Cultural Council · April 13, 2026 · 6:30 PM
Poet Laureate Support Committee Meeting
The committee will discuss recent and planned Poet Laureate activities including Poem A Palooza, outreach events such as the StoryWalk at Amesbury Public Library, and coordination around the ACC Amesbury Poetry Month webpage, Creative Haverhill River Bards anthology celebration, and the Gathering of Verses contest.
occurred Agenda PDF Minutes AI Summary
Key decisions
Matthew Cockreham volunteered to take notes for the meeting.
Confirmed Poem‑A‑Palooza (formerly Poetry in the Pines) will be held Saturday April 25, 4–7 PM at the Whittier Home (Anne Ferguson opening the venue).
Confirmed promotional materials for Poem‑A‑Palooza show the correct event time.
Bryan Riley will inquire with Stop & Shop about donating snack trays for Poem‑A‑Palooza.
Karaoke Night fundraiser planned to take place at BareWolf Brewing; Bryan Riley to contact BareWolf to secure a date (targeting July) and to seek a DJ volunteer.
Flatbread fundraiser planning to be pursued for 2027; Bryan Riley will look into event date options.
Discussed an "Evening with the Poets" event to be held at the Amesbury Cultural Center with Amesbury Community Television recording; date TBD and August was considered as a lead‑in to a September open mic series.
StoryWalk installations were installed along the Riverwalk trail and outside the Amesbury Public Library; the library StoryWalk will remain up through the end of April and possibly longer depending on weather.
Elizabeth Wolf will send corrections to ACC communications to fix inaccurate information about the Creative Haverhill River Bards anthology celebration on the ACC Poetry Month webpage.
Bryan Riley will notify Gathering of Verses coordinators that their entry form contains outdated cosponsorship information and needs to be updated.
Agenda
Administration
1. Appoint note taker
Appoint someone to take notes for the meeting.
Minutes
2. Approve previous minutes
Review and approve minutes of previous meeting.
Finance
3. Current financial status update
Provide an update on the committee's current financial status.
Activities
4. Poet Laureate activities update
Update on recent and planned Poet Laureate activities, including planning details for Poem A Palooza (confirm time, snacks, roster, outstanding tasks).
Events
5. Poetry events and StoryWalk update
Update on poetry events and the StoryWalk at Amesbury Public Library.
Website
6. Review ACC Poetry Month page
Review the ACC Amesbury Poetry Month webpage; discuss updating Creative Haverhill River Bards for anthology celebration, possible cosponsorship of the Gathering of Verses contest, and who maintains the page.