[Susan McLean]

Simon, you fly to Philadelphia and there are several shuttles from the airport, which are free, though if you arrive after the last one, you could either rent a car or take a taxi (for around $25). If you stay on campus, all the activities are within walking distance, but the accommodations are spartan. The Holiday Inn is about a mile away, but a lot of people are driving to campus all the time, so it is easy to get a ride.

Susan

[Robin-Kemp]

Wouldn't miss it for the world. Seventh year running. Didn't ask for $, but probably should have. Am about to take a year off to finish book and/or teach a visiting poetry fellowship, assuming one out there will have me.

Probably will be in Campo's narrative workshop, though as always it's impossible to choose -one- from all the delights offered. Wish there were some way to take all at once.

Sick as a dog, about to go to hospital, no health insurance, but putting every last nickel into WCU. Now THERE'S cult-like behavior.

Poetry uber alles,
Robin




[This message has been edited by Robin-Kemp (edited April 22, 2005).]

[albert geiser]

I e-mailed them two days ago and they e mailed me back saying there were only three workshops still open. I believe only one was poetry, a master class in how formal music relates to poetry.

So for anyone who still wants to be in this conference, you better get movin'.....

[David Anthony]

You can attend either as a Scholar or as a Poet.
As I recall, when I attended two years ago, believing one to be marginally less untruthful than the other, I booked as a Scholar, which doesn't involve booking specific courses.
I found course leaders were very welcoming when I asked if I could attend some of their seminars on an ad hoc basis.
It's a great opportunity to meet other Poeticals.
Best regards,
David

[Yolanda Cruz]

Ahhhh gee. This conference sounds great but I don't feel like moving my butt to register. I'm sure I'll catch one in NYC anyway.

[David Anthony]

Yolanda, move your butt.
You can catch many things in NYC, I believe, but formal poetry sessions aren't among them.
Best regards,
David

[Terese Coe]

I'll be pleased to see all the regulars and irregulars there, as I've also been lucky enough to receive a scholarship.

David, I like the way you managed to check a number of workshops! I'll be in Dick Davis' workshop on rhyme, and wish I could stop in for a bit at other workshops too, but I'll keep to the strictures of the academic set-up.

If anyone here has ever stayed in the dorms, could you tell me a little about them? I hope it's not like a hostel, where you have to stay away during the day: a little shut-eye in late afternoon is sometimes a requirement for the likes of me. Rhina told me a little: a spartan room, which sounds great to me. Bring your own fan, etc. I'll check the weather report first. Is there a window? I hope so. How far are the dorms from the student center where all the classes are held? What time is breakfast? How early can we get coffee?

[nyctom]

Here's a suggestion for those of you who are attending. Each year, people tend to report back with the gossip and general postings of felicitations. But what if those who attend specific workshops post a brief summary of any high points, suggestions, words of wisdoms learned for those of us who will not be attending? Received wisdom, even second hand, is still wisdom...

Just a suggestion.

[MEHope]

Originally posted by Terese Coe:
... as I've also been lucky enough to receive a scholarship.

What time is breakfast? How early can we get coffee?

Lucky, yeah right.

Breakfast, coffee! Lady after my own heart!

[Robin-Kemp]

Whew! Let me see if I can answer some of these questions!

Simon, everything you've heard is true. The conference is friendly. People are extremely on-task and concerned with poetry, and congeniality is the rule. You don't need a car unless you want to go to Philly for some reason, but you're best off doing that either a day before or a day after the conference. West Chester proper (downtown pedestrian area) is about a ten-minute walk from campus, and you may want to have a car or catch a ride if you have trouble walking that far. That said, parking can be a problem, particularly for the evening readings. I've gotten from the airport in Philly to WCU via train/bus. Whatever you do, MAKE CERTAIN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT CAB COMPANY AND THAT THE CABBIE KNOWS THE FARE. One year I got ripped off and had to bum $20 from someone to get through the week. Was I ever pissed off not to be able to buy books!

Albert, all three workshops would be poetry workshops. Check the website and try (it's hard!) to choose one you like. No matter what, you can't go wrong. No duds there. While non-master-class classes may include poets with a range of abilities, I've yet to find one that was hamstrung by a relative beginner. It may be that the quality of WCU folks is self-selecting, but I've taken both regular and master classes: all the classes are master classes, as far as that goes.

Yolanda, I second David. This is NOT just another conference. If you have any interest in form, this is the ONLY place where you will be immersed in a community of other poets doing similar work. That said, the open mic readings (anyone can sign up) tend to run both free and formal verse. Give it a try!!! Besides, this year Marisa de los Santos, Rhina, and Rafael Campo will be there, y pues espero que hablamamos mas espanol ahora.

Terese, yes, there are functional windows in the dorms! If you're "cold-natured," as I am, bring a pullover of some sort for the morning (and for the air-conditioned auditorium). They do supply linens and one of those cotton string blankets. You won't have a roommate, so you can lay out all your stuff on the other bed and use both desks. The conference usually uses the dorms closest to Sykes (the student center where most things happen), which are 1-5 minutes' walk from there or from the cafeteria.

As I recall, the coffee is usually up and running before the first workshop/panel, but is frankly uninspired. True coffee junkies are well advised to buy the fancy coffee in the student union when it's available, to get up early enough to go to town for real coffee (two good places in particular--I forget the names, sorry to say), or to brew one's own. Not sure what prohibitions if any are about having a coffee pot in the dorms.

The fun part of being in the dorms is seeing all your esteemed colleagues waddling around with bags under the eyes and curlers in their hair. There's something oddly comforting in seeing other people are as exhausted as you are.

If you attend with a significant other, then your only alternative seems to be a hotel. It's not really a spouse-bringing thing, but if you're both actually taking part in the conference and/or with babe in arms, then you'll probably want the Holiday Inn. Surely there must be a good B&B somewhere that might be affordable...or a second motel on the way...

Robin