[Tim Murphy]

Rapidly evolving situations. Chris Childers will screen and Clive Watkins will judge our second translation bake-off. Quincy Lehr and Jehanne Doubrow will host our discussion on young poets. I am grateful for their participation.

[Christy Reno]

Sounds like it will be another great year. Part of me wishes I were competing with 30 year olds and under. I don't know if there are many of us on this board. What month with the young-uns' thing be in?

[Tim Murphy]

Christy, give me time to get the schedule in order. We need more twenty-somethings on this board.

[Henry Quince]

Actually, why the need for a screener at all? I know the previous screeners have done a splendid job and all, but sometimes they've agonised over it---and who knows but they might exclude something the final judge would have liked? Why not just let the judge see all the entries and comment on twelve (or whatever). That's how Mike Stocks did it, as I recall. The anonymising of entries for the judge just needs someone to receive them and send ALL of them on minus names, etc.

Also, Tim, it would be helpful to have a clear statement each time on whether the entries need to have been workshopped here or not. This used to be a requirement (it was "within the last couple of years" I think) but I don't think the point has always been covered in recent bakeoff calls.

[Jim Hayes]

What Henry said.

[Catherine Chandler]

Tim,

Henry and Jim have a point.

Please let me know if you still want me to be a screener for the sonnet bake-off or simply an "anonymizer". Of course, it will mean more work for you, but I don't want people piling on me because I didn't send their sonnet on to you.

Cathy

[Tim Murphy]

Mike used an Anonymizer. Which I think is silly. I have never thought these things need be blind. I have usually served as screener for the judges. The people I have asked to screen over the years are people whose judgment I trust. Marion Shore screening for Charles Martin. John Whitworth for Joe Kennedy. Rose for Dick Wilbur. Myself for many judges. We went to screeners to minimize work for the judges. We went to blind judging to respond to demands from our members. I'll handle it anyway you want. I for one trust Cathy to choose twelve sonnets, but I can do it myself.

I don't believe it has ever been a requirement that anything in a bake-off have been workshopped here. Never. We'd not have had entries from the likes of Williamson and Stallings otherwise. The requirement is "not published in a trade book or an anthology." I am paying attention to all this discussion of our work being rejected at Poetry, etc. I have written Sasaki and Wiman on our behalf. But certainly at The Lariat it's an issue, for ours is an anthology whose archives are not expunged. And I guess I'd urge members to submit published work and acknowledge its provenance.

[David Nelson Bradsher]

What a great lineup, Tim. Thanks for all you do.

Personally, I think we should have some attention on all poets who can/have bench-pressed 300 lbs.

[Robert Pecotte]

Tim,

First: the lineup looks good but...

Second: How about we give Tanka a spin? Ask David Anthony...he can set it up.

Third: How about a month dedicated to poets whose poetry other poets hate? That way I could actually win a contest!

Fr. RP

[Rose Kelleher]

I vote for Catherine being more than a mere "anonymizer." I'm interested in seeing which sonnets she chooses. Aren't you? And I hope she'll comment on her selections, too, along with Tim.

No offense, Tim, but we all know your taste by now. I'd like to see Catherine have her say. She's an accomplished sonneteer with useful insights to share.

As for piling on, Catherine, let 'em complain. What do you care?