Vancouver Poetry House
Annual General Meeting
February 16, 2009

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Since our last AGM in March of 2008, Vancouver Poetry House has gone through a number of changes while continuing with our core programs.

Vancouver Poetry Slam had its first full year of new leadership and weekly slams. Participation at youth and alt slams as well as at regular slams has increased steadily. Additional significant accomplishments include the creation of a Van Slam Constitution and Honour Code, and the creation of a Rules Committee. The Slam has also received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. This has been used to fund performances by spoken word artists from across Canada at our slam.

Word Play Poetry in the Schools program continued to provide poetry workshops in local schools. After a brief rest period, the program has undergone a reorganization, involving more poets in direct outreach to schools.

In July, Poetry House participated in the Summer Dreams Reading Festival. In October, we hosted a workshop about sexual harassment and sex role stereotyping in the arts community.

The Vancouver Poetry House website was re-designed. Participation in site’s forum has steadily increased this year.

Current projects include: The presentation of the Salt Lines Tour in March, and Van Slam Finals Night – moving to the Rio Theatre.

Thank you to everyone who has done the work of Poetry House this year, volunteers, board members and participants in all of our activities. Thanks and best wishes to our outgoing Board members and welcome to those who will be joining us for the coming year.