[Alex Pepple]

Dear Eratosphereans,

It’s with great pleasure that I unveil our newest moderator, plus one over-extended moderator and one displaced moderator.
First, our newest moderator, who is a long-time Eratospherean, oozes with talent both as poet and critic, and hardly makes any makes any waves here because of his unequalled tactfulness and spirit of generosity, but now will make a big splash into the core of the ‘Sphere as co-moderator of the Metrical Poetry forum. Drum rolls … and re-introducing Stephen Scaer!

Stephen Scaer of Nashua, NH is a high school special education teacher and a former newspaper reporter. He has a masters degrees in journalism from Indiana University and in learning disabilities from Rivier College. His poems have appeared or are forthcoming in several journals, including Light, Measure, First Things, The Lyric, The Formalist, and Cricket. He is the coordinator for the New England Shakespeare Sonnet Festival. Stephen lives in Nashua, NH with his wife and two daughters.

In a related news, Maryann Corbett who has been outstanding as a moderator of the Metrical Poetry forum will become a moderator without portfolio, concentrating more on her copious administrator functions. However, the related good news is that Janice D. Soderling who has been indefatigable, insightful and fleet-footed in juggling multiple assignments will now take on the additional role of co-moderator of the Metrical Poetry forum. Have no fears though, Non-Metrical Poetry forum enthusiasts, because she will continue co-moderating with Dee Cohen, who is one longest-serving moderators and had a major influence in the on-going success of Non-Met.

Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Stephen, and good wishes to Janice and Maryann in their revised roles.

Cheers,
…Alex

[Maryann Corbett]

Thank you, Stephen and Janice, for stepping up to the plate, and thank you, Alex, for doing all the behind-the-scenes stuff that ensures that it all gets done. It's a privilege to work with all of you!

Maryann

[Marybeth Rua-Larsen]

Congratulations Stephen and Janice -- I've always valued both your critiques and am sure I will continue to do so. I'm also glad to hear you're taking at least a small breath, Maryann; I don't know how you do it all.

Marybeth

[Janice D. Soderling]

Warm welcome, Stephen, as a fellow moderator. I'm sure we will all learn a lot from your participation.

I am looking forward to working with you and with Lance in a new area, and am very happy to have a Non-metric foot and a big chunk of my poetry soul still lodged with my partner Dee.

Maryann, übermoderator par excellence, it is comforting that your guiding hand remains on the helm. I couldn't manage without you.

Again especially to Stephen, welcome aboard the Good Ship Moderatorship.

PS. Thanks Marybeth. Much appreciated.

[Elle Bruno]

All good news!
Thanks Alex and everyone else for keeping our ship afloat.
And a special welcome to Stephen -a great choice.
Dee

[Michael Cantor]

You go, Stephen! Thanks for stepping in.

[Julie Steiner]

Does this mean the Metrical Board is now Scaer-ier than TDE?

Sincere thanks to Stephen and Maryann and Janice (and all the other mods and mins) for your generosity of time and spirit.

[Duncan Gillies MacLaurin]

Good on you, Stephen, Janice, Maryann, Alex!

Duncan

[Adam Elgar]

Welcome, Stephen! And continuing thanks to Maryann and Janice.

[John Beaton]

A warm welcome, Stephen. And thanks to Janice, Maryann, and Alex, for adapting roles to changing needs.

John