr., Professor of English emeritus at Radford University, will judge the poems. Professor Lanier served for many years as Poet-in-the-Schools at numerous Virginia counties and has been published in many small press and academic magazines. He also served five years as president of the Appalachian Writers' Association.

Here are the complete rules:

Entry Deadline: Postmark July 30, 2010
Poems will be accepted from April 15, 2010 to July 30, 2010

Theme: Women in the Arts
Any Form
Line Limit: 40*

RULES:

1) Only original, unpublished poetry accepted. Websites are considered publishing.*

2) Submit 2 copies of each poem, typed on 8 ½" x 11" paper, Times New Roman 12 point type, single space, flush left, black ink. No bold in text. Name, address, telephone number and e-mail address on only one copy.* Entry by e-mail is not allowed.

3) Contest entry grants permission for a one-time non-exclusive right to publish winning entries in any future Roanoke NLAPW publications.

4) Winners will be notified by September 30, 2010.

5) Entry Fee: $5.00 per entry*. No limit to number of entries but payment must accompany each entry. Make checks payable to Roanoke Valley Branch, NLAPW.

6) Prizes: $100, $75, $50 and Honorable Mention $5.

7) Winning poems will be read at the November 2010 meeting of Roanoke NLAPW. Proceeds from the contest will be used to help fund a scholarship.

8) Names of award winners will be available on the website, roanokepenwomen.blogspot.com, only. Poems will not be returned.

Mail entries to:
Co-Chairman, Peggy Shifflett
700 Cherrywood Road
Salem, VA 24153

Visions and Voices, Pens and Brushes, an anthology of previous winning poems, is available for $10.00 each plus $2 shipping. (Virginia residents add .50 sales tax) Please mail requests to Margaret DuBois, P.O. Box 388, Salem, VA 24153-0388.

*Incorrectly submitted poems will not be considered and entry fees will not be returned.

Please note that a list of winners' names will be posted at roanokepenwomen.blogspot.com by October 15, 2010. The poems themselves will not be posted.

Lambert Wins Honorable Mention

2010-06-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

Pen Women member Gail Lambert has won Honorable Mention in the 2010 Leapfrog Fiction Contest.

Her story, “Aesop: The Storyteller” is set in the ancient Greek world of slaves, sailors, merchants, wars and gods; all of which contribute to the slave boy Aesop’s eventual fame as the most celebrated storyteller in all of history.

Lambert holds a Graduate Degree in Children’s Literature from Hollins University as well as a BA and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies. She was a frequent reviewer for Best Sellers with a review included in Contemporary Literary Criticism, Vol. 30, as well asa Contributing Writer and Editor of Notable Women of Southwest Virginia, 1850 – 1950 published by the Historical Society of Western Virginia, 2007. She authored an essay for National Public Radio in 2009, teaches high school Latin, and is a regularly published freelance writer in Virginia.

June 2010 Meeting

2010-06-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women met on Wednesday, June 2, at Mama Maria's in Salem.

The program was an update on member activities.

Becky Mushko, Vice President, chaired the meeting.

Elena DeRosa reported that she is nearing completion of her manuscript. Her memoir should be ready for submission in the next few months.

Mildred Sandridge, currently a student at Hollins University, said an independent study with Professor Jeanne Larsen was invaluable in assisting her with her book, which is a multi-generational work.

Ethel Born reported that her nonfiction book, From Horse 'n Buggy to Hi Tech, which is about the rural postal service in Virginia, will be presented to the postal society later this month.

Meg Hibbert, a guest, noted that she is writing steadily for an online magazine and is editor of The Salem Times-Register and The New Castle Record.

Becky Mushko reported that she has participated in numerous book readings and author events in order to promote her book, Ferradiddledumday.

Margaret DuBois has been working hard to create her arts of oil, pastel and enamels. Her work was for sale recently at the Roanoke Sidewalk Art Show.

The group will take a hiatus and will meet again in September.

Meeting Dates for Fall 2010

2010-06-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

The Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women will meet on the following dates this fall:

September 8

October 13

November 10

December 8

These meetings will be held at the Roanoke Coop in Grandin in Roanoke. Anyone interested in joining the group can contact President Peggy Shifflett at pshiffle@radford.edu.

Programs will be announced at a later date.

Mary Tousman Open House

2010-06-10T07:13:00.001-07:00

Mary Tousman, a member of the Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women, will hold an open house to showcase her art at WVTF radio station on Friday, June 19 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The show is called called Feeling Fired: Masks. Oils, and Watercolors.

The event will be catered by Center Stage Catering and The Blue Ridge String Quartet will perform. The art will be on display from June 1st to June 30

May 5, 2010 Meeting

2010-05-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

William Spillman, winner of the Roanoke Valley Pen Women's Poetry Contest in 2009, was the guest speaker at the group's May 2010 meeting.

Spillman spoke about the writing process and how he learned to write better poetry through study and persistence. He also read a number of his poems.

Members in attendance included Mary Tousman, Peggy Shifflett, Margaret DuBois, Elena DeRosa, Gail Lambert, Ethel Born, Becky Mushko, Beth Rossi, and Anita Firebaugh.

Margaret DuBois and Becky Mushko.

With permission, the group is pleased to present Mr. Spillman's award-winning poem:

Garden of Stones
By W. B. Spillman, Jr.

This is a garden of stones
whose shadows never touch,

not the long shadows of winter,

not the small shadows
of summer noon.

It began as Japanese,
but its plan decays
as western thoughts intrude.

The wind likes this place
and its unexpected confusions.

I sit on the largest stone
and arrange my thoughts
like the notes of a flute,

no meaning, only emotion.

Twilight joins me.
After awhile,

The world loses color.

2010 Scholarship

2010-04-19T06:57:00.000-07:00

The Roanoke Valley Pen Women will grant a scholarship of a minimum $100 to a woman age thirty or older who has either returned to college or entered college for the first time, and who is taking one or more classes for credit in the arts, letters, or music at a college or university within 75 miles of Roanoke.

The money is to be used either for supplies (textbooks, art supplies, paper, software, etc.) or for other expenses related to college attendance.

Women interested in receiving the grant for fall 2010 must apply to the Roanoke Valley Pen Women on or before May 1, 2010. The application should include the following:

•Statement of interest:
Contact information at top of page: name, address, phone, email.
A paragraph explaining the recipient’s reason for taking the class or returning to school.
A paragraph explaining the recipient’s career goals.

•A work sample in one of the following:
Letters: an example (2-10 pages) of either published or unpublished fiction (short story, novel excerpt), non-fiction (article, essay), poetry (three poems) or a combination thereof.
Arts: CD or DVD of jpegs of artwork (paintings, drawings, sculpture, pottery, fiber art, photographs, etc.).
Music (composer, performer, choreographer): CD or DVD of performance.
Applicants who want work samples returned should provide a self-addressed mailer with sufficient postage.

•Verification of class enrollment or college acceptance (a photocopy of acceptance letter, student ID, or receipt for payment of tuition).

The scholarship recipient is encouraged to report back to the Roanoke Valley Pen Women, either by mail/email or as a guest at a future Pen Women meeting to inform the membership how the scholarship helped her accomplish a goal.

Send applications to Peggy Shifflett, 700 Cherrywood Street, Salem, VA 24153 or to Becky Mushko, 8 Listening Hill Road, Penhook, VA, 24137

April 2010 Meeting

2010-04-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women met on Wednesday, April 7 at Mamma Maria's in Salem.

Guests were Diane Cayton-Hakey, Meg Hibbert and guest speaker Fred First.

Mr. First writes Fragments From Floyd, a popular blog, and has self-published several books about life in his community, sustainability, and related issues.

Below is a video, courtesy of Ms. Cayton-Hakey, with a little taste of the discussion during the meeting. That is followed by photos of various members who enjoyed the afternoon.

Author Fred First laughs with former Pen Women president Margaret Dubois and current President Peggy Shifflett.

Peggy Shifflett, Vice President Becky Musko, and guest Diane Cayton-Hakey.

From left: Diane Cayton Hakey, Meg Hibbert, Beth Ann Rossi, Pat Bijwaard, and Gail Lambert.

From left: Margaret DuBois and Peggy Shifflett

Guest speaker Fred First makes a point during his discussion of self-publishing.

Pat Bijwaard

Fred First

From left: Beth Ann Rossi and Pat Bijwaard

Becky Mushko

Gail Lambert

Margaret DuBois

Guest speaker Fred First.

Photos courtesy of Anita Firebaugh and Diane Cayton-Hakey.

Member Reading

2010-03-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

Roanoke Pen Women member Judy Light Ayyildiz on March 31, 2010 will be conducting a memoir workshop for Women's History Month at Radford University. She will read from her works of memoir in the Muse Student Center from 4:00 - 5:00. Reception to follow. Free. All welcome.

Published Members

2010-03-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

Two members of the Roanoke Valley Pen Women have recently published books.

Becky Mushko is the author of Ferradiddledumday, published by Cedar Creek Publishing. It is an Appalachian version of Rumplestiltskin. Check out Becky's websites or her blog, Peevish Pen, if you wish to contact her to order a book.

Peggy Shifflett, the organization's president, recently self-published The Living Room Bed. It is available from Ms. Shifflett. You can email her at pshiffle@radford.edu if you would like to order a book.

Congratulations to both women on their accomplishments.

March 2010 Meeting

2010-03-07T11:24:00.000-08:00

Members of the Roanoke Valley Pen Women met on March 3, 2010 for the first monthly meeting since December, thanks to snow.

The membership had a show-and-tell day. Each person told about their latest projects and current artistic activities.

Mary Tousman (standing), the group secretary, reported that she has found much enjoyment in a autobiography/memoir that she has started writing and illustrating.

Peggy Shifflett (sitting), the group president, said her self-published book, The Living Room Bed, will be released later this month. She noted that fellow Pen Women member Anita Firebaugh assisted her with editing.

Margaret DuBois, left, former group president, showed off her enamal on copper paintings. The pieces are fired, some as many as 10 times, before the piece is complete, she said.

Beth Ann Rossi, right, has been in the process of building a new home. She has kept and documented every aspect of the project. Her documentation and scrapbooking has taken up several journals and albums.

Gail Lambert, right, reported that she has been published in Senior News and other places.

Ethel Born, second from right, reported that her book From Horse to Buggy to High Tech, which is about the postal service, has been completed and is ready for distribution.

Judy Ayylidiz, first on the right, reported that she was a visiting reader at Marshall University and recently reprinted her book, Nothing But Time, among other projects.

Becky Mushko, third on the right, the group vice-president, reported that her book, Ferradiddledumday, has been released by Cedar Creek Publishing. She is currently marketing the book.

Anita Firebaugh, not pictured, noted that she is working on a booklet about Cloverdale and continues to publish articles in local newspapers.

2010 Scholarship

2009-12-28T15:00:00.000-08:00

The money is to be used either for supplies (textbooks, art supplies, paper, software, etc.) or for other expenses related to college attendance.

Women interested in receiving the grant for fall 2010 must apply to the Roanoke Valley Pen Women on or before May 1, 2010. The application should include the following:

•Statement of interest:

Contact information at top of page: name, address, phone, email.

A paragraph explaining the recipient’s reason for taking the class or returning to school.

A paragraph explaining the recipient’s career goals.

•A work sample in one of the following:

Letters: an example (2-10 pages) of either published or unpublished fiction (short story, novel excerpt), non-fiction (article, essay), poetry (three poems) or a combination thereof.

Arts: CD or DVD of jpegs of artwork (paintings, drawings, sculpture, pottery, fiber art, photographs, etc.).

Music (composer, performer, choreographer): CD or DVD of performance.

Applicants who want work samples returned should provide a self-addressed mailer with sufficient postage.

•Verification of class enrollment or college acceptance (a photocopy of acceptance letter, student ID, or receipt for payment of tuition).

Send applications to Peggy Shifflett, 700 Cherrywood Street, Salem, VA 24153 or to Becky Mushko, 8 Listening Hill Road, Penhook, VA, 24137

2009 Poetry Contest Results

2009-11-09T05:29:00.000-08:00

The Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women is pleased to announce the following winners of the 2009 Poetry Competition:

First Place Bill Spillman, Jr. of Floyd, VA
Poem: Garden of Stones

Second Place Jacqueline Moffett of Pittsford, NY
Poem: Hands Folded in Prayer: a pantoum

Third Place Diana Woodcock of VCU Qatar, Qatar
Poem: Last Breath

Honorable Mention Julia Meylor Simpson of East Providence, RI
Poem: Sorry Charlie

Honorable Mention Elinor Denney of Lexington, VA
Poem: Hoe Made for Petunias

Honorable Mention Eileen Malone of Broadmoor Village, CA
Poem: After

Congratulations to all the winners.

Information on the 2010 Poetry Contest will be posted on this website at a future date.

October 8 meeting

2009-10-08T05:05:00.001-07:00

The Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women held its October meeting at Montaldos. Our guest speaker was wildlife artist Carol Yopp, who told us about how she got started painting, what media she prefers, etc.

Some of Carol's work, including her cutting boards and notecards:

Pen Women president Peggy Shifflett looks at notecards featuring Carol's work:

The next Pen Women's meeting is November 4, 2009, at Mama Maria's in Salem.

NINTH ANNUAL POETRY COMPETITION $100 FIRST PRIZE

2009-09-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Roanoke, VA – Virginia’s Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women, winner of the 2009 Perry Kendig Award, is pleased to announce its 9th Annual Poetry Competition.

Proceeds from the Poetry Competition fund an annual scholarship, given to adult students who have returned to school.

Postmark deadline for entries is September 25, 2009. Cost per poem is $5.00; make checks payable to Roanoke Valley Branch, NLAPW. Prizes are $100, $75, $50 and Honorable Mention $5.

Rene Parks Lanier, Jr., Professor of English emeritus at Radford University, will judge the poems. Professor Lanier served for many years as Poet-in-the-Schools at numerous Virginia counties and has been published in many small press and academic magazines. He also served five years as president of the Appalachian Writers' Association.

Here are the complete rules:

Entry Deadline: Postmark September 25, 2009
Poems will be accepted from May 1, 2009 to September 25, 2009

Any Subject

Any Form

Line Limit: 40*

RULES:

1)Only original, unpublished poetry accepted. Websites are considered publishing.*

2)Submit 2 copies of each poem, typed on 8 ½" x 11" paper. Name, address and e-mail address on only one copy*. Entry by e-mail is not allowed.

3) Contest entry grants permission to publish winning entries in any future Roanoke NLAPW publications.

4)Winners will be notified by November 20, 2009.

5)Entry Fee: $5.00 per entry*. No limit to number of entries but payment must accompany each entry. Make checks payable to Roanoke Valley Branch, NLAPW.

6)Prizes: $100, $75, $50 and Honorable Mention $5.

7)Winning poems will be read at the March 2010 Meeting of NLAPW. Proceeds from the contest will be used to help fund a scholarship.

8)Names of award winners will be available by e-mail only, no SASE.

Mail entries to:
Co-Chairman, Peggy Shifflett
700 Cherrywood Road
Salem, VA 24153

Visions and Voices, Pens and Brushes, an anthology of previous winning poems, is available for $10.00 each plus $2 shipping. (Virginia residents add .50 sales tax) Please mail requests to Margaret DuBois, P.O. Box 388, Salem, VA 24153-0388.

*Incorrectly submitted poems will be disqualified and entry fees retained by branch.

Please note that winners will be posted at roanokepenwomen.blogspot.com by November 20, 2009.

The Perry F. Kendig Award

2009-07-05T05:06:00.000-07:00

Members Mary Tousman, Peggy Shiflett, Gail Greer and Margaret DuBois accept the Perry F. Kendig Award on behalf of the Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women.

On June 24, the Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women received the 2009 Perry F. Kendig Award from the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge.

The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge makes this prestigious award each year to an organization for its contributions and service to the community.

Branch members devote time and energy to numerous projects involving the arts in the form of painting, writing, storytelling, photography and other endeavors. Some of the activities include organizing a project to audiotape 250 children’s books, appropriate for K-5, for use by disadvantaged and/or visually handicapped children; working with a fifth grade class for three years helping them with idea development, and researching, interviewing, photography, writing and editing articles to create a monthly school newspaper.

Members also teach art to all age groups in schools, art museums, and outreach programs, raise funds for historic preservation and continuance of programs such as NOVA and The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and coordinate and judge student essay contests and poetry contests. They also hold workshops on storytelling and encouraging people of all ages to tell their own stories and donating artwork to Roanoke Valley SPCA fundraising projects.

Members of the group are Margaret DuBois, Patricia A. Bijwaard, Becky Mushko, Ethel W. Born, Mildred Sandridge, Anita J. Firebaugh, J. Gail Geer, Judy Light Ayyildiz, Elena DeRosa, Myrtle Hooker, Gail Tansill Lambert, Eslye Moore, June Plunkett Poe, Beth Ann Rossi, Mary Tousman, and Peggy Ann Shifflett.

Additional coverage and information about the award can be found at:

Perry F. Kendig nomination form

The Arts Council notice of the event and award recipients

WDBJ7 news story of the event
Award-winner

Dan Smith explains the meaning of the awards in his blog

The Roanoke Times announcement of the awards

Meetings for 2009-2010

2009-06-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

The meeting dates and speakers for the 2009-2010 year are as follows:

Sept. 2, 2009: Dan Smith—author, editor, radio essayist—at Mama Maria's in SAlem.

Oct. 7, 2009: Carol Yopp—wildlife artist—at Montano's in Roanoke.

Portrait of Carol Yopp, painted by Anne Bernard and posted on Carol's website.

Nov. 4, 2009: Ben Williams—playwright—at Mama Maria's in Salem.

Dec. 2, 2009: No speaker (our Christmas auction) at Mama Maria's.

Feb. 3, 2010: Fred First—author, radio essayist, & blogger.

Mar. 3, 2010: Winner of poetry contest
Apr. 7, 2010: TBA
May 5, 2010: TBA
June 2, 2010: TBA

Our meetings will be at either Mama Maria's in Salem or Montano's in Roanoke. When meeting places are confirmed, this post will be up-dated.

June 2009 Meeting

2009-06-12T12:32:00.000-07:00

Amy Tate gave the Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women an enthusiastic talk about her work on her book at the June 10 meeting at The Daily Grind.

Tate, who blogs as The Virginia Scribe, received the Branch's annual scholarship for the second year in a row.

The Roanoke Valley Pen Women will meet again on September 2.

May 2009 Meeting

2009-05-15T08:52:00.000-07:00

Pulitzer-nominated journalist Rex Bowman, author of Blue Ridge Chronicles, delighted members of the Roanoke Pen Women during their May 13 meeting.

Rex Bowman reads from his work.

Bowman served as the Southwestern Virginia correspondent for The Richmond Times-Dispatch for over a decade. He is now a book author.

The writer spoke to the Pen Women about the secret of writing. He called that "surprise," saying that writers must surprise their readers by saying something new and surprising or saying something old in a surprising way.

He offered a number of rhetorical devices as part of a writer's toolbox and urged the writers in the Pen Women's group to review this methodology for the apt and appropriate turn of phrase.

Other suggestions included ensuring that landscapes have people in them, using sensory detail (the five senses), writing in the author's voice, writing intimately, using the imperative voice, using periodic sentences instead of loose sentences, and using language appropriate to the story.

Gail Lambert, Judy Ayyldiz and Pat Bijwaard listen to Rex Bowman talk.

The Pen Women discussed their lack of scholarship applications (no one applied) and determined to pass along the $100 prize money to last year's winner, Amy Tate, who is continuing her education again in the upcoming year.

The Pen Women will receive the Perry F. Kendig Award in June for their work to promote the arts.

Branch Wins Kendig Award

2009-04-12T09:55:00.001-07:00

The Roanoke Valley (Virginia) Branch of the National League of American Pen Women is proud to announce that the group is the recipient of a 2009 Perry F. Kendig Award as Outstanding Arts & Cultural Organization. The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge makes this prestigious award each year to an organization for its contributions and service to the community. Branch members devote time and energy to numerous projects involving the arts in the form of painting, writing, storytelling, photography and other endeavors. Some of the activities include organizing a project to audiotape 250 children’s books, appropriate for K-5, for use by disadvantaged and/or visually handicapped children; working with a fifth grade class for three years helping them with idea development, and researching, interviewing, photography, writing and editing articles to create a monthly school newspaper. Members also teach art to all age groups in schools, art museums, and outreach programs, raise funds for historic preservation and continuance of programs such as NOVA and The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and coordinate and judge student essay contests and poetry contests. They also hold workshops on storytelling and encouraging people of all ages to tell their own stories and donating artwork to Roanoke Valley SPCA fundraising projects.

Members of the group are Margaret DuBois, Patricia A. Bijwaard, Becky Mushko, Ethel W. Born, Mildred Sandridge, Anita J. Firebaugh, J. Gail Geer, Judy Light Ayyildiz, Elena DeRosa, Myrtle Hooker, Gail Tansill Lambert, Eslye Moore, June Plunkett Poe, Beth Ann Rossi, Mary Tousman, and Peggy Ann Shifflett.

The Roanoke Valley Branch will receive the Kendig Award on June 24, 2009 at the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, Virginia.

2009 Scholarship

2009-01-03T12:51:00.000-08:00

Once again, the Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women is offering a scholarship to a woman who has returned to college:

Scholarship Requirements:

The Roanoke Valley Pen Women will grant a scholarship of a minimum $100 to a woman age thirty or older who has either returned to college or entered college for the first time, and who is taking one or more classes for credit in the arts, letters, or music at a college or university within 75 miles of Roanoke.

The money is to be used either for supplies (textbooks, art supplies, paper, software, etc.) or for other expenses related to college attendance.

Women interested in receiving the grant for fall 2009 must apply to the Roanoke Valley Pen Women on or before May 1, 2009. The application should include the following:

•Statement of interest:
Contact information at top of page: name, address, phone, email.
A paragraph explaining the recipient’s reason for taking the class or returning to school.
A paragraph explaining the recipient’s career goals.

•A work sample in one of the following:
Letters: an example (2-10 pages) of either published or unpublished fiction (short story, novel excerpt), non-fiction (article, essay), poetry (three poems) or a combination thereof.
Arts: CD or DVD of jpegs of artwork (paintings, drawings, sculpture, pottery, fiber art, photographs, etc.).
Music (composer, performer, choreographer): CD or DVD of performance.
Applicants who want work samples returned should provide a self-addressed mailer with sufficient postage.

•Verification of class enrollment or college acceptance (a photocopy of acceptance letter, student ID, or receipt for payment of tuition).

The scholarship recipient is encouraged to report back to the Roanoke Valley Pen Women, either by mail/email or as a guest at a future Pen Women meeting to inform the membership how the scholarship helped her accomplish a goal.

Send applications to Becky Mushko, 8 Listening Hill Road, Penhook, VA, 24137 or to Peggy Shifflett, c/o Cottage Curio, 622 Colorado Street, Salem, VA 24153.

2009 Poetry Contest

2008-12-04T03:49:00.000-08:00

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE POETRY CONTEST DATES HAVE CHANGED. The judge will be announced at a later date.

Entry Deadline: Postmark September 25, 2009
Poems will be accepted from May 1, 2009 to September 25, 2009

Any Subject

Any Form

Line Limit: 40*

RULES:

1)Only original, unpublished poetry accepted. Websites are considered publishing.*

2)Submit 2 copies of each poem, typed on 8 ½" x 11" paper. Name, address and e-mail address on only one copy*. Entry by e-mail is not allowed.

3) Contest entry grants permission to publish winning entries in any future Roanoke NLAPW publications.

4)Winners will be notified by November 20, 2009.

5)Entry Fee: $5.00 per entry*. No limit to number of entries but payment must accompany each entry. Make checks payable to Roanoke Valley Branch, NLAPW.

6)Prizes: $100, $75, $50 and Honorable Mention $5.

7)Winning poems will be read at the February 2010 Meeting of NLAPW. Proceeds from the contest will be used to help fund a scholarship.

8)Names of award winners will be available by e-mail only, no SASE.

Mail entries to:
Co-Chairman, Peggy Shifflett
700 Cherrywood Road
Salem, VA 24153

Visions and Voices, Pens and Brushes, an anthology of previous winning poems, is available for $10.00 each plus $2 shipping. (Virginia residents add .50 sales tax) Please mail requests to Margaret DuBois, P.O. Box 388, Salem, VA 24153-0388.

*Incorrectly submitted poems will be disqualified and entry fees retained by branch.

Please note that winners will be posted at roanokepenwomen.blogspot.com by November 20, 2009.

Programs for 2008-2009

2008-10-07T17:52:00.000-07:00

At our first meeting in September, our guest speaker was herbalist, Lovell Najari. We didn't meet in October because so few members were able to attend.

Because the Daily Grind in Salem has closed, we have changed our meeting place and meeting day. As of February 2009, we will meet on Wednesdays and, unless otherwise noted, at the Daily Grind on Rt. 419.

Here are the dates, places, and speakers (up-dated as of January 4, 2009):

Nov 3—Daily Grind on Rt. 419—Leighann Boone (glass jewelry)
Dec. 1—Daily Grind on Rt. 419—Christmas silent auction
Feb. 11—Daily Grind on Rt. 419—Ethel Born (dyes)—12:30-2:00
Mar. 4—Daily Grind on Rt. 419—Vera Dickerson (artist)—10:30-12;00
Apr. 1—Peggy Shifflett's house—TBA—12:30-2:00
May 13—Daily Grind on Rt. 419—TBA (writer)—12:30-2:00
Jun. 10—Daily Grind on Rt. 419—TBA—12:30-2:00

Members are encouraged to bring guests.

Scholarship Awarded

2008-06-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women has awarded a $100 scholarship to Amy Tate of Boones Mill. The award, presented to a woman over thirty who has returned to college following an absence of several years, is to be used for incidental expenses related to attending school.

Tate, who’d majored in journalism major at Liberty University, left in 1993 when her major was no longer offered. After marrying and having two children, she enrolled last year in the Horizon Program at Hollins University where she studied poetry and fiction writing as well as 17th & 18th century literature. Eventually, she would like to write children’s literature—especially historical fiction for young people.

Applicants for the scholarship had to take at least one class in art, music, dance, or writing. They were required to submit a letter of interest, proof of acceptance at a college, and a work sample. Tate submitted two essays.

Of Tate’s writing sample, the Roanoke Valley Pen Women president and contest co-chair, Dr. Peggy Shifflett said, “I like her writing style and I believe she shows promise as a future writer. Shifflett noted that the other work samples “pale in comparison to Amy Tate’s original writing.”

Becky Mushko, Roanoke Valley Pen Women vice-president and the other contest co-chair, recused herself from voting at the June 4 Pen Women’s meeting because she and Tate know each other. The other members in attendance, after examining the applications, unanimously voted for Tate as the first recipient of what will become an annual award.

Last Meeting until September

2008-06-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

Today the Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women held our last meeting of the season. We'll resume our meetings on September 3, at our usual meeting place—the Daily Grind in Salem.

Today, we met at Pat Bijwaard's house, and she provided both a wonderful lunch and a wonderful program on delft tiles.

Among her tiles are these in her kitchen:

At most meetings, we have a program by an artist, craftsperson, or author. Today, we discussed possible programs for next year. We will soon contact the people suggested and have our program list in a month or two.

We also selected the recipient of our scholarship from a handful of applicants. Because I knew one of the applicants, I recused myself from voting. However, the vote by the others in attendance was unanimous: Amy Tate of Boones Mill is the winner of our $100 scholarship to be used for incidentals. She attends Hollins University in the Horizon program.

2008 POETRY CONTEST WINNERS

2008-05-08T06:57:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Hollingsworth-Austin of Roanoke has won first place in the 2008 Poetry Competition sponsored by the Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women.

Her poem was entitled “A Geometer Built the World.” Hollingsworth-Austin’s poem was one of 104 poems received from 16 states that were reviewed by a poetry panel and poetry contest judge Maurice Ferguson. Ferguson said the winning poem reminded him of the metaphysical poets John Donne and George Herbert.

Ferguson, who lives in Buchanan, VA, with his wife, son and a menagerie of animals, was a chief editor of Artemis Journal. He also has coordinated several writers’ workshops in the Roanoke Valley, organized numerous literary events, conducted a contest for prisoners and printed an anthology of prisoner's poems, Context Crumble.

Ferguson has published in Samsara Quarterly, Melic Review, Piedmont Literary Quarterly, Inlet, Artemis and the Roanoke Review.

Other winners in the contest were: second place, Glenna Holloway, Naperville, IL for a poem called “Sestina for a New Widow” and third place, Gretchen Fletcher, Ft. Lauderdale, FL for a poem called “Small Towns, Big Stories.”

Honorable Mentions were given to Elizabeth Williams, Oceanside, CA for a poem called “A Sestina of Splintered Kisses,” R. Frazier, Roanoke, VA for a poem called “Snapshot of Dad,” and W. B. Spillman, Jr., Floyd, VA for a poem called “The Ice Queen.”

The winning poems were read on May 7 at the Daily Grind Coffeehouse in Salem.

The Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Press Women sponsors the poetry contest every year. The 2008 contest marked the eighth year the organization has awarded prizes.

Scholarship Available

2008-01-07T12:14:00.000-08:00

Roanoke Valley Branch—National League of American Pen Women

Scholarship Requirements:

The Roanoke Valley Pen Women will grant a scholarship of a minimum $100 to a woman age thirty or older who has either returned to college or entered college for the first time, and who is taking one or more classes for credit in the arts, letters, or music at a college or university within 75 miles of Roanoke.

The money is to be used either for supplies (textbooks, art supplies, paper, software, etc.) or for other expenses related to college attendance.

Women interested in receiving the grant for fall 2008 must apply to the Roanoke Valley Pen Women on or before May 2, 2008. The application should include the following:

1. Statement of interest:
Contact information at top of page: name, address, phone, email.
A paragraph explaining the recipient’s reason for taking the class or returning to school.
A paragraph explaining the recipient’s career goals.
2. A work sample in one of the following:
Letters: an example (2-10 pages) of either published or unpublished fiction (short story, novel excerpt), non-fiction (article, essay), poetry (three poems) or a combination thereof.
Arts: CD or DVD of jpegs of artwork (paintings, drawings, sculpture, pottery, fiber art, photographs, etc.).
Music (composer, performer, choreographer): CD or DVD of performance.
Applicants who want work samples returned should provide a self-addressed mailer with sufficient postage.
3. Verification of class enrollment or college acceptance (a photocopy of acceptance letter, student ID, or receipt for payment of tuition).

The scholarship recipient is encouraged to report back to the Roanoke Valley Pen Women, either by mail/email or as a guest at a future Pen Women meeting to inform the membership how the scholarship helped her accomplish a goal.

Send applications to Becky Mushko, 8 Listening Hill Road, Penhook, VA, 24137 or to Peggy Shifflett, c/o Cottage Curio, 622 Colorado Street, Salem, VA 24153.

POETRY CONTEST FOR 2008

2007-08-19T08:15:00.001-07:00

Virginia's Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women is pleased to announce its annual contest.

2008 POETRY COMPETITION

Virginia’s Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women

The judge for this year's contest is Maurice Ferguson, a graduate of Roanoke College. Mr. Ferguson lives in Buchanan, Virginia with his wife, son and a menagerie of animals. He is employed as a therapist and works extensively with addicts, alcoholics, prisoners and the homeless.

He was a chief editor of Artemis Journal, coordinated several writer's workshops in the Roanoke Valley, organized numerous literary events, conducted a contest for prisoners and printed an anthology of prisoner's poems, Context Crumble. Mr. Ferguson has published in Samsara Quarterly, Melic Review, Piedmont Literary Quareterly, Inlet, Artemis and the Roanoke Review.

Entry Deadline: Postmark February 1, 2008

Subject: Any Form: Line Limit: 40*

RULES:

1)Only original, unpublished poetry accepted. Websites are considered publishing.*

2)Submit 2 copies of each poem, typed on 8 ½” x 11” paper. Name, address and e-mail address on only one copy*. Entry by e-mail is not allowed.

3) Contest entry grants permission to publish winning entries in any future Roanoke NLAPW publications.

4)Winners will be notified by April 17, 2008.

5)Entry Fee: $5.00 per entry*. No limit to entries. Make checks payable to Roanoke Valley Branch, NLAPW.

6)Prizes: $100, $75, $50 and Honorable Mention $5.

7)Winning poems will be read at the May Meeting of NLAPW. Proceeds from the contest will be used to help fund a scholarship.

8)Names of award winners will be available by e-mail only, no SASE.

Mail entries to:
Co-Chairman, Margaret DuBois
P. O. Box 388
Salem, VA 24153-0388

Visions and Voices, Pens and Brushes, an anthology of previous winning poems, is available for $10.00 each plus $2 shipping. (Virginia residents add .50 sales tax) Please mail requests to the above address.

*Incorrectly submitted poems will be disqualified and entry fees retained by branch.

Please note that winners will be posted on this website by June 1, 2008.

Poetry Contest Winners

2007-05-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

The Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women is proud to announce the winners of the 2007 Poetry Contest.

First Place:
Andrea L. Watson, Taos, New Mexico, for “I am clothing this poem in skin” and “Skin”

Second Place:
Margaret J. Reynolds, Springfield, VA, for “Fractures”

Third Place:
William B. Spillman, Jr, Floyd, VA, for “Mill Town Blues”

Honorable Mentions:

Mary Katherine Williams, Paint Bank, VA, for “Buttons and a Thimble”

Mildred Barthel, North Logan, Utah, for “Home at Last”

Melanie Cregger, Troutville, VA, for “Where I’m From”

The contest received 122 different entries. The poems were judged by Melanie Almeder. Almeder is a creative writing professor at Roanoke College and a widely published young poet whose work has appeared in a range of journals. Her first book of poetry, On Dream Street, won the Editor's Prize by Tupelo Press and will be published in May.

Poetry Contest for 2007

2006-12-18T10:19:00.000-08:00

Virginia's Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women is pleased to announce its annual contest.

Deadline: Postmark February 1, 2007

Entry fee: $5.00 per entry. No limit to entries. Make checks payable to Roanoke Valley Branch, NLAPW.

Prizes: $100, $75 and $50. Winners will be notified by April 17, 2007. Winning poems will be read at the May 2007 meeting of Roanoke Valley NLAPW and may be included in a future publication.

Open to all poets, any age, any form, any subject, line limit 40.

Only original, unpublished poetry accepted. (Websites are considered publishing.)

Submit two copies of each poem, typed on 8.5 x 11 paper. Name, address, phone number and e-mail address on only one copy in upper left hand corner.

No SASE; names of award winners will e-mailed to all entrants from RoanokePenWomen@aol.com. No entries accepted at this e-mail address.

Mail entries to: Chairman, Ethel W. Born, 3789 Knollridge Rd., Salem, VA 24153.

Available for purchase: Visions and Voices, Pens and Brushes, an anthology of previous winning poems, is available for $10.00 each plus $2 shipping. (Virginia residents add .50 sales tax).

Please mail requests to the above address.