Cowboy Poets of Utah
Newsletter - SPECIAL EDITION FOR POETRY MONTH!!!
April, 2006
CPU Board: Curly Syndergaard, Don Kennington, Terri Taylor,
Presidency: Sam DeLeeuw, Val Carter, Jo Lynne Kirkwood, Rod Miller
Newsletter distributed five times annually. PLUS SPECIAL EDITIONS! For information or suggestions, contact Jo at (435)896-1856 or jolynne.kirkwood@sevier.k12.ut.us / jo@seviervalleyroundup.com
STILL FRONT PAGE NEWS!!!
We want to remind everyone to send a special THANK YOU to PAUL KERN, Cowboy Poet from Sandy, Utah, who petitioned Governor Huntsman, sucessfully, for official designation in the State of UTAH!!!
For information about Cowboy Poetry week in OTHER states, please go to www.CowboyPoetry.com , and check out all the latest news. It seems we’re really catching on! CPU OFFICERS will join Paul for a ceremony with the Governor on April 7th to mark this event, and Cowboy Poetry WEEK is OFFICIALLY April 16th through the 22rd. CPU has made plans to mark the occasion, and to CELEBRATE with with a special TRIBUTE to COWBOY POETRY at the Mi Rancharita Restaurant in Payson, on Saturday, April 22nd. More about the event INSIDE the newsletter. And if you see Paul, TELL HIM THANKS for the GREAT JOB!!! (You can email Paul at KernPR@ldschurch.org )
The proclamation
Designating the week of April 16 through April 22, 2006, as Cowboy Poetry Week in the State of Utah
Whereas throughout the history of the American West and Utah in particular, cowboy and pioneer poets have played a large part in preserving western heritage and the culture of Utah through oral and written poetry;
Whereas the long tradition and endearing qualities of these old stories and poems demonstrate that cowboy poetry is a cherished Utah tradition;
Whereas Utah has produced several well-respected contemporary cowboy poets;
Whereas Utah hosts major cowboy poetry gatherings in Heber City, Richfield and Kanab;
Whereas recognizing the contributions of these poets dates as far back as cowboys themselves;
Whereas the celebrations and official designations and proclamations of a state should reflect the traditions and values of its people;
Whereas it is necessary to recognize the importance of cowboy poetry among the general public:
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed,
That Governor Jon M. Hunstman Jr. designates the week of April 16 through April 22, 2006, as
“Cowboy Poetry Week in the State of Utah ”
The people of the great State of Utah are called upon to celebrate the week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.
PLEASE READ!!!
We are updating our mailing list as dues come in. IN MAY, expect to receive a new directory of CPU members. This means we will be sharing YOUR name, address and phone number with other members. We hope everyone is happy to be included, but please LET US KNOW before May 1st if you do NOT want to be on the list!
Cedar City Cowboy Gathering - 2006!
by JoLynne Kirkwood
The Cedar City Cowboy Gathering (previously Canyon Country Western Arts Festival) was held again over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and as usual it was a great festival and a whole lot of fun. Thing got going Thursday night with a jam session at the Garden Restaurant, and we were in time to visit with friends Brooksie, Byrd and Woody Woodward, Belinda Gail, Saddle Strings, Kenny Hall, and many others. Saturday sessions ran from 10:00 through the early evening hours, and joining the festivities were Wyoming’s Andy Nelson, Jim Dunham and Mike Dunn from Arizona, Bimbo Cheney, Katie McCall-Owens, Barbara Hall, Fred Engel, Francis Wheeler, Yula Sue Hunting, Val Carter, Stampede!,new CPU member Laurie Tye, Red Rock Wranglers, Marion Manwill and Gordon Thomas, and The Peteetneet Creek Ranch Hands, and most certainly several I’ve left out. Performances continued through the evening, until a dance that night at 9:00 pm. The band was a local favorite group,’Most Wanted.
Saturday started with a CPU meeting in the Starlight Room, with Curly Syndergaard (CCCG Festival Director) in official capacity as CPU board chairman for
the first time since his election to the post. Bill Gubler came down for Saturday, as did
Phil Kennington, and Smoke Wade, and the day sessions began at 10:00. Crowds were larger on Saturday, and audiences seemed appreciative and happy to be out of the storm that visited Cedar City. All the sessions were excellent, but my favorite was the tribute to our friends who have gone home, Ken Romrielle, JB Allen, and Bud Probert. Lots of heartfelt reminders of how much we’ll miss these great cowboys. We’ll be lookin’ to meet up with these pards again.
As the snow deepened, some of the out-of-towners began to worry about the journey home, but gradually the storm lessened and roads cleared. The Saturday Night Show was exellent, and featured RW Hampton and Belinda Gail, with poets Mike Dunn and Katie McCall-Owen. It was a mighty fine show, every bit as good as you’d expect with the line-up.
Cedar City always seems to put on the best Cowboy Church, and the event is never finished until after services at the local stock barn on Sunday morning. Anyone who would like to participate is invited to sign up during the day Friday or Saturday, and by time for church comes around the schedule is always full. It’s a great way to end the gathering, and sends everyone home counting their blessings and friends. Thanks, Curly and Sheryl for another fantastic gathering. You guys always pull it off, bigger and better than anyone. We surely do appreciate all your hard work - plus you keep smiling through it all!
COWBOY POETS OF UTAH
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
MARCH 18, 2006
Thank you to Curly and Sheryl Syndergaard for all their time and efforts in putting together the Cedar City Cowboy Gathering.
The minutes from the meeting held February 19, 2006 in Moab were reviewed and approved as written.
April is National Cowboy Poetry Month, with April 16-23 designated as Cowboy Poetry
Week in Utah. On April 7 the Cowboy Poetry Proclamation will be signed by Governor Huntsman with CPU officers and Board members in attendance to witness the signing. A big thank you to Paul Kern for his assistance in arranging the meeting with the Governor.
Members were asked to submit articles and pictures to JoLynne Kirkwood and Val Carter for the newsletter and the website. JoLynne can be contacted at jo@seviervalleyroundup.com or jolynne.kirkwood@sevier.k12.ut.us ; Val can be contacted at vcarter@utah.gov.
Reviewed plans for a CPU gathering the last weekend in September in Lehi. Val suggested that we involve the WMA as well, with an open mic format that would allow everyone a chance to participate. Val will check with Lehi City to see what dates are available.
Discussion was held regarding gatherings around the State. Doug Keller suggested that a gathering be held in St. George. Kenny Hall said that the Mesquite Arts Council would like to host a gathering for poets and musicians. Smoke Wade stated he will be moving to Mesquite next year and would be interested putting together a gathering there.
Jerry (Edited...) “Brooksie” Brooks suggested that CPU sponsor an evening to honor Cowboy Poetry Week. After discussion, it was decided to hold an event on April 22 in Payson. Val will speak with Marion Manwell about a place in Payson, and the CPU Board and Executive Committee will be in charge of the event.
Val brought the new CPU banner that will be displayed at this gathering as well as future events. Byrd Woodward suggested that the CPU sign be displayed at county fairs with members available to answer questions and provide applications to sign up.
Val suggested that the website could be used to list members’ contact information. If members would like their contact information posted on the website, please e-mail Val at vcarter@utah.gov .
JoLynne proposed that the CPU organizing meeting scheduled for April 8 in Payson be postponed until possibly May. Another date was not set at this time.
Brooksie offered to have a CPU summer party at her home on July 22. More details will follow.
Bill Gubler has been approached by the National Abilities Center in Park City to hold a gathering there in conjunction with the Equestrian Special Olympics. Everyone was in favor of helping with the event.
Upcoming Events:
April National Cowboy Poetry Month
April 7 Cowboy Poetry Proclamation signed with Governor Huntsman.
April 22 CPU poetry week event in Payson under the direction of JoLynne Kirkwood
April 26 Gathering at the Triple C in Panguitch under the direction of Kenny Hall
April 29 Orrin Porter Rockwell Gathering in Brigham City
June 16 Elsinore Days (Replaces Sevier Valley Roundup for 2006. Contact CR
WOOD)
June 22 Lehi Round Up
July 22 CPU Summer Party
Other Events Upcoming
July 4th - West Jordan Stampede - Poetry and Music (Under direction of Don Korth)
PLEASE SEND YOUR INFORMATION IF YOU ARE INFLUENTIAL FOR, or AWARE OF, OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS!
More information about the Special Olympics Event, from Bill Gubler...
Special Thanks to Margo Metegrano for the information below.
This is taken from a longer, more detailed essay on http://www.cowboypoetry.com/copyrights.htm which also contains links to other information on this topic. Please take the time to read through this, and visit the www.cowboypoetry.com site.. We’ve ALL been in audiences where someone recites someone else’s work, and not only probably hasn’t asked permission but also doesn’t give credit. Let’s do our part to change this if we can.
SO WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? Givin’ Credit Where Credit is DUE!
The United States Copyright law is clear and simple: Works you create are your property and protected by US Copyright. You can read official information about Copyright Basics at the official US Government site: www.copyright.gov/
Likewise, that means other peoples' work belongs to them. You are not entitled use it without the author's permission. Poets retain copyright to their work; obtain a poet's permission before using a poem in any form.
"Giving credit" is not enough: getting permission is the point. Still, we often learn of poems - or hear poems - being used without a poet's permission.
Much--but not all--classic Cowboy Poetry is in the public domain. Works published prior to 1923 fall in that category. Some copyrights of later publications have been renewed by the estates of poets. The Internet is not the public domain. It is not difficult to research copyright status. Please make the effort.
Many poets recite others' works. Credit should always be given to the author when reciting.
Some poets do not want their work recited by others. You should obtain a poet's permission before using his or her work in any form. Respect other peoples' property. It's undeniably The Cowboy Way.
For poets, it's not a bad idea to use www.google.com to search for your name now and then (put it in quotation marks like: "Badger Clark"). If you find one of your poems posted (if your name was still attached) you can try to contact whoever used it without permission. Of course sometimes poems get taken and posted without the author's name or copyright notice. These breaches happened before the internet, but it's easier now for
people to take poems that don't belong to them.
Sites can link to other sites. That is not a copyright infringement.
Respect other peoples' property. It's undeniably The Cowboy Way.
Cowboy Poetry Week
April 16 - 22, 2006
We're having a Cowboy Poetry / Western Music Get-together Saturday April 22 at 5 pm at Mi Rancherito's (85 E. Utah Ave.) in Payson. Come enjoy food, friends and have a Cowboy Poetry Week Jam Session
Please RSVP if you know you'll be there so we'll have an idea of how many are coming. Jose has a special menu price ($5.75 + tax) for ADVANCE notice! (Of course if you forget you're still welcome. Just order off the menu!)
RSVP cowboypoet@cowboypoetsofutah.org
or contact Val Carter 25 N. 780 W. Lehi, UT 84043 (801)-768-8754 or
Jo Lynne Kirkwood PO Box 570207 Sigurd, Utah 84657 (435)896-1856
In Other News...
“A Border Dispute,” a short story by CPU member Rod Miller, is winner of a Finalist Award in Western Writers of America’s 2006 Spur Awards. The story is from the anthology Lone Star Law, edited by Robert J. Randisi and published by Pocket Books in March, 2005. Spur Award winners and finalists will be honored at the Western Writers of America convention in June in Cody, Wyoming. This is a high honor, and we know Rod deserves it! Congratulations, Rod!
Marion Manwill has a new book out "The Tin Star"