PLANET EARTH POETRY READING SERIES SOCIETY

Between 15 and 20 volunteers run the society and support the Artistic Director in their endeavors. This is a constant and varied kind of participation based on interests skills and availability. A volunteer board meets every two months. There are also regular meetings with the volunteer BEES who assist the Artistic Director with a variety of activities: coordinating regular readings contests workshops retreats posters website technical assistance grant writing and shepherding visiting poets. Ongoing programs: - Weekly Friday Night poetry readings in person (with Zoom livestream) including an open mic and two paid featured readers (free to attend donations accepted but not required). Series runs from September to June with between 20-70 attendees per night including in person attendees and Zoom attendees from across BC Canada and some from other countries. - Periodic in-depth workshops and retreats led by professional poets; open registration with fees that cover venue rental and workshop leader honorarium. Bursaries to cover the cost for indigenous poets. PEP supplies and maintains a collection of poetry books which are freely available to the public. We collaborate with the Victoria Festival of Authors to present an evening of poetry during the annual festival. We are actively collaborating with The Victoria Writers society and the Victoria Art Council for special events for sharing volunteers and booking poets on tours. - One summer poets picnic event held in a local park sharing poetry in the open air. - Creation and maintenance of an interactive digital archive of Vancouver Island poets which can be viewed on our YouTube channel or on a Google Earth map (now including over 40 poets; poets and videographer are paid for their contributions the results are free and open to the public) - Weekly newsletters sent to a list of over 500 subscribers informing of local poetry events. The newsletter has long been a lifeline between writers and literary groups. It gives dates special occasions such as book launches contests submissions and collaborative events. - Maintaining a website (planetearthpoetry.com) and social media presence to connect poets and inform them of PEP activities - Monthy Writing Practice co-writing sessions held on Zoom free to attend led by poets who have been featured in our reading series.