Attention Poets & Supporters of Poetry

Poet Laureate Call to Action - We need your help!

Most of you know the Washington Poets Association has tried for years to convince our legislators to establish the position of Washington State Poet Laureate. While some legislators have supported our cause in the past, most recently 2003, our bill so far has failed to make the cut.

This year, that is changing.

This year we have worked early with our partners, the Washington State Arts Commission and Humanities Washington, to get the poet laureate into the Governor's legislative package. Gov. Gregoire even gave it a mention in her State of the State Address on January 9.

We have bipartisan support from senators and representatives from the major political parties. We are continuing to work with our partnering organizations on the legislative front.

But we know and you know whose voice is really heard in Olympia.

That's right, if our legislators know you feel it's important to have a poet laureate carry the torch for literature and literacy to communities statewide, they'll vote yes. If they hear of your concern that Washington is one of just 10 states in the United States that doesn't have a poet laureate, they'll vote yes. If they know you believe in the power of poetry and the power of language as instruments of change, they'll vote yes.

You can demonstrate that power by writing a short note to your district legislators (and any others you have a relationship with) asking them to support the bills. They are numbered HB 1279 in the House and SB 5649 in the Senate. You may also send notes of support to the following committees that hold hearings on the bills:

State Rep. Sam Hunt, Chair
State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee
State House of Representatives
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600

(Phone 360-786-7126, Fax 360-786-7018)

State Sen. Darlene Fairley, Chair
Government Operations & Elections Committee
State Senate
P.O. Box 40466
Olympia, WA 98504-0466

(Phone 360-786-7432, Fax 360-786-7899)

The Legislative Hotline for both houses is 1-800-562-6000.

Very briefly, the poet laureate, as described in the bills, will serve a two-year term under the auspices of the Washington State Arts Commission. A committee representing arts and educational entities statewide will determine the selection criteria and recommend a finalist for appointment. While the governor's version of the bill includes no funds, we are hopeful funds for a stipend and travel expenses will be included the final bill. Meanwhile, the WPA will be spearheading a fundraising campaign to establish a permanent endowment.

Please consider contributing to that endowment when the time comes. Right now, let's get that bill passed.

Poet Laureate Update

On Monday, February 5, 2007 the Washington State House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved, by a vote of 90-5, House Bill 1279, which would create the position of Washington State Poet Laureate.

Mary Skinner, R-Yakima, the prime sponsor, even read a poem especially written for the occasion by WPA secretary Ed Stover.

The bill now gets passed over to the Senate, which is expected to hold hearings on the measure in March. That means, while things are falling into place for the poet laureate bill, there is plenty of time for things to fall apart, particularly if legislators get bogged down in other issues.

That means poetry lovers need to keep the pressure on. Please contact any legislators you know and ask them to support this measure. Click here to see how the legislators voted.

You can read the press release from the office of State Represenative Mary Skinner, and the poem by Ed Stover which was especially written for the occasion.

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