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To join ISPS through June, , please fill out our Membership Form and mail it with a check for $15.00. You don't have to be an Illinois resident to join ISPS, but you do need to be an ISPS member to have your poems posted in this Web site.

Please note: Most ISPS meetings have been held in the western suburbs of Chicago in the past. A new ISPS group is now meeting in the northern suburbs. The northern suburban meetings will be on the months between the meetings of the western suburban group. Members may attend either the Northbrook meetings or the Lemont meetings or both.

ISPS News Bulletins

"Last Sunday" Reading To Be Held on July 27

The Illinois State Poetry Society and the Westmont Area Friends of the Arts welcome you to a poetry reading on Sunday, July 27 at Brewed Awakening, 19 W. Quincy, Westmont (just off Cass Avenue, across from the Westmont Train Station). These monthly poetry readings are co-sponsored by the Illinois State Poetry Society, the Westmont Area Friends of the Arts, and Brewed Awakening. The readings are held the last Sunday of each month. Ruan Wright and John Quinn will be the featured poets at this event. There will be music at noon, with poetry from 12:30-2:00 p.m. Some time will be devoted to open mic, so bring several of your poems to share, if you wish. Brewed Awakening is an intimate, locally-owned coffeeshop. Everyone is welcome.

Ruan Wright was born and raised in Great Britain. She moved to the US in 1996. She's published in a number of publications across the world, including Radix, Windhover, The Taj Mahal Review and Art Times. Her poetry has received awards from local and national competitions. Ruan is a popular reader of poetry in Chicago and the suburbs. In addition to poetry, she writes short fiction pieces and is working on a fantasy novel for young adults. She lives in Bolingbrook with her husband, two teens, two cats, and one very cute Spiny tailed lizard. She hosts a monthly open mic at Barnes & Noble in Bolingbrook, along with fellow Naperville Writers Group member Rich Le Cropane. She is co-chair of the Naperville Writers Group, and has been a member of ISPS since 2003.

John Quinn has been a resident of Brookfield, Illinois for over thirty years. He has been married to the same patient, long-suffering woman for two score and a couple of years, and they have two grown daughters that still light his life. He grew up in Chicago and received a B.A. in literature from the University of Notre Dame in 1957. He spent the next 40+ years selling, programming computer software, consulting, managing and training. The thing to understand here is that he has a very short attention span and needs to change jobs a lot. Fortunately, he was with a company that fostered learning, growth and change, so he managed to survive. He retired from corporate America in 2001. He doesn't like to garden; carpentry tools frighten him; and his wife does not like to travel so he now spends most of his time writing, reading and writing some more--that is where the patience and long suffering of his wife is put to the test. He has dabbled in doggerel, short fiction and self-serving essays for most of his adult life. He has never felt the need to publish though he does enter some local poetry contests and has had some small successes. He currently serves as president of the Illinois State Poetry Society.

Evanston Open Mic at "Cafe Express"

ISPS member James L. Corcoran announces that everyone is invited to join in an open mic event in Evanston at Cafe Express (N) on Dempster St. 1/2 block west of Chicago Ave. the 3rd Saturday of every month, beginning at 7 p.m. Sign-up begins one-half hour before showtime, and please notify the MC. CALL AHEAD! 847-864-1868