The California State Poetry Society (CSPS) is a non-profit state-level

poetry Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

association in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, affiliated with the

National Federation of State Poetry Societies The National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Inc. (NFSPS) is a national organization of state poetry societies in the United States. It was established in 1959 and now includes affiliates in 32 U.S. states. The federation hosts conferences a ...

. The organization promotes poetry, conducts monthly and annual contests, organizes periodic conferences, and awards an annual Pushcart Prize for outstanding work published in the ''California Quarterly'' journal.

History

The California State Poetry Society was established in 1971 by a group of poets who met on the beach near the

San Luis Obispo ; ; ; Chumashan languages, Chumash: ''tiłhini'') is a city and county seat of San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Located on the Central Coast (California), Central Coast of California, San Luis Obispo is roughly halfway betwee ...

campus of the

California Polytechnic State University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or Cal Poly) is a public university in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States, - Cites the location of the university and shows that the university ...

. Nelle Fertig and Vivian Way Bonine were members of NFSPS and recommended establishing a chapter affiliated with the national poetry organization. The constitution was approved on November 20, 1976, and the organization was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) California nonprofit corporation on August 14, 1985. The Society's mission is to promote poetry and art in California and around the world, and donor generosity ensures the quality of its publications. CSPS is the official state organization representing California to the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS).

Activities

CSPS has published the ''California Quarterly'' journal since the fall of 1972, a quality poetry journal that accepts submissions from California poets and some from outside the state. Issues are normally 64 pages, perfect bound and with a glossy cover, and the archives of the journal are kept in the

California State Library The California State Library is the state library of the State of California, founded in 1850 by the California State Legislature. The Library collects, preserves, generates and disseminates a wide array of information. Today, it is the central ...

Sacramento Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...

. The CSPS also publishes a ''Poetry Letter'', the ''Strophes'' and ''Newsbriefs''. The organization conducts events, an annual contest and monthly contests, as well as organizing periodic conferences, and awards the annual Pushcart Prize for outstanding work published in the journal.

References

External links

*{{Official , https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.org Poetry organizations based in the United States Literary societies 1971 establishments in the United States Non-profit organizations based in California 501(c)(3) organizations