The Worcester County Poetry Association is a 501(c)(3) organization funded through membership fees, publication sales, grants and donations. WCPA receives organizational support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and has received generous programming support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Worcester Cultural Commission, Massachusetts Cultural Council, among other organizations and private donors.
WCPA appreciates the continued support of members and donors. Click here to learn more about WCPA membership and for information about funds established to sustain The Worcester Review and other WCPA programming.
Governance
The WCPA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and Executive Officers elected by the membership in an annual public meeting. The board then elects executive officers. Membership is open to all individuals and organizations interested in promoting the literary arts.
Meetings
The WCPA Board meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the Association offices in the Salisbury House, 61 Harvard St., Worcester, Mass. Meetings are open to all members and to the public. We welcome newcomers and encourage you to attend and become involved.
COVID-19 Update – due to the need for continued social distancing the board currently meets live and via a Zoom online meeting. If you are interested in joining the board for one of the meetings please e-mail wcpaboard@yahoo.com and someone will send you the appropriate link.
Executive Committee:
President: Rodger Martin
Vice Presidents, Programming: Susan Roney-O’Brien, Joseph Fusco, Jr.
Treasurer: Bob Gill
Secretary: Linda Warren
Managing Editor, The Worcester Review: Carolyn Oliver
Clemente Course in the Humanities: Elizabeth Bacon
Worcester Clemente Course in the Humanities Partnership
In 2019, the Worcester County Poetry Association became the Fiscal Agent to the Worcester branch of The Bard College Clemente Course in the Humanities. This collaboration allows both organizations to join forces in promoting the transformative power of the arts and humanities in our community. Several WCPA Board members hold leadership positions in the Worcester Clemente Course in the Humanities: Elizabeth Bacon (Worcester Clemente Course Community Coordinator), Rodger Martin (Worcester Clemente Course Advisory Board) and Therese Carr (Worcester Clemente Course Advisory Board Chair).
For more information on the Worcester Clemente Course in the Humanities and the national Clemente Course, click here.
Project Contacts
2023 Frank O’Hara Poetry Contest – Joseph Fusco & Irena Kaci
2023 Bishop/Knight College Poetry Competition – VACANT
Gregory Stockmal Reading – Susan Roney-O’Brien, Coordinator
Bloomsday Committee – Jay Lavelle & Robert Steele
Membership Database – Katherine Conlon
Stanley Kunitz Award Committee – Judith Ferrara, chair
Rain Poetry Committe – Katherine Gregoire
Mapping Worcester in Poetry – Beth Sweeney & Katherine Gregoire
Stanley Kunitz Boyhood Home – Carle Johnson, Liaison
Program Committee – Therese Carr, Joe Fusco, Susan Roney-O’Brien
WCPA Library Committee – Ann Lewis
Website Manager – Irena Kaci
Clemente Course in the Humanities – Elizabeth Bacon
Financial Oversight Committe – Rodger Martin, Bob Gill, Robin Boucher, David Thoreen
By-laws
The attached pdf of the Worcester County Poetry Association, Inc. is a public document as required by our non-profit charter from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It may be revised at the annual meeting each year. Amendments to the By-laws must be presented to the board in a timely fashion to enable the board to publicize the amendments to the membership at least three weeks in advance of the annual meeting.