MSAPPS (Matsqui-Sumas-Abbotsford Poets Potpourri Society)

2012 Board of Directors

President: Brayden Sawatzky
Secretary: Vacant
Treasurer/Director: Rita Carrington
Director: Nicholas Roberts
Website/Director: Violet Nesdoly
Director: Alvin Ens

Donna Bishop: Founder/Honorary Member
Thurlow Gowan: Honorary Member
Alvin Ens: Honorary Member

MSAPPS is a poetry reading club based in Abbotsford. Founded in 1981 by Donna Bishop (see history below), it has, for over 25 years, provided a venue to local writers, largely poets, to give birth and voice to their best thoughts.

The Goals of MSA PPS:

• Develop the skill of public reading for writers, both novices and journeymen, by providing a safe atmosphere in which to read their work

• Encourage poets, writers and would-be writers to devote time to write and create

• Help writers hone their craft through workshops and lectures

• Collaborate on group literary projects

• Promote the art of poetry in our community through public readings

• Celebrate the life of the community through poems for special occasions

• Raise awareness that the act of writing poetry and prose can heal emotions and elevate self-esteem

MSA PPS Regular Meetings:

• 2011 Open Mike Poetry and Prose Readings at the Clearbrook Library…more info

• 2011 Blue Moon Reading Series at Clearbrook Library … more info

• Annual Potluck Dinner (date and location to be announced).
  

• 2011 Annual General Meeting (date and location to be announced)
  

• Full list of 2011 events
• 2012 Open Mic and Blue Moon Reading Series at Clearbrook Library (more info)

Membership in the MSA Poets Potpourri Society

You can belong to a unique organization of local poets officially named Matsqui-Sumas- Abbotsford Poets Potpourri Society, affectionately called Poets Potpourri (often abbreviated as MSAPPS or PPS).

Cost
Annually $15.00 (Oct.1 to Sept. 30 if purchased before May 31) if purchased after June 1 then $10 to Sept. 30

Duties
1. Promote the well-being and growth of Poets Potpourri Society.
2. Be regular in attendance at PPS activities, especially open mics and Blue Moon readings.
3. Attend and vote at the annual AGM.
4. Be involved in PPS activities and PPS’s participation in community events (eg. manning a promotional table or a sales table or bringing snack/goodies)

Privileges
1. Join PPS and get a membership card as a member of a local poets’ group.
2. Be assured of a spot to read whenever PPS has an open mic. (Be on time, please)
3. Be profiled and publish 2-4 poems on the PPS website.
4. Be assured a spot in PPS poetry publications.
5. Sell your books at the PPS sales table.
6. Reduction of 20% in the purchase of any PPS sales. (This means that when members ask PPS to conduct sales for them that the 20% would apply though they can set the original price.)
[e.g. River of Words sells for $15.00 but members will buy it for $12.00.]
7. Vote at PPS elections and run for PPS office.
8. Help PPS make decisions at the AGM and periodic meetings.
9. Attend the annual PPS Christmas function (and invite your guest).
10. Buy a PPS constitution for the cost of printing.

A Brief History of MSA PPS

MSA PPS was started in 1981 by Donna Bishop. “From childhood, Donna dabbled in creative writing of poetry and drama. But her parents discouraged it as frivolous. And being insecure and shy, she tended to hide what she had created. There were other pressures in her adult life and she felt quite stressed. But in 1976 she ventured into a poetry reading group at the Burnaby Art Gallery. Here, amidst much more experienced and accomplished writers and readers, she read three of her pieces. She received a standing ovation.

About this time she, her husband and their family moved to Abbotsford. Her dream was to start a poetry reading club to give other writers the same opportunity of inspiration and encouragement that she had received in Burnaby.”

The first advertised meeting for a poetry reading club in July, 1981 generated no response but with Donna’s perseverance it grew to a group of twelve by September. And “for twenty-five years she has been a most active organizer, encourager, promoter, visionary and guiding force.”

Since that humble origin PPS has

• sponsored dozens of open mike readings where members and newcomers can read their work

• hosted poetry reading series such as the Blue Moon Series which featured poets drawn from outside the area

• collaborated on various anthologies Valley Poetry, Volumes I & II Colours of Life, Poetic Spirits of the Valley (2006) and the latest volume River of Words (2009).
  

• staged annual poetry festivals in Mill Lake Park

• celebrated the demise of SE2, a controversial energy project, through word and song

For a more detailed history see the book Poetic Spirits in the Valley ©2006 from which these quotes were drawn.