laureate.htm

Start a Poet Laureate Program
Background.. In ancient times a crown of laurel leaves was often awarded for excellence – typically to athletes but also to orators, playwrights and poets. For a lengthy discussion of the origin of the term and a list of poets laureate see - -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poet_laureate.
In recent times (1850) Queen Victoria designated Alfred Lord Tennyson Poet Laureate of England. The United States has a Poet Laureate, so do many states, counties and cities. California has over 50 ‘poets laureate.’
Process.
a. There are probably dozens of ways to initiate a Poet Laureate program. Obviously the title should be conveyed by an appropriate authority. Here is how it happened in the city of Benicia, California: An interested citizen wrote a letter to the mayor (with copies to the city council) recommending the city establish a Poet Laureate program. The letter described what a poet laureate is, noted that other cities had a laureate program, and cited the benefits that would result. The letter writer had a particular poet in mind and recommended him as the first poet laureate of the city.
b. The city deliberated and issued the following enabling resolution:

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BENICIA AUTHORIZING CREATING THE OFFICE OF BENICIA POET LAUREATE
WHEREAS, the study of literature forms a vital part of our shared and diverse culture; and
WHEREAS, poetry expresses personal and public stories in an art form accessible to all; and
WHEREAS, poetry forms an important part of our children’s education about culture and history; and
WHEREAS, studies have shown that children who read poetry show improvements in vocabulary, critical analytical skills and reading comprehension; and
WHEREAS, reading and writing poetry give children and adults alike an outlet for their feelings, experiences, and questions about the world; and
WHEREAS, the City of Benicia is fortunate to have an active and united community of poets living and working in our midst; and
WHEREAS, California was the first state to appoint a poet laureate, and many communities in California have successfully appointed poets laureate; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the office of Poet Laureate is hereby established in the City of Benicia.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Benicia Public Library Board of Trustees shall administer and oversee the selection of the Poet Laureate.
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On a motion of Council Member , seconded by Council Member , the foregoing Resolution was introduced and passed by the City Council of the City of Benicia at a regular meeting of said Council held on the 1st day of November 2005 and adopted by the following vote: (omitted here)

c. Poet Laureate Policy.
As noted, the city’s resolution gave stewardship the program to the Benicia Public Library Board of Trustees. In other cases in California the stewardship is exercised by the cities themselves or by an Arts Council or some other recognized organization. To ensure success of the program the board of trustees established the following policy:

BENICIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
POLICY MANUAL
POET LAUREATE
BENICIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

PURPOSE: To appoint a Benicia poet laureate who will provide a focus for the appreciation and dissemination of poetry in Benicia, promote the appreciation and knowledge of poetry among our youth, and act as a spokesperson for the growing number of poets and writers in Benicia.
POET LAUREATE COMMITTEE: Subsequent to the inaugural appointment, the Library Board will appoint a poet laureate committee consisting of the following representatives: a member of the Library Board, a representative of Arts Benicia, a representative of the Friends of the Benicia Public Library, an educator, and a member-at-large from the community. Appointments shall be made on an as-needed basis. The committee shall elect a chair and a vice-chair. The committee shall be responsible for selecting a poet laureate for a two-year term and for reporting annually to the Library Board on the progress of the Poet Laureate Program.
SELECTION CRITERIA: The Committee shall establish specific criteria for the appointment of the Poet Laureate based on his/her publications, public speaking ability, and writing skills. Finalists shall read before the panel and shall be interviewed by the full committee or representatives thereof designated by the Library Board.
All applicants shall submit a complete résumé including the following:
1) Evidence of a large body of work, whether published, self-published or unpublished;
2) Evidence of a history of advocacy for poetry;
3) Selections from their works, not to exceed ten pages;
4) Two personal or professional references;
5) Proof of current residency in Benicia;
6) A statement of availability for the two-year term.
DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS: The Benicia Poet Laureate shall be appointed for a term of two years, beginning September 1 and ending August 31 two years later. The Poet Laureate Committee shall open applications for the position of Benicia Poet Laureate on or about June 1 of the year of the retirement of the previous Poet Laureate.
No remuneration is offered for the position. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed with advance approval of the committee.
The Benicia Poet Laureate will be required to:
1) Visit schools and attend city, library and school functions as needed;
2) Be available for service over the full two-year term;
3) Write a poem about Benicia that will be placed in a notebook to be available at the library;
4) Write a summation of his/her impressions and experiences as Poet Laureate six months prior to the end of the two-year term, with the purpose of providing information that will help to improve, adjust or adapt the parameters of the post and/or the application process;
5) Give a reading at a special event at the beginning of the two-year term;
6) If deemed appropriate by the committee, and if funding is available, the Poet Laureate may be asked to edit a chapbook consisting of his/her work or of the collected work of Benicia poets.
If the Poet Laureate is not able to complete a full term, the Poet Laureate Committee shall accept applications for a replacement. The replacement Poet Laureate will complete the remaining portion of the two-year term, and, if approved by the Poet Laureate Committee, may serve another term.
An appointed poet laureate who does not fulfill the terms of his or her appointment may be removed by a majority vote of the Poet Laureate Committee.
A Poet Laureate may serve two consecutive terms if approved by the Committee. After a hiatus of at lest two terms, a past Poet Laureate may be reappointed by the Committee.
INDEMNIFICATION: As a condition of submitting an application for the position of Benicia Poet Laureate, the applicant shall agree that he/she will not pursue any legal remedy against the Benicia Public Library Board of Trustees and the City of Benicia, its officials, employees or agents thereof, other than the administrative appeal of the decision of the Poet Laureate Committee to the Board of Trustees, as a result of the application being rejected.
Before assuming the office of Benicia Poet Laureate, the successful applicant must sign an agreement whereby the applicant agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the City of Benicia, its officials, employees and agents and the Benicia Public Library Board of Trustees from any claims, judgments, damages or liability whatsoever, arising out of the fulfillment of the duties of Benicia Poet Laureate. This agreement to indemnify, defend and hold harmless is intended to be comprehensive and shall include, but not be limited to, claims relating to personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, copyright infringement, defamation and invasion of privacy.
INAUGURAL TERM: For the inaugural appointment, November 15, 2005 to November 14, 2007, the Poet Laureate shall be Joel Fallon, in recognition of his standing as a Benicia poet and of the many services he has rendered to poetry in general and to Benicia poets in particular.
Adopted: November 14, 2005
Revised: February 13, 2007

3. Benefits to the City. So what does a Poet Laureate actually do and does it benefit the city? Duties vary of course. Some cities keep their laureate hopping, other cities are more laid back. In the case of Benicia the Poet Laureate supports poetry in the following manner:
a. Yearly:
(1) February (Valentine’s Day). Officiates at reading of love poems honoring an early California romance. The reading takes place at The Benicia Historical Museum. The laureate presents a trophy and plaque to the winner of the annual love poetry competition.
(2) April (National Poetry Month) Hosts annual Poets’ Picnic in the Park. Poets from the region gather to read and listen to poetry and share pot luck picnic lunch.
(3) May (Memorial Day. Reads poetry at ceremony in military cemetery.
(4) Independence Day. Reads poetry at city parade. and reads his own poems and that of a Mexican poet in English to delegates Benicia’s sister city, Tula de Allende, Mexico. The poetry is translated into Spanish for the audience.
(5) Arts in the Park (yearly celebration of the Arts) reads poetry and encourages passersby to write a poem. Their poems are hung in a “Poet Tree” like a Tibetan prayer flags.
b. Monthly:

(1) Benicia Public Library hosts poetry reading. About twenty-five poets attend and read their work. Each poet has an opportunity to read at least two poems. There are no critiques. We socialize, have refreshments and make announcements concerning regional poetry events. This monthly session lasts two hours. Note, the laureate works with a committee to publish an annual chap book featuring the work of regional poets who attend the library readings.
(2) Local Café (Café Voltaire) hosts informal “read around the table” poetry affair. About fifteen poets show up. Each poet has an opportunity to read at least four poems. This venue is less formal than that in the Library. Again, there are no critiques. We socialize, patronize the café, make announcements concerning regional poetry events and buy/sell our chap books. This monthly session lasts two hours.
(3) Veterans’ Home in Yountville, Ca. - reads poetry.
(4) County Library, Fairfield Ca - reads poetry.

c. Weekly: reads at the Sacred Grounds Coffee House in San Francisco, Ca.
d. Occasionally:
(1) Attends meetings and reads poetry at the Ina Coolbrith Poetry Circle, the California Chaparral Poets organization and Archway rehabilitation facility.
(2) Assists poets in developing and publishing chap books.
(3) Judges poetry competition at county fair (Solano County).
(4) Maintains and updates this poetry web site.

There you have it.