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Dear Poets Union Members,

The Extraordinary General Meeting of the Poets Union was held on 27th November and authorised all the necessary changes for the merger with the APC in Melbourne. Australian Poetry, the new organisation, is only a few weeks away and counting.

Thank you to all those members who were able to come to the celebration of the Poets Union on Saturday at the Friend in Hand Hotel and make it such a success. There were over 30 readers, a great deal of reminiscing and a potted history of the Poets Union from Martin Langford.

Australian Poetry is the merger of the Poets Union (based in NSW) and the Australian Poetry Centre (based in VIC). Commencing formally in January 2011, it is a company limited by guarantee which has been recently granted Key Emerging Organisation status by the Australia Council. Australian Poetry has been created for the purpose of better serving the needs of the Australian poetry community while developing an increased interest in, and providing all poets and the wider community with greater access to, Australian poetry and poets.

VISION
Australian Poetry's vision is to excite all Australians about Australian poetry and poets by delivering an innovative national program of events, workshops, activities, festivals and publications in order to provide opportunities for Australian poets while engaging the wider Australian population, focusing on inclusivity and retaining high standards of excellence in regards to all activities.

As many of you may be wondering how the organisation will operate, here are some answers to some frequently asked questions:

MEMBERSHIP
If you're not a member of either the APC or Poets Union, you are welcome to subscribe to the organisation (via the website when it's launched in February) to receive the free e-newsletter, or join the organisation at a cost of:

• $80 standard
• $60 concession
• $90 if you're overseas

In return for this payment, members will receive:
• a copy of Australian Poetry's new journal (which will produce two issues in 2011 and three issues per year from 2012 onwards).
• Membership concession to Australian Poetryevents, festivals, competitions and opportunities, as well as concession to the activities and publications of partnered organisations (such as other literary organisations, bookshops and selected retail outlets)
• Access to the members-only section of the website, which includes: an e-version of the journal, feature articles by established poets and reviews of poetry-related events

Poets Union members will receive free membership for the first six months of 2011.
APC members will have their membership roll into the new organisation when they will be given the option to remain a member or decline membership of Australian Poetry.

THE JOURNAL
Australian Poetry will produce a high quality poetry journal which will come out twice in 2011 and then three times a year starting in 2012.

Victoria Amy has recently been appointed Australian Poetry's National Publications Manager and will be keen to work with a committee early next year to decide on a process for how the editor will be selected and the journal produced. It is envisaged this process will take the first few months of 2011, before finalising the style, content and management of the journal.

The journal will also play only one part of the publications arm of Australian Poetry. The organisation aims to produce other publications which are targeted at a wider audience to interest more people around the country in Australian poets and poetry. Poets Union members will receive free membership and subscription to Australian Poetry Ltd for the first six months of 2011.

PROGRAM
As Australian Poetryis a national organisation, we intend to roll out a national program of events, competitions and opportunities, led by National Program Manager, Katie Walsh, while working with poets and poetry organisations in each city and state to provide as many people and poets access to Australian poetry as possible.

We have also recently appointed a WA Director, Katrina Bercov, and NSW Director, Leah Greengarten, to deliver a program of activities in those locations. Over the next few years, we plan to have representation in all states and territories to work with existing poetry and literary organisations in order to build the Australian poetry community.

STRATEGY
Australian Poetryis currently developing a clear strategy to prioritise its activities and how they are executed. In achieving the vision and goals for Australian Poetry, the organisation will determine its program and activities based on six key criteria:

1. Supporting the existing Australian poetry community
2. Developing new initiatives and building new audiences for poetry
3. Being financially sustainable and nurturing a culture of growth to provide more opportunities for poets and more Australians access to poetry
4. Focusing on diversity, connecting with Australians of all backgrounds, abilities, interests, cultures and locations
5. Developing a presence internationally
6. Building an online presence and community for Australian poets and poetry

STAFF
We have recently appointed the following staff to cope with executing the responsibilities of Australian Poetryin 2011:

National Director: Paul Kooperman
National Publications Manager: Victoria Amy
National Program Manager: Katie Walsh
National Education Officer: Emilie Zoey Baker
National Library Manager: Andy Jackson
NSW Director: Leah Greengarten
WA Director: Katrina Bercov
National Administration Officer: Robert Lukins
Melbourne Events Coordinator: Raphaela Lee

You can read more about our staff here.
If you have other questions, please see our responses to more frequently asked questions here, or call the Australian Poetry office on (03) 9094 7826.

NEXT STEPS
If you're already a member of the Poets Union or the APC, please be patient and you will receive an email in the new year from Australian Poetry'swebsite, officially announcing the new organisation and letting you know about events, opportunities and special projects in 2011.

If you're not currently a member of the Poets Union or APC, please stay tuned and join Australian Poetry via our website www.australianpoetry.org when it is up and running January 2011.

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HOW TO CONTACT AUSTRALIAN POETRY:

Street Address:
Australian Poetry,
The Wheeler Centre
176 Little Lonsdale Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Australia

Postal Address:
Australian Poetry Ltd
PO Box 21082
Little Lonsdale Street VIC 8011
Australia

Phone:
Melbourne head office: (03) 9094 7826
+61 3 9094 7826

Email:
admin@australianpoetrycentre.org.au

We welcome your input. Please contact us by mail (above) or email us with your thoughts on how we can support Australian poetry

Please keep in touch in 2011
- FYI , the outgoing Poets Union committee members who are now on the new board of Australian Poetry are:
Margaret Bradstock
Anna Kerdijk Nicholson
Martin Langford and
David Musgrave.

THIS NEWSLETTER IS ATTACHED as a a pdf and as a Word doc BELOW) with links for your convenience.

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Newsletter/Announcement
for Poets Union and Australian Poetry Centre Members
from
Chris Wallace-Crabbe, Chairperson, Australian Poetry Centre and Brook Emery, Chairperson, Poets Union...

Dear Member,

As you will know from previous correspondence, the Poets Union and the Australian Poetry Centre are to merge at the end of the year to create a new, truly national poetry body, Australian Poetry Limited.

This merger is supported by the Literature Board of the Australia Council, Arts NSW and Arts Victoria. For the first time poetry will receive a more sustainable commitment from Arts funding bodies in order to provide a professional service to members, support poetry groups and have a greater influence on the reception (and promotion) of poetry nationwide.
Australian Poetry will have an office in Melbourne and Sydney in 2011, with a brief to include all cities, states and territories in projects and opportunities. The purpose of this newsletter is to let you know about the arrangements and the effect they will have on your current membership of the PU or APC.

Structure and Governance:
Australian Poetry will be governed by a National Board. The members of the current Board are: Chris Wallace-Crabbe (Chair), Anna Kerdijk-Nicholson (Secretary), Nell White, Marcus Powe, David Musgrave, Margaret Bradstock and Martin Langford. The Board will be responsible for the strategic direction of the organisation and advising the National Director in regard to all future plans for Australian Poetry.

A National Director will report to the Board and have responsibility for the artistic program, working with a team initially based in Victoria and NSW to deliver an exciting national education, events and publications program, including the publication of high quality poetry journal. A National Advisory Council will be made up of leading poets and representatives of key poetry organisations to advise the Board and National Director in regard to the program and strategic direction of the organisation.

Appointments
Following national advertising and interviews, Paul Kooperman has been appointed National Director of the organisation. Australian Poetry is currently advertising for a Publications Manager and other positions will soon be advertised for including a NSW Director and National Administrative Officer. Please watch the websites for these advertisements. You will be advised of these appointments as they are made.

NSW Director
The NSW Director will be responsible for the delivery of the national program in NSW and for initiating specific NSW projects. It is anticipated that there will be a need for a volunteer committee to assist the NSW Director. The exact nature and function of this committee will be advised following the appointment of the NSW Director.

Membership
Current APC members will be invited to roll their membership on into the new organisation without having to pay extra joining fees. Current Poets Union financial members will automatically become members of the new organisation and receive free membership until June 30th 2011, at which time you will receive renewal notices. From then on membership will date from time of joining. Membership fees have not been finalised. They will be slightly higher than a single membership of either organisation but cheaper than being a member of both organisations. They will offer more for your money than comparable organisations. The next newsletter will provide the fee structure.

Services
The Board of Australian Poetry is determined that the new organisation will provide services nationwide. The services may be different from the ones which you have come to expect and specific projects will change according to circumstances but the core services will include:

o A National Journal, published 3 times a year (replacing Blue Dog, twice a year, and Five Bells, four times a year)

o A national Website, offering a members’ only section offering updates and opportunities restricted to members only

o A monthly E-Newsletter, including national opportunities, competitions and updates

o Discounts to national events, readings, workshops, courses, festivals and opportunities

o Discounts to other relevant organisations, bookshops and other stores who are partners of Australian Poetry

The Next Newsletter
We will be posting another newsletter later in the year which will advise you of the formal procedures for winding up the PU and APC. At this time we should be able to announce all appointments. In the meantime, please keep your eye on our respective websites for interim information.

Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about the merger have been posted on the website. These answers expand on the information contained in this newsletter.

Chris Wallace-Crabbe
Chairperson, Australian Poetry Centre

Brook Emery
Chairperson, Poets Union

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