Cultural Council · May 18, 2026 · 6:30 PM
Poet Laureate Support Committee Meeting
Discussion of the Poet Laureate program’s recent and planned activities and a current financial status update for the program.
occurred Agenda PDF Minutes AI Summary
Key decisions
Appointed Lisa Usani Phillips to take notes for the meeting.
Determined that 'Tapestry of Voices' and 'Garden of Verses' will not be funded by the Poet Laureate Support Committee or Whittier Home; advised Chris Bryant to apply directly to the Amesbury Cultural Council for funding; Whittier Home agreed the award ceremony/reading can be held there.
Scheduled a Karaoke Fundraiser on July 15, 2026 at Barewolf Brewery; DJ Jason Dowd secured and will be paid by Bryan Riley.
Scheduled 'Evening with the Poets' for August 12, 2026 (6:30–8:00 p.m.) at the Cultural Center and invited CCTV to film the event.
Scheduled a Flatbread Fundraiser for November 10, 2026; Flatbread contact indicated an April fundraising date can also be booked when November is arranged.
Set 2026–27 Open Mic series dates (9/9/2026; 10/14/2026; 11/18/2026; 2/17/2027; 3/10/2027); Bryan Riley to set up feature performers; PLSC responsible for cleanup (snacks TBA).
Established communications protocol: Poet Laureate will send event announcements/flyers to the Poet Laureate email distribution and PLSC email list for printing, post PL event announcements to the PL Facebook page, and forward Storywalk photos to Bryan for posting on the PL Facebook page.
Agenda
1. Appoint note taker
Appoint someone to take meeting notes (scribe/minutes taker).
2. Review and approve minutes
Review and vote to approve the minutes from the previous meeting.
3. Current financial status update
Report on the current financial status of the Poet Laureate program.
4. Poet Laureate activities update
Update on recent and planned Poet Laureate activities and events.
6. Unanticipated matters
Matters not reasonably anticipated in advance of the meeting (new/unforeseen items raised during meeting).