IOWA FALLS, IOWA (September 23, 2020) — The Iowa Poetry Association will soon release its 75th Anniversary Edition of Lyrical Iowa, the annual anthology comprised of poems by Iowa writers of all ages. Within the pages of this year's Lyrical Iowa, poems explore myriad experiences of anniversaries, life, death, love, and joy while taking the reader on nuanced emotional and spiritual journeys, some gentle, others less so — a trek from old bra hooks for repairing turtle shells to a child's big and beautiful world where we must not litter, all while running past Zeus and dragons along the way. Also included is a history of the organization by Lucille Morgan Wilson (past Editor), appreciated for her decades of dedicated service and personal commitment. Also included is a Foreword by Iowa's Poet Laureate, Debra Marquart, who has supported IPA throughout the years, also serving several times as critic at their biannual workshops. This anthology features 329 poems chosen from 1,719 entries in their contest held earlier this year. Entries came from 139 towns in 75 of Iowa's 99 counties, sent by persons ranging in age from kindergartners to near-centenarians. [Editors: See list of contest winners on reverse; also enclosed for your convenience is a listing by county of winners and poets to be published in this year's anthology.]
The Iowa Poetry Association has over 350 members across the state, but membership is not a requirement for having poetry included in the anthology. Besides those awarded cash prizes for top-ranking poems in each category and age-level, many others are showcased in this perfect-bound 172-page book with a full-color cover. The non-profit organization's mission is to promote interest in and appreciation of poetry among Iowans through educational opportunities, poetry writing contests and the publication of an annual anthology of Iowa poetry. Besides sponsoring the annual contests, IPA offers two workshops each year, held in Des Moines and plans to add monthly virtual mini-workshops in 2021.
Association board officers are: Jerrold J Narland of Winterset, President; Max Molleston of Coralville, 1st Vice-President; Maxine Carlson of Iowa City, 2nd Vice-President and Historian; Margaret Westvold of Ames, Secretary; Linda S Harris of Altoona,Treasurer; Shelly Reed Thieman of West Des Moines as Communications Officer; Dawn Sly-Terpstra of Lynnville, Workshop Coordinator; Rodney Reeves of Burlington, Nominations; and Marilyn J Baszczynski of Earlham, Editor and Contest Chair.
For the Lyrical Iowa Competition 2021, entries may be sent January 1-February 28, 2021. Please consult the complete contest rules for adult, college, high-school, and grade-school entries on our website at www.iowapoetry.com. The contest will be announced in all print newspapers in January, in public libraries through their newsletters, and a direct mailing is being sent to public and private schools across the state. There is no entry fee and modest cash prizes are offered.
Due to the continuing spread of COVID-19 and concerns regarding large gatherings, the Iowa Poetry Association has decided to postpone celebrating its 75th Anniversary until October 23-24, 2021; updates will be posted on our website at www.iowapoetry.com. A new category for 'Poems of the Pandemic' will be included in the 2021 contest.
While the supply lasts, books may be ordered from the editor. Cost is $10 per copy (plus shipping) to anywhere in the United States. Books from some previous years are also available. See our website for more info or contact the Editor at ipa@iowapoetry.com.
Winners of LYRICAL IOWA COMPETITION 2020
ADULT CONTEST RESULTS:
GENERAL: JUDGE: William Reyer, Tiffin, OH (717 entries)
1st — Heather Ann Clark; Winterset
2nd — Jayne Vondrak; Kingsley
3rd — Mary Shaw; Indianola
1st HM — Jean C Conover; Mapleton
2nd HM — Kathy Ann Kelly; Dubuque
3rd HM — Maxine Carlson: Iowa City
SPECIAL AWARD FIRST-TIME ENTRANT:
Kelli Lage; Sheffield
SONNETS: JUDGE: Ralph Speer, Colbert WA (29 entries)
1st — Allison Berryhill; Atlantic
2nd — Erik Trilk; Marion
3rd — Ethel Barker; Iowa City
1st HM — Laura Sohl-Cryer; Cedar Falls
2nd HM — Gene M Rohr; Grinnell
3rd HM — Linda Wolfe; Greenfield
HAIKU: JUDGE: Stan Malless, Murphy, NC (124 entries)
1st — Roberta Beach Jacobson; Indianola
2nd — Patricia E Noeth; Iowa City
3rd — Richard Ramsey; Des Moines
1st HM — Tracy Edens; Iowa City
2nd HM — Olivia Luhring; Iowa Falls
3rd HM — Lori Culbertson Harris; Cedar Falls
NATIONAL/WORLD EVENTS: JUDGE: Christine Boldt, Temple, TX (35 entries)
1st — Carol Tyx; Iowa City
2nd — Lynn Cavanagh; Grinnell
3rd — Sharon Witty; Marshalltown
1st HM — William Hudson; Davenport
2nd HM — Wally Moll; Urbandale
3rd HM — Anna Nicholas; Cedar Falls
FOR CHILDREN: JUDGE: Lisa Toth Salinas, Spring, TX (56 entries)
1st — Jan Blankenburg; Donnellson
2nd — Janet Gilchrist; Douds
3rd — Milli Gilbaugh; Iowa City
1st HM — Michelle Turner; Maquoketa
2nd HM — Valrie Schuster; Shell Rock
3rd HM — Jeffrey Meyer; Mount Pleasant
HUMOROUS: JUDGE: Peter Stein, Minneapolis, MN (25 entries)
1st — Madison Bolin; Ankeny
2nd — Bill Simmons; Carroll
3rd — Bill Woodhouse; Des Moines
1st HM — Jane Chamberlain Olsasky; Des Moines
2nd HM — Mary Jedlicka Humston; Iowa City
3rd HM — Lori Shannon; Manning
SPECIAL 75th ANNIVERSARY AWARD: JUDGE: Julie Cummings, Conifer, CO (34 entries)
1st — Shelly Reed Thieman; West Des Moines
1st HM — Melinda Putnam; Clinton
2nd HM — Rebecca Whitmore; Muscatine
3rd HM — Joe Millard; West Des Moines
SCHOOL DIVISION RESULTS:
COLLEGE: JUDGE: Michael Carrino, Plattsburgh, NY (28 entries)
1st — Hannah Adams, Sheboygan, WI, Dordt University
2nd — Sarai Cortes, Alden, IA, Ellsworth Community College
3rd — Rebecca Bishop, Nichols, IA, Muscatine College
1st HM — Alicia Bonestroo, George, IA, Dordt University
2nd HM — Anneliese Donstad, Tomball, TX, Dordt University
3rd HM — Kailey Schmidt, Cedar Falls, IA, UNI
HIGH SCHOOL: JUDGE: Linda Newman Woito, Middleton, WI (251 entries)
1st — Noah Taylor, Gr 9, Holmes Junior HS, Cedar Falls
2nd — Charlotte Harwood, Gr 11, Dubuque Sr HS, Dubuque
3rd — Ainsley Wolford, Gr 11, St Albert HS, Council Bluffs
1st HM — Ida Bonkafo, Gr 10, Valley HS, WDM
2nd HM — Megan Szalay, Gr 12, Dowling Catholic, WDM
3rd HM — Ana Welge, Gr 11, Valley HS, WDM
UPPER GRADES (6-8): JUDGE: Budd Powell Mahan, Dallas TX (281 entries)
1st — Maggie Vandyk, Gr 6, Gilbert MS, Gilbert
2nd — Lauren Carney, Gr 8, Aplington Parkersburg MS, Aplington
3rd — Alyse Beyer, Gr 6, Gilbert MS Gilbert
1st HM — Ada Switzer, Gr 7, Aplington Parkersburg MS, Aplington
2nd HM — Bethany Van Dyke, Gr 6, Boone MS, Boone
3rd HM — Mya Randall, Gr 6,Gilbert MS, Gilbert
LOWER GRADES (K-5): JUDGE: Budd Powell Mahan, Dallas TX (139 entries)
1st — Sophia Tacke, Gr 4, Kinsey Elementary, Sioux Center
2nd — Eva Balmer, Gr 2, Helen Lemme Elem, Iowa City
3rd — Sage Williamson, Gr 4, Sawyer Elementary, Ames
1st HM — Anya Adcock, Gr 4, Fellows Elementary, Ames
2nd HM — Elizabeth Fletchall, Gr 4, North Polk Central Elementary, Alleman
3rd HM — Lucia Rodriguez, Gr 4, Edwards Elementary, Ames
Some student poems entered in the 2020 contest will be selected to be sent to next year's National Student Award.
Iowa Poetry Association-Lyrical Iowa Competition 2020-Counties
(All poets listed have one poem selected for publication. If a poem won in a category, rank, and category follow name.)
ADAIR: Linda Wolfe, Greenfield — 3rd HM — Sonnets
ADAMS: Robert Becker, Corning
ALLAMAKEE: Sarah M King, Waukon
BENTON: Jan Logan. Van Horne
BLACK HAWK: Janine Ambrose, Waterloo; Betsy Brant, Cedar Falls; Barbara Cardamon, Cedar Falls; Alex Entz, Cedar Falls; Phyllis H Frazier, Cedar Falls; Paul Gibson, Cedar Falls; Lori C Harris, Cedar Falls; Susan Klein, Waterloo; Mary Martin Lane, Waterloo; Anna Nicholas, Cedar Falls — 3rd HM — National/World Events; Shanna Pikora, Waterloo; Delia Ralston, Waterloo; Laura Sohl-Cryer, Cedar Falls — 1st HM — Sonnets; Del Todey Turner, Waterloo; Barbara Brooks Wheeler, Cedar Falls
SCHOOL: Kailey Schmidt, 3rd HM College, UNI, Cedar Falls; Noah Taylor — 1st Place High School, Gr 9, Holmes Jr HS, Cedar Falls
BOONE: Angela Olney, Boone; Gabriella Piconi, Boone
SCHOOL: Bethany Van Dyke — 2nd HM Upper Grades, Gr 6, Boone MS, Boone; Teagan Francis, Gr 6, Boone MS, Boone
BREMER: ; Jill Lockey, Janesville
BUCHANAN: Michael Andorf, Brandon; Myrna Sandvik, Brandon; Lisa Ross Thedens, Walker
BUENA VISTA: Patricia Kearney Moe, Albert City
BUTLER: Valrie Schuster, Shell Rock — 2nd HM Poems for Children
SCHOOL: Lauren Carney — 2nd Place, Upper Grades, Gr 8, Aplington Parkersburg MS, Aplington; Sophia Nigro, Gr 7, Aplington Parkersburg MS; Ada Switzer — 1st HM Upper Grades, Gr 7, Aplington Parkersburg MS
CALHOUN: Marylyn L. Gillespie, Lake City
CARROLL: Karen Schulz, Carroll; Lori Shannon, Manning — 3rd HM — Humorous Verse; Bill Simmons, Carroll — 2nd Place Humorous Verse
CASS: Allison Berryhill, Atlantic — 1st Place Sonnets; Floyd Pearce, Cumberland; Alma Tallman, Atlantic
SCHOOL: Eleanor McCalla, Gr 9, Atlantic HS, Atlantic; Alexis Peterson, Gr 9, Atlantic HS, Atlantic
CEDAR: Bonnie Balluff Hanlin, West Branch; Sandra L Green, Tipton
CERRO GORDO: Karen Carr, Barbara O'Donnell, Carole Pannhoff, Norma T Schroeder, and Rick Sears, all of Mason City
CHEROKEE: Tyler Hahn, Cherokee
CLARKE: Ellen G Danner, Woodburn; Beverly Mattix Green, Murray
CLAY: Janis Myers, Spencer
CLAYTON: LaVonne Augustson, Elkader; Lee L Gordon, Marquette; Dean W Schultz, Clayton
CLINTON: Shea Doyle, DeWitt; Melinda J Putman, Clinton — 1st HM Anniversary; Jill ZImmerman, DeWitt
DALLAS: Edy Fudge, Clive; Joe Millard, Waukee — 3rd HM Anniversary; Rita F Reed, Waukee
DELAWARE: Rita Lewin, Manchester
DES MOINES: Kathy Geren Christy, West Burlington; Ronald Kahl, Burlington; Rodney Reeves, Burlington
DICKINSON: Roger Brockshus, Spirit Lake; Crystal Cross, Spirit Lake; Sandra Conner Ladegaard, Arnolds Park; Terry Overocker, Milford
DUBUQUE: William Dall, Dubuque; Linda Dolphin, Dubuque; Kathy Ann Kelly, Dubuque — 2nd HM Adult General; Robert Shaw, Dubuque; Susan Swift, Dubuque
SCHOOL: Charlotte Harwood — 2nd Place High School, Gr 11, Dubuque Sr HS, Dubuque
FAYETTE: Mary Jane Lamphier, Arlington; Angela Smith, Arlington
FLOYD: Patricia A Huxsol, Charles City
FRANKLIN: Kelli Lage, Sheffield — Special Award for First-Time Entrant; Melba Muhlenbruch, Hampton; Margaret Flint Suter, Hampton
GREENE: Gerald W (Jed) Magee, Jefferson; Hollie Roberts, Jefferson; Jerry Roberts, Jefferson
GRUNDY: LeAnnHoeg, Grundy Center
GUTHRIE: Margery L Watts, Stuart
HAMILTON: Margot Conard, Stratford
HARDIN: Angelina Flanagan, Iowa Falls; Olivia Luhring, Iowa Falls — 2nd HM Haiku; MeLinda Ogaard, Iowa Falls; Sadie Pfantz, Hubbard; Bailey Primus, Steamboat Rock; Kathryn Jons Roelfsema, Iowa Falls; Samara Senn, Alden
SCHOOL: Sarai Cortes — 2nd Place College, Ellsworth Community College, Iowa Falls
HENRY: Vicky Dovenspike, Salem; Cleo McKim, Mount Pleasant; Jeffrey Meyer, Mt Pleasant — 3rd HM — Poems For Children
HOWARD: Marjorie Dohlman, Riceville
HUMBOLDT: Chris Schultz, Humboldt
IOWA: John Snethen, Williamsburg
JACKSON: Michelle Turner, Maquoketa — 1st HM Poems for Children
SCHOOL: Renee Cook, 4th gr, Briggs Elementary, Maquoketa
JASPER: Allison Bartholmey, Colfax; William P Riddle, Colfax; Dawn Terpstra, Lynnville; Pat Underwood, Colfax
JEFFERSON: John W Collinson, BIll Graeser, and Rustin Larson, all of Fairfield
JOHNSON: Janvier Abramowitz, Coralville; Thomas Georgou, Coralville; Tom Gingerich, Kalona; Patrick Hanson, North Liberty; Carole Johnston, Sergeant Bluff; Douglas L Miller, Solon; Frann Ostroff, Coralville; Linda E Paul, North Liberty; Karen Schmitt, Solon; Richard K. Wallarab, Coralville; and Danielle Zimmerman, Coralville
IOWA CITY — Ethel Barker — 3rd Place Sonnets; Phil Beck, Jo Ann Benda, and Maxine Carlson — 3rd HM Adult General; Sequoia Crooks, Sofia Dibble, Tracy Edens, 1st HM — Haiku; Kay R Eginton, Laura Felleman, and Milli Gilbaugh — 3rd Place Poems for Children; Keith Guess, Mary Jedlicka Humston — 2nd HM — Humorous Verse; Patricia E Noeth - 2nd Place Haiku; Denise Roth, Larry Schroeder, Carol Tyx — 1st Place National/World Events; and Christina Zinkgraf
SCHOOL: Eva Balmer — 2nd Place Lower Grades, Gr 2, Helen Lemme Elementary, Iowa City; Kyros Yuefan Wu, Gr 4, Van Allen Elem, North Liberty
JONES: Rebecca DeWitte, Anamosa
KEOKUK: Joy Lyle, Keota; Levi Lyle, Keota
KOSSUTH: Eleanor Stenzel, Burt
LEE: Jan Blankenburg, Donnellson — 1st Place Poems for Children; Matthew Faulkner, Ft Madison; Kathleen U Hart, Ft Madison; Zachary Taylor Knox, Ft Madison; Marty Miller, Donnellson; Linda M Nash, Ft Madison
LINN: Lloyd E Brockmeyer, Cedar Rapids; Karen Kladivo, Mount Vernon; Joan Daily Rammelsberg, Marion; Marie Sullivan, Cedar Rapids; Erik Trilk, Marion — 2nd Place Sonnets
LOUISA: Carolyn Yates Reid, Letts
LYON: Judy A Gustafson, Rock Rapids; Gwendolyn Jacob, Rock Rapids; Betty Medema, Rock Rapids; Mary Peterson, Rock Rapids, Sally J Young, Little Rock
MADISON: Heather Ann Clark — 1st Place Adult General; Kathy Meyer, Jerrold Narland and Maggie Ripperger All of Winterset
MAHASKA: Jared Pearce, Oskaloosa
SCHOOL: DeShawn Stepter, 11th gr, Oskaloosa HS, Oslaloosa
MARION: Jay Immel, Knoxville
MARSHALL: Pauline Borton, State Center; Rose EM Elsbecker, Marshalltown; Les McCargar, Gilman; Sharon Witty — 3rd Place National/World Events
SCHOOL: Emma Allen, Gr 8, West Marshall MS, State Center
MILLS: Lisa Markuson, Glenwood
MITCHELL: Margaret Smolik, Osage; Kathleen Stauffer, Osage; Bryan Tabbert, St Ansgar
MONONA: Jean C Conover, Mapleton — 1st HM Adult General
MUSCATINE: Pat Bieber; Duffy De France; Mike Fladlien; Carol Hetzler; Annette Matjucha Hovland; Misty Urban: Rebecca Whitmore — 2nd HM Anniversary; All of Muscatine
SCHOOL: Rebecca Bishop — 3rd Place College, Muscatine Community College, Muscatine
O'BRIEN: Josie Hibbing, Hartley; Nancy J Peters, Sheldon; Carolyn Rohrbaugh, Sutherland; Betty Taylor, Hartley
SCHOOL: Lily Hofman, 3rd Place — Upper Grades, 8th gr, Sanborn Christian School, Sanborn
Rianne Van Meeteren and Adelle Wolfswinkel, both in 8th gr, Sanborn Christian School, Sanborn
PLYMOUTH: Ranelle Irwin, Kingsley; Jayne R Vondrak, Kingsley — 2nd Place Adult General; Janet A Wiener, Le Mars
POLK:
ANKENY — Joyce Allen; Madison Bolin — 1st Place Humorous Verse; Mary Bolin; Teresa Lawler, Dorothy Mathis, Merle E Newman, and Robert Steinbach
CLIVE — JoAnn Meyer
DES MOINES —
50309 Kelsey Bigelow
50310 Beverly Boal, Frank Kutchen, Virginia Mortenson, Richard R Ramsey — 3rd Place — Haiku
50311 Sandy Deyoe, Jan Gipple, and Bill Woodhouse — 3rd Place Humorous Verse
50312 Phoebe Bubendorfer, Jeff Grimes, Jean Kitzmiller, and Jane C Olsasky — 1st HM Humorous Verse; Lucy Ringold and Linda Shivvers
50314 Val Weaver
50317 Jenny Parker, Virginia Westbrook, and Mike Wilson
50320 Ashton Jordan
50321 Alanna Clutter and Ginny Padden
50322 Rosella Myles and Lucille Morgan Wilson
GRIMES — Mary L Permann
JOHNSTON — Shelly Jones Clark and Angela Evans
PLEASANT HILL — Tim Grover
URBANDALE — Elaine Erickson, Mary E McManus, Judy Nolan, Debi Schmitz Noriega, and Wally Moll — 2nd HM National/World Events
WEST DES MOINES — Jill Curry, John Mitchell, Lindsey Smith, and Shelly Reed Thieman — 1st Place Anniversary and Kenneth Vierck
SCHOOL: Ida Bonkafo — 1st HM High School, Gr 19, Valley HS, West Des Moines
Megan Szalay — 2nd HM High School, Gr 12, Dowling Catholic HS, West Des Moines
Ana Welge — 3rd HM High School, Gr 11, Valley HS, West Des Moines
Elizabeth Fletchall — 2nd HM Lower Grades, Gr 4, North Polk Central Elementary, Alleman
Also published: Colin Recker, Gr 12, Dowling Catholic HS, WDM; Riley Baldus, Gr 10, Kaua'i Cua, Gr.10, Vidya Iyer, Gr 11, Sammantha Kluver, Gr 12, Raneen Rheem, Gr 9, all in Valley HS, WDM; Bella Rivera, Gr 11, Ankeny Centennial HS, Ankeny; Hazel Engelbrecht and Bret McDowell, both Gr 7, Bondurant-Farrar MS, Bondurant; Greta Dillinger, Gr 7, North Polk MS, Alleman; Hayden Ocheltree, Paizley Sandbulte, and Brooklyn Volz, all in Gr 4, North Polk Central Elementary, Alleman; Vivienne Farrington, Kindergarten, Home School, WDM
POTTAWATTAMIE: Ann C Coombs, Marvin D Vallier, and Robert D Wambold of Council Bluffs
SCHOOL: Ainsley Wolford — 3rd Place High School, Gr 11, St Albert Schools, Council Bluffs
Also published: Anna Helton, Gr 9, Ayleth Jauregui-Vargas, Gr 8, Makenna Shepard, Gr 11, all at St Albert Catholic Schools, Council Bluffs
POWESHIEK: Patricia Buck, Grinnell; Lynn Cavanagh, Grinnell — 2nd Place National/World Events; Sue Drake,, Grinnell; Jan Gross, Grinnell; Laura Ostrem, Montezuma; Warren R Reinecke, Grinnell; Gene R Rohr, Grinnell — 2nd HM Sonnets
SAC: Marcia Haakenson, Lake View
SCOTT: Mike Bayles, Davenport; Joe Chambers, Davenport; Adriene Egger, Davenport; H Randall Hengst II, Bettendorf; William E Hudson, Davenport — 1st HM National/World Events; Dick Stahl, Davenport
SIOUX: Vincent DeGroot, Sioux Center; Rachel Kramer Hibma, Sioux Center; Nancy Riggan, Orange City; Lynn Wielenga, Hull
SCHOOL: Hannah Adams — 1st Place College ; Dordt University, Sioux City
Alicia Bonestroo — 1st HM College; Dordt University, Sioux City
Anneliese Donstad — 2nd HM College; Dordt University, Sioux City
Sophia Tacke — 1st Place Lower Grades, Gr.4, Kinsey Elementary, Sioux Center
Also published: Erika Buiter, Dordt University, Sioux City; Edwin Buiter, Gr.11, Unity Christian HS, Orange City
STORY: Andrea Dorn, Nevada; Stephen E Leach, Huxley
AMES — Mary Louise Berhow, David M Gradwohl, Phyllis IT Harris, Lorene Hoover, Ann Chukharev Hudilainen, Diana Laird, Kathleen Russell, Crystal Stone, Janis Stone, Audrey Stromberg, and Maggie Westvold
SCHOOL: Maggie Vandyk, 1st Place, Upper Grades, Gr 6, Gilbert MS, Gilbert;
Alyse Beyer, 3rd Place, Upper Grades, Gr 6, Gilbert MS, Gilbert;
Mya Randall, 3rd HM, Upper Grades, Gr 6, Gilbert MS, Gilbert;
Sage Williamson, 3rd Place Lower Grades, Gr 4, Sawyer Elementary, Ames;
Anya Adcock, 1st HM, Lower Grades, Gr 4, Fellows Elementary, Ames;
Lucia Rodriguez, 3rd HM Lower Grades, Gr 4, Edwards Elementary, Ames;
Also published: Vivien Ginder, Gr 4, Fellows Elementary, Ames; Alex Mudryk, Gr 4, Edwards Elementary, Ames; Naya Nakama, Gr 3, Sawyer Elementary, Ames; Lucy Stegemoller, Gr 5, Edwards Elementary, Ames; Dania Tahir, Gr 5, Edwards Elementary, Ames; Tiffany Zhou, Gr 3, Edwards Elementary, Ames.
TAYLOR:
SCHOOL: Hayleigh Vinzant, Gr 10, Bedford Community HS, Bedford
UNION: Joan Jessen Waske, Afton
VAN BUREN: Janet E Gilchrist, Douds — 2nd Place Poems for Children; Dale Netherton, Farmington
WAPELLO: Emily Randolph, Ottumwa
WARREN: Stephen Brayton, Carlisle; Julie Sharp Emmons, Norwalk; Roberta Beach Jacobson, Indianola — 1st Place Haiku; Julie Allyn Johnson, Norwalk; Marjorie W Moore, Indianola; Lynn Robbins, Norwalk; Steve Rose, Indianola; Mary Shaw, Indianola — 3rd Place Adult General
WASHINGTON: Erin Cavanagh, Wellman
WEBSTER: Martha J Christians, Lehigh
WINNESHIEK: JoAn N Stevenson, Decorah; Jean Thompson, Decorah
WORTH: Helen J Thoen, Manly
WRIGHT: James Roth, Eagle Grove
ABOUT THE IOWA POETRY ASSOCIATION We were founded in 1945. Membership and contests are restricted to Iowa residents (see rules for student exceptions). We are a not-for-profit organization. We are affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies and with the Academy of American Poets. Editorial staff: Marilyn J Baszczynski, editor-in-chief; Steven Rose and Crystal Stone, associate adult editors; Rustin Larson, college editor; Joy Lyle, high-school editor; and Della Weems, grade school editor.
