National Federation of State Poetry Societies
The National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Inc. (NFSPS) is a national organization of state poetry societies in the United States. It was established in 1959 and now includes affiliates in 32 U.S. states. The federation hosts conferences and maintains awards and educational programs related to poetry. History. The National Federation of State Poetry Societies was established in Baton Rouge on October 17, 1959, by Mary B. Wall. The first conference was held in conjunction with the Louisiana State Poetry Society where national officers were elected. A constitution was adopted in Philadelphia in 1960 , and the organization was incorporated in Madison, Wisconsin, in July 1966. The federation included 10 state affiliates at that time. By 2020 that number had grown to 32. Activities. The NFSPS normally sponsors fifty annual poetry contests offering cash prizes, including a grand prize of $1,000. It also sponsors the Stevens Manuscript contest for a collection of poems by one poet, the BlackBerry Peach Poetry Awards, and the College Undergraduate Poetry competition. All members of the national organization are members of an NFSPS-affiliated state organization. The Federation encourages and supports the institution of Poets Laureate in the various  cities and states. The federation publishes the "Strophes" official newsletter quarterly, which provides both national and state society news. The newsletter also announces contests and awards and lists current state presidents and board members. NFSPS conducts an annual national convention to handle business and offer poetry workshops and presentations. The Federation Library Collection is housed at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and includes the "Encore" poetry anthologies published annually by NFSPS. Affiliates. Poets Roundtable of Arkansas. Poets Roundtable of Arkansas (PRA) is a non-profit state-level poetry association in the U.S. state of Arkansas, affiliated with the National Federation  of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS). The organization promotes poetry, conducts monthly and annual contests, issues poetry publications and organizes periodic meetings and conferences. History. The Poets Roundtable of Arkansas was founded on February 5, 1931, by a group of seven women interested in developing as poets. The group was originally named Round Table Poets. The PRA adopted its current name on July 25, 1939, and is currently a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. PRA is an affiliate member of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. In 2020 PRA had ten affiliate branches in Arkansas. The archives of the organization are stored  at the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies. Activities. PRA hosts contests, study groups, an annual workshop, and celebrates National Poetry Day annually in October. It publishes a quarterly newsletter, the "News 'N' Notes". In 2013 the PRA published a retrospective of 80 years of members' poetry.