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<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o
ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><STRONG>Contact:<o:p></o:p></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Katie Andersen
<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN>Caitlin Dwyer<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN>Sandra Williams<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Oregon</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> Library<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN><I>Poetry Northwest<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN></I><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Mountain Writers
Series<I><o:p></o:p></I></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">katie.anderson@state.or.us<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Caitlin@poetrynw.org<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> <SPAN
class=543550916-02102009>
</SPAN></SPAN>pdxmws@aol.com<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 15pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><STRONG>FROM WAGONS TO
WORDSTOCK:<o:p></o:p></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><STRONG>150 YEARS OF <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">OREGON</st1:place></st1:State> POETRY<o:p></o:p></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><STRONG> </STRONG></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN></SPAN><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Portland, Oregon – September
2009:</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">In celebration of Oregon’s
Sesquicentennial Anniversary, esteemed literary journal <I>Poetry Northwest
</I><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">and</SPAN> the Oregon State
Library have released a list of 150 outstanding poetry books – one for each year
of our statehood.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These books range
in style and subject matter, and poets both well-beloved and newly emerging are
represented, from William Stafford to Michael McGriff.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Each nominee has a connection to
<st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State>, whether the poet grew up in <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Madras</st1:place></st1:City> or writes about the
rain.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The list will be
published <SPAN class=543550916-02102009>online </SPAN>as a service to
libraries, schools, and citizens.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Oregonians can access it online at <I>Poetry Northwest </I><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">(<A
href="http://www.poetrynw.org">www.poetrynw.org</A>).</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Poets from the
list will honor the Sesquicentennial with readings at the 2009 Wordstock, the
annual literary festival in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Portland</st1:City></st1:place>, on October 10 and 11, 2009, on the
Mountain Writers Stage.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
Mountain Writers Series sponsors readings, workshops, and seminars with local as
well as national and international writers, and serves as a hub in the
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State> poetry
community.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Among the Wordstock
readers will be Lex Runciman, Donna Henderson, Carlos Reyes, Mary Szybist,
Matthew Dickman, Jessica Lamb, and Maxine Scates.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A full schedule of Wordstock readings,
including the Poetry 150 List, can be found at
www.wordstockfestival.com.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left" align=left><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><STRONG>To create the
list, Jim Scheppke, State Librarian, and David Biespiel, editor of <SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Poetry Northwest</SPAN>, solicited
nominations from <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State> authors, as well as from the general
public.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The response was
overwhelming.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Oregonians wrote in
large numbers with lists of their favorite books, and their nominations created
a diverse list of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>’s best poetry.</STRONG></SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The State Library had previously
released the Oregon 150 Booklist, which included works in children’s literature,
fiction, and nonfiction, as well as poetry.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Biespiel recognized that poetry
had a strong community in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State> and merited its own list, and so
<I>Poetry Northwest</I> spearheaded the collaborative
effort.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>While the list cannot possibly include every poetry book published in or
about our state, it provides a foundation for reading and a valuable resource
for Oregonians.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Because citizens
and readers made the nominations, the list is unique from scholarly
anthologies.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Its creators believe
that public engagement has shown the importance of poetry in the lives of
citizens.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>According to Mr.
Biespiel, the community has come together in support of the state and of
literature.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The result, he says, is
“a spectacular civic achievement.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><I><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Poetry
Northwest</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">:
</SPAN><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">4232
SE Hawthorne Boulevard</SPAN></st1:Street><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">,
<st1:City w:st="on">Portland</st1:City> <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">97215</st1:PostalCode></SPAN></st1:address><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">.
503-236-0615</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">poetrynw.org</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Oregon</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> Library: </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">250
Winter <st1:City w:st="on">St.</st1:City> <st1:State w:st="on">NE</st1:State>,
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Salem</st1:City></st1:place><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>97301-3950.</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">503-378-4243</SPAN><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">oregon.gov/OSL</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Mountain Writers Series:
</SPAN><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">2804 SE
27th Avenue, #2</SPAN></st1:Street><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">,
<st1:City w:st="on">Portland</st1:City> <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">97202</st1:PostalCode></SPAN></st1:address><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">.
503.232.4517 </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><STRONG>mountainwriters.org</STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><STRONG># # #</STRONG></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
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