Here’s an update from member Roberta Hung:

Hi Poets,

I would like to share a moving experience with you, held Thursday night June 2, 2011. The North Shore Writings Group held a lovely tribute to Amy Dengler at the Sawyer Free Library, Gloucester. Several MSPS members attended: Gwen Carr, Diane Giardi, Mary Miceli, Elly Latawiec, Beverley and I. Amy’s husband and a sister were there. (It was announced that his mother was also there.) Claire Keyes, prof. emerita of English, SSU, said that Amy was an exceptional student. A volunteer videoed the event for the local cable tv station; he took my name and address to send a copy. Basically, folks talked about how Amy inspired them not only in writing but also by advocating for their jobs. Folks read Amy’s poems and/or ones they wrote about Amy. The program was led off by the librarian, who told about Amy’s role at the library. Amy was persuaded to serve as VP of the library committee, then Pres. Among other things. she was instrumental in starting a youth writing program, and advocating that a bequeathed fund to the library be spent in purchasing adjacent property for the library expansion. She then shared one of Amy’s poems. She was followed by Suellen Wedmore (poet laureate emerita of Rockport and a new member of MSPS, and member of the North Shore Writing Group) and successively by six other featured participants. Suellen then introduced Beverley Barnes and me as co-sponsors of the Amy Dengler Memorial Contest. I started off by saying how Amy was a beloved member of MSPS and how she encouraged me to keep writing poetry. Beverley talked about how Amy inspired members for many years at Wordcrafters. Beverley and I read poems written for/by Amy. I started off by thanking Suellen for inviting us to the tribute, and how we wanted to keep Amy’s memory alive through the Amy Dengler Memorial Contest. We invited folks to enter poems in the contest and left flyers. (see below) We pointed out the donation jar at the table and also said that Amy’s husband gave us permission to share Amy’s book of 53 poems, which could be procured with a donation of $25. Folks responded positively to the news of the contest. Separately, Beverley and I spoke with Amy’s husband Chris and her sister. They seemed very pleased with the evening’s event. I certainly was.

AMY DENGLER MEMORIAL POETRY CONTEST, sponsored by the Wordcrafters Poetry Group, a chapter of the Massachusetts State Poetry Society: an annual poetry contest to honor the memory of Amy L. Dengler, accomplished poet and active member of the North Shore writing community.

The contest is open to all adults. Prizes will be awarded to poems for first, second and third place winners ($50/$20/$10). Contestants may enter any number of poems at $3 per poem, but only one poem will be eligible for a prize. Entries must be the original work of the poet. Poems are limited to 40 lines total. Subject and poetry form are poet’s choice. Poems entered must be unpublished and not currently entered in any other contest. Only poems that have not won a prize may be entered. All poems must be titled. Poems must be typed on 8-1/2″ x 11″ white paper – No Illustrations. Send one original (with no name) and one copy with poet’s name and address in upper RIGHT-HAND corner (of DUPLICATE ONLY). No poems will be returned and all non-winning poems will be destroyed after the contest. The deadline for the first contest will be May 15, 2012 . Send poem and entry fee to: Roberta Hung, Contest Chair, 8 Dundee Street , Salem , MA 01970 .