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WVU Poets Meet For Global Reading

by Glennis Hobbs

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On Sunday, April 28, 2001, the first global poetry reading of Writers’ Village University members was held at Serendipity’s Treehouse Meditation Room in Steveston Village, Richmond, British Columbia. Twenty people attended the reading. Eight poets read their work to much applause. Taking part in this reading were Tom and Kathy Spencer from Indiana, Karli Shanklin and Molly Critchlow from Washington State, Rolly de los Santos from the Philippines, Arlene Lawson from Richmond, and Harry and Glennis Hobbs from Manitoba. Nitz acted as photographer and recorded the reading on videotape.

Plans for the reading started when we learned that Rolly and his wife Nitz from the Philippines planned a return visit to Arlene. Arlene’s invitation gave some us the impetus to visit Vancouver.

Over the last few years, we had "met" each other online in poetry study groups and taken various poetry courses together. We had come to know each other in cyberspace through our common interest in poetry. We spent four days getting to know each other in person and found that we had many more mutual interests.

We were also able to enjoy a phone visit from Gloria Pimentel, a fellow WVU poet from California who was unable to attend.

One highlight was a Thanksgiving dinner that Arlene cooked for Rolly and Nitz. We were all thankful for the opportunity to meet and get to know each other. Other highlights were Arlene’s tours of Vancouver, including Queen Elizabeth Gardens and Steveston Village. She also took those who were able to stay longer on a tour of Victoria and the Buchart Gardens.

When I first became involved with Writers Village University, meeting writers face-to-face was something I never even considered. Now, we are hopeful that this will be the first of many gatherings.

Writer’s Village University is all about writers helping writers. For the poets, it will now be a case of friends helping friends.

Photos provided by Arlene Lawson

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