Messages

31

General Discussion / Re: Two Further Questions for All EC Candidates

« on: March 02, 2012, 12:49:51 PM »

2) There has been a lot of talk regarding the possibility of PSI events being held within a limited number of host cities.  How do you feel about this idea?  Are your for or against it?  Explain your position.

For many years, I was against PSi grounding events. This was purely a selfish decision. I have been able to travel to cities I never likely would have travelled to all b/c of poetry. More specifically b/c PSi holds 3 yearly events in various cities around the world yearly.

I have given more thought to this possibility over the last 2 years. I see the merit in both grounding the events and continuing to have them rotate yearly. There are pros and cons for each.

I think it would be easier to ground the smaller events than NPS. NPS requires a great deal and I think it would be hard to find a city willing to host it for an extended period of time.

HOWEVER I am willing to do what is in the best financial interest of PSi. It seems like at this point in our 25 year history of slam, that grounding our events might be more beneficial.

"To enhance the perception of literary merit and legitimacy of performance poetry as an art form."
What the above mean to you?  Do you believe that  we are currently successful in the enhancement of perceived literary merit and legitimacy of performance poetry?  If not, what do you, as a member of the EC, hope to do in order to further this process?  Or, for incumbents, what do you see as roadblocks to achieving further literary merit for our art form?  Can you propose a way to circumvent these roadblocks within your next term? 

To me the article is pretty straight forward. PSi wants to show the "world" that performance poetry is a legitimate art form and should be respected as such.

I think PSi has done this by providing 3 national level poetry events yearly. They have established rules for each event that attempt to include the "best" performance poets around the world. The events include workshops that serve to further enhance the writing and performance of those participating and also the community in which the events are held. Another way PSi does this is by mandating that certified/registered slam venue under their purview have 6 slams per season & that their team is not hand selected. There are set guidelines and rules which serve to add legitimacy.

32

General Discussion / Re: Slammaster Access Request Archive

« on: February 28, 2012, 01:55:19 AM »

I see the Slam Masters forum. . .  but can not post. .  and I should be listed

List your name/user name and slam so that Amy can investigate this for you. 

33

General Discussion / Re: Questions for all EC Candidates

« on: February 21, 2012, 11:31:31 AM »

3. How many hours a week do you have available to dedicate to PSI?  And what is your typical availability (days/evenings/weekends)?   

I typically try to spend 1 hour per day on the forums. This time can increase/decrease depending on what I have going on with SlamCharlotte, my contract job, my other volunteer activities, and on what issues are being addressed in the forums. My availability varies daily. I typically do not dedicate a lot of time to the forums during the weekend since officially the EC is not in session then. 
 

2. What experience do you have with non-profit organizations - as an employee, as a volunteer, as a board member?  I am especially interested in hearing about experience working with non-profit ARTS organizations, but I do think that all of your professional experience is relevant.

Every Social Work/Human Service job I've had since 1994 has been for a non-profit agency. I have extensive volunteer experience with non-profits. I currently serve on the board of 2 poetry related non-profit organizations. SlamCharlotte's fiscal agent/governing organization is also a non-profit.

 4.  What would you most like to see changed about PSI? 

The fact that we don't have a full time grant writer.

What would you most like to see preserved?

The system we currently have in place that allows slammaster/members to create policies to help grow PSi. I love the fact that the board is made up of members and that they are the people who are entrusted to enforce/create rules.
 

1. "The mission of Poetry Slam Incorporated (PSI) is to promote the performance and creation of poetry while cultivating literary activities and spoken word events in order to build audience participation, stimulate creativity, awaken minds, foster education, inspire mentoring, encourage artistic statement and engage communities worldwide in the revelry of language."

How do you plan to help this organization grow and accomplish this mission?  Please be specific. 

I plan to help PSi accomplish it's mission by continuing to help develop policies/rules that enhance the events we currently have in place, seeking opportunities to better them by always looking to see what other organizations are doing and how they are accomplishing their success, being available to the membership when they have questions, serving as a mentor to poetry venues as needed, and being a leader in my own poetry community.   

34

General Discussion / Re: Questions for all EC Candidates

« on: February 21, 2012, 10:55:02 AM »

In recent years, concerns have been raised about the safety of the female members of our community while attending (and traveling to/from) events. What actions have you taken (or policies have you enacted) at your home venue to address these issues?

Charlotte thankfully has not encountered issues where the safety of our slam participants have been put at risk. Currently we don't have specific policies in place to address this issue. The venue that we have our events at has on site security and there are police that patrol the area on a regular basis since we are in the Uptown area.

What actions do you plan to take/ suggest on the national level to address this growing concern?

On the national level, I would strongly urge EVERYONE to utilize the buddy system. Attempt to stay in areas that have sufficient lighting and people around when possible. I would also urge everyone to be aware of their surroundings, don't walk and text or talk on the phone, & limit alcohol/other mood altering substances.

Have you previously volunteered for PSI? If yes, in what capacity?

I have volunteered at a PSi event every year since 2004. I have served as score keeper, time keeper, and host city coordinator.

If you are not elected to the EC, (how) will you continue to work for the ideas/ platform you are running on? Be specific. It would be more telling if you desrcibed actions you'd be willing to take as non-EC members than philosophies.

I have been involved in organizing/poetry since 2002. My love for the arts was cultivated long before I became an EC member. If I am not re-elected to serve the poetry community through PSi, I will still continue working as the Artistic Director/Co-slammaster for SlamCharlotte.  I will continue working to enhance poetry in Charlotte. I will still continue my forum presence to stay informed about issues/happenings in the poetry community.

35

General Discussion / Re: How To Contact PSi- WOWPS

« on: February 21, 2012, 07:22:43 AM »

Hi,

Just noticed that Abigail is on maternity leave and need to talk someone immediately about WOW rep for Greensboro/Piedmont and storm info.  Please email me at poetshe7@gmail. com.  Also several of us had problems processing credit card payments. 


Khalisa Williams

Abbey is on maternity leave but she is back in the office with a limited schedule. Please email her your concerns.

36

General Discussion / Re: Inkera Oshun running for re-election on the EC

« on: February 17, 2012, 09:45:46 AM »

Inkera, can you share some of your ideas/goals for the future? I know you're in a slightly different position from the people running for the first time, but I'd like to know what your priorities are.

I acknowledge that I have seen this question. I am wrapping up the NPS 2012 site visit and SlamCharlotte has 3 events this weekend. I will detail my priorities out and post them at the top of the week.

37

General Discussion / Re: Questions for all EC Candidates

« on: February 17, 2012, 09:44:16 AM »

I acknowledge that I have seen these questions. I am wrapping up the NPS 2012 site visit and SlamCharlotte has 3 events this weekend. I will work on answers for these questions and plan to post them at the top of the week.

38

General Discussion / Re: Inkera Oshun running for re-election on the EC

« on: February 16, 2012, 12:06:32 PM »

I'm unsure where you have collected your attendance reports from but stating the last 4 of 6 PSi events have been poorly attended is not entirely true.

The last 2 WOWps events were very well attended. Columbus did a great job with both years.

Please take time to consider the fact that Charlotte was given iWPS in August of 2010 for an event that occurred in Dec. That means we had 3.5 months to pull the event off. The host city worked hard to make the event enjoyable for all involved. It was heartbreaking to see PSi lose money but at the end of the day, the Charlotte host city is honored that we were able to help ensure the event happened and that the people who did attend enjoyed themselves.

We have already identified that there were numerous roadblocks in Cleveland. We know that the event was not well attended. There were a number of things that the host city could have done differently. We learn from our shortfalls.

I am part of a team on the EC. Which means I don't change or create policy alone. That is the beauty of the EC, we realize that there is no "I" in team. Every decision made doesn't mean we will all agree with them, but what it does mean is that we continue to work toward betterment for the organization.

I "deserve" to be re-elected not b/c I have done any one thing. It is the collective giving of my time, my willingness to ask the hard questions, to fight for the poetry family, to help create policy that ties into the overall good of all poetry communities, & the realization that whether I'm in the trenches or in a position of power, the work is just as important.

Hope this answers your questions.

39

General Discussion / Re: Inkera Oshun running for re-election on the EC

« on: February 12, 2012, 10:09:06 PM »

Jesse, Scott, & Henry~You guys have taught me so much. I'm still learning and thankful for the experience.

40

General Discussion / Re: EC Openings, candidates, etc.

« on: February 12, 2012, 01:28:22 AM »

I just posted my intentions to run for re-election on the EC.

41

General Discussion / Inkera Oshun running for re-election on the EC

« on: February 12, 2012, 01:19:17 AM »

I am currently the Artistic Director, Co-Slammaster, and number one fan for SlamCharlotte, one of the slam teams in Charlotte NC.

I don’t consider myself to be poet but I am a lover of poetry, good people, warm spirits and rain showers. I find solace in volunteering and helping others.

My love affair with PSi started in 2004 at the first iWPS in Greenville SC. Since then, I have volunteered at a PSi event every year.
I served as co-organizer for iWPS 2006, 2008, 2010 and currently for NPS 2012. I served as co-organizer for the Southern Fried Regional Poetry Slam in 2005 and I currently serve as the Assistant-Tournament Director.

I became a member of the EC in 2006 as the iWPS host city coordinator. I served for a year and was re-elected as a trustee at the end of 2007 and have served on the EC since then. I am currently the Treasurer and a member of the PSi Finance Committee.

I have enjoyed my tenure on the EC and feel that I have helped create policies and procedures that further serve to strengthen the organization. I am excited about the work the EC past/present have put in place and would love to help further develop the mission of the organization.

If it is the will of the Slammasters, I would love to continue serving PSi and the poetry community through my service on the Executive Council.

42

General Discussion / Re: 2012 Women of the World Information

« on: February 06, 2012, 10:46:30 AM »

What sorts of things do we need to be ready to vote on?  This question is obviously for new slams.  Or does this deserve it's own thread?

This definitely should be in a new thread. Scott will post a call for agenda items.

43

General Discussion / Re: 2012 Women of the World Information

« on: January 23, 2012, 11:54:15 AM »

We'd like to register but won't know our poet coming to WoW until Feb. 1. How did we register in the meantime to ensure a spot?

You would need to register through the PSi store and list the venue rep as TBD as Suzi Q indicated. Please be sure to inform Abbey as soon as you determine who your rep is.

44

General Discussion / Re: Slammaster Access Request Archive

« on: November 10, 2011, 03:59:58 PM »

They would both still need their own profile. Amy would just add the co-slammaster to the forum with read only access.

45

General Discussion / Re: Slammaster Access Request Archive

« on: November 10, 2011, 01:03:01 PM »

Dave, Mike has the access as he is the SlamMaster. I'd suggest that you two come up with a login and password so you both can see the site since you are the CoSlamMaster.

Posted in the Slammaster's forum

Please add Dave Stanley as Slam Master for Fort Worth to this list serv