2021 PSI Fall Rendezvous Convention
![]() Click here for some presentations video highlights recorded during our 2021 Fall Rendezvous Convention!
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We had a great time celebrating poets and poetry at our Rendezvous, which was all in Zoom this year!
Costumes were worn, and Round Robin poetry sharing went into the night both Friday and Saturday! Presentations included:
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2021 PSI ANNUAL POETRY CONTEST results: category descriptions & winners
Privacy Note: although cash prizes are awarded by the Sponsors in almost all Categories, the dollar amounts are not included here.
1. PSI GRAND PRIZE
Form: Any Line
Limit: 40
Subject: No Regrets
Sponsor: Poetry Society of Indiana
Winners:
First Place: What Happened While I Waited by Sara Gipson
Second Place: Negative Space by Janice L. Freytag
Third Place: Toda La Ciudad Estaba en Llamas by Nancy Simmonds
HM-1 Chris Hasara
HM-2 Robert C. Jennings
HM-3 Julianza Shavin
Reserve: (not awarded)
2. ONE AND ONLY GLENNA GLEE AWARD
Form: Strict Rhyme and Rhythm
Line Limit: None
Subject: Happiness (Glee)
Sponsor: The Ghost of IFSPC
Winner:
First Place: Encounter by Donna Isaac
Second Place: Watching Grandma Knit by Joyce Shiver
Third Place: Wealth by Lorraine Jeffery
HM-1 Janice L. Freytag
HM-2 John W. Crawford
HM-3 Marcia Gunnett Woodard
Reserve: Dennis R. Patton
3. PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 32
Subject: Any Holiday / Holy Day Ritual
Sponsor: Deborah Petersen
Winners:
First Place: My High Holy Days by Alys Caviness-Gober
Second Place: The Beauty of America by Teresa A. Pruitt
Third Place: Christmas Lights by Terry Jude Miller
HM-1 Rachel Wright
HM-2 Paula Sweeney Kowszik
HM-3 Barbara J. Funke
Reserve: Tanya R. Whitney
4. PREMIER POETS PRIZE
Form: Shape/Concrete
Line Limit: 24
Subject: Any
Sponsor: PSI Premier Poets
Winners:
First Place: The House by Teresa A. Pruitt
Second Place: Lipstick by Amy Wray Irish
Third Place: Poets' Moon by Jerri Hardesty
HM-1 Nancy Simmonds
HM-2 Janice Miller
HM-3 Lorraine Jeffery
Reserve: (not awarded)
5. LIFE WORTH REMEMBERING AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 32
Subject: Will I (or You) Remember Tomorrow
Sponsor: Joe Ottinger
Winners:
First Place: Waiting for the memories to arrive by Catherine Moran
Second Place: Will You or I Remember Tomorrow by Dietrich Balsbaugh
Third Place: Will We Remember by Natalie Paige Hymes
HM-1 Mary A. Couch
HM-2 Dan Fitzgerald
HM-3 Dennis L. White
Reserve: Justine Vandenberg
6. PSI MEMORIAL AWARD
Honoring PSI members who died during the previous year.
Form: Any Line Limit: 32
Subject: Keeping Them With Us
Sponsor: Poetry Society of Indiana
Winners:
First Place: Ways to remember them by Catherine Moran
Second Place: The Road Leads Back to You by Mary A. Couch
Third Place: Loving Memories by Beverly Stanislawski
HM-1 Justine Vandenberg
HM-2 Joe Ottinger
HM-3 Julianza Shavin
Reserve: Alys Caviness-Gober
7. HOOSIER HERITAGE AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 60
Subject: The People. Places, History, and/or Culture of Indiana
Sponsor: Chuck Kellum
Winners:
First Place: Mekinges, The First Mrs. Conner Alys Caviness-Gober
Second Place: Peace in Daviess County by Don Adams
Third Place: "Indiana" by Justine Vandenberg
HM-1 Nancy Cook
HM-2 Mike Crawford
HM-3 Mary A. Couch
Reserve: Becky Alexander
8. URN YOUR PRIZE
Form: Spoon River Line
Limit: None
Subject: Any
Sponsor: Maik & Kali Strosahl
Winners:
First Place: Joy St. Clair by Jerri Hardesty
Second Place: Marshall A. Cornelius by Dennis L. White
Third Place: Arthur Miller 1836 - 1875 by Mary A. Couch
HM-1 Nancy Simmonds
HM-2 Paula Sweeney Kowszik
HM-3 Janice L. Freytag
Reserve: Beverly Stanislawski
9. BARBARA ANN AWARD
Form: Rhymed
Line Limit: 9
Subject: Living Without Sports
Sponsor: Michael Erdelen
Winners:
First Place: Bad Sports by Joe Ottinger
Second Place: A Tomboy Is Still a Girl by Pandora Nu
Third Place: Where Did They Go? by Christian Shute
HM-1 Janice L. Freytag
HM-2 John Caviness
HM-3 Joyce Shiver
Reserve: Mary A. Couch
10. NORTHEAST INDIANA POETS AWARD (this category received the most entries)
Form: Any
Line Limit 40
Subject: A Dream
Sponsor: NI POETS Club
Winners:
First Place: Thunder Storm by Emory D. Jones
Second Place: A Dream by Mary Ann Bozenski
Third Place: Dreamscape by Joe Ottinger
HM-1 Evelyn Cornwell
HM-2 Beverly Stanislawski
HM-3 John Caviness
Reserve: Nancy Simmonds
11. NOBLE POETS AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 50
Subject: Color or Colors
Sponsor: Noble Poets
Winners:
First Place: an apology to clouds Terry Jude Miller
Second Place: Gray by Steven Leitch
Third Place: What I Learned in 3rd Grade Art by Janice L. Freytag
HM-1 Patricia Barnes
HM-2 Christian Shute
HM-3 Janice Hoffman
Reserve: Barbara J. Funke
12. OBERLIN PRIZE
Honoring Prue Oberlin
Form: Sonnet
Line Limit
Subject: Education or Lifelong Learning
Sponsor: Angela Masterson Jones
Winners:
First Place: Insights into the wealth by Catherine Moran
Second Place: For Learning's Sake by Marcia Gunnett Woodard
Third Place: Growth by Pandora Nu
HM-1 Joe Ottinger
HM-2 Jerri Hardesty
HM-3 Emory D. Jones
Reserve: Patricia Barnes
13. MILLION AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 40
Subject: Favorite Quote
Sponsor: Marlene Million
Winners:
First Place: Returning by Terry Jude Miller
Second Place: Lost to Space by Dan Fitzgerald
Third Place: This Winter Poem by Janice L. Freytag
HM-1 Teresa A. Pruitt
HM-2 Marcia Gunnett Woodard
HM-3 Nancy Simmonds
Reserve: Laura Bridges
14. RHYMED VERSE AWARD
Form: Rhymed
Line Limit: 32
Subject: MAGIC
Sponsor: Peg Heacox
Winners:
First Place: My Charming Mother's Book by Patricia Barnes
Second Place: Woodland's Magical Realm by Mary A. Couch
Third Place: The Tiny Magic Shop by Janice L. Freytag
HM-1 Mary Ann Bozenski
HM-2 Janice Hoffman
HM-3 Janice Miller
Reserve: Marlene Million
15. BABBLING BROOK AWARD
Form: Haiku or Senryū
Line Limit: 3
Subject: Any
Sponsor: Mary Couch
Winners:
First Place: first line: hope trawls the black sea by Lorraine Jeffery
Second Place: first line: safron golden leaves by John W. Carawford
Third Place: first line: male chicadas drone by Dennis L. White
HM-1 Nancy Cook
HM-2 Ann Work Borger
HM-3 Janice L. Freytag
Reserve: Chris Hasara
16. ELEANOR CRANMER & CAROLINE AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 40
Subject: Takes All Kinds
Sponsor: Cranmer & Dewey
Winners:
First Place: The Dance by Rachel Wright
Second Place: She Smiles by Christian Shute
Third Place: Alternative Me by Janice Hoffman
HM-1 Nila Bartley
HM-2 Janice Miller
HM-3 Dennis L. White
Reserve: Joe Ottinger
17. ALDA JOHNSON MEMORIAL
Form: Any
Line Limit: 40
Subject: Sisterly Love
Sponsor: Dena R. Gorrell
Winners:
First Place: No Chance to Say Goodbye by Mary Ann Bozenski
Second Place: Sisters Return their Love by Sara Gipson
Third Place: Through the Years by Paula Sweeney Kowszik
HM-1 Mary A. Couch
HM-2 Doris Y. Burst
HM-3 Joyce Shiver
Reserve: Donna Isaac
18. GRACE POTTER HEARKINS AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 40
Subject: Knitting
Sponsor: Nancy Simmonds
Winners:
First Place: The Language of Knit and Purl by Janice L. Freytag
Second Place: Waters Weave by Teresa A. Pruitt
Third Place: Knitting the Bones by Barbara J. Funke
HM-1 Janice Miller
HM-2 Patricia Barnes
HM-3 Gail Denham
Reserve: Dan Fitzgerald
19. LINDA BANNON MEMORIAL
Form: Any
Line Limit: None
Subject: Blessing or Prayer
Sponsor: Susan Smith
Winners:
First Place: The Sentinel by Nancy Simmonds
Second Place: Faith Within by Robert V. Davis
Third Place: The Blessing of Wings by Janice L. Freytag
HM-1 Dennis R. Patton
HM-2 Nick Sweet
HM-3 Janice Miller
Reserve: Barbara Wood Gray
20. DEBRA SUE LYNN AWARD
Form: Sonnet, Villanelle, or Trijan Refrain
Line Limit: 30
Subject: Death, Silence, or The Sea
Sponsor: Debra Sue Lynn
Winners:
First Place: The Rivers of Hades by James Green
Second Place: Aqualove by Jerri Hardesty
Third Place: Snow's Gift by Patricia Barnes
HM-1 John Seksay
HM-2 Catherine Moran
HM-3 Janice L. Freytag
Reserve: Sara Gipson
21. EKPHRASTIGANZA!
Form: Ekphrastic
Line Limit: None
Subject: Any (Must include a picture of the artwork that inspired the poem.)
Sponsor: Maik and Kali Strosahl
Winners:
First Place: Constant as the Tides by Amy Wray Irish, with inspiring image of Ali and Nino, a moving set of statues that slowly come together and pull apart every day. The statues are located in Batumi, Georgia on the coast of the Black Sea. Click here to go to website that includes video.
Second Place: The Milkmaid's Morning by Joyce Shiver
Third Place: Grandma's Corn by Gail Denham
HM-1 Mary A. Couch
HM-2 Steven Leitch
HM-3 Justine Vandenberg
Reserve: Dietrich Balsbaugh
22. WIN PSI MEMBERSHIP
NOTE: Open only to non-member Indiana residents.
Form: Any
Line Limit: 32
Subject: Any
Prize (First Place Only): Winner receives PSI membership for one year.
Sponsor: Poetry Society of Indiana
Winners:
First Place: Wild Child Free Child by Morgan Galvan
Second Place: A Divine Insanity by Janice Miller
Third Place: Boo-Boos by Marcia Gunnett Woodard
HM-1 Dietrich Balsbaugh
HM-2 Natalie Paige Hymes
HM-3 Evelyn Cornwell
Reserve: (not awarded)
23. WILD CARD AWARD
NOTE: Requires additional $2 fee (Makes total contest entry fee $ for PSI members and $17 for non-members.)
Form: Any
Line Limit: None
Subject: Any
Sponsor: Poetry Society of Indiana
Winners:
First Place: Time is Like A River by Nancy Simmonds, an Ekphrastic poem inspired by Untitled #7, an art piece created by the poet from an assignment from Miller, Margarete (Collage Weekly Planner Series).
Second Place: Recall's Cage by Teresa A. Pruitt
Third Place: Grains of Sand by Chris Hasara
HM-1 John Seksay
HM-2 Nila Bartley
HM-3 Don Adams
Reserve: George Wylie
Privacy Note: although cash prizes are awarded by the Sponsors in almost all Categories, the dollar amounts are not included here.
1. PSI GRAND PRIZE
Form: Any Line
Limit: 40
Subject: No Regrets
Sponsor: Poetry Society of Indiana
Winners:
First Place: What Happened While I Waited by Sara Gipson
Second Place: Negative Space by Janice L. Freytag
Third Place: Toda La Ciudad Estaba en Llamas by Nancy Simmonds
HM-1 Chris Hasara
HM-2 Robert C. Jennings
HM-3 Julianza Shavin
Reserve: (not awarded)
2. ONE AND ONLY GLENNA GLEE AWARD
Form: Strict Rhyme and Rhythm
Line Limit: None
Subject: Happiness (Glee)
Sponsor: The Ghost of IFSPC
Winner:
First Place: Encounter by Donna Isaac
Second Place: Watching Grandma Knit by Joyce Shiver
Third Place: Wealth by Lorraine Jeffery
HM-1 Janice L. Freytag
HM-2 John W. Crawford
HM-3 Marcia Gunnett Woodard
Reserve: Dennis R. Patton
3. PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 32
Subject: Any Holiday / Holy Day Ritual
Sponsor: Deborah Petersen
Winners:
First Place: My High Holy Days by Alys Caviness-Gober
Second Place: The Beauty of America by Teresa A. Pruitt
Third Place: Christmas Lights by Terry Jude Miller
HM-1 Rachel Wright
HM-2 Paula Sweeney Kowszik
HM-3 Barbara J. Funke
Reserve: Tanya R. Whitney
4. PREMIER POETS PRIZE
Form: Shape/Concrete
Line Limit: 24
Subject: Any
Sponsor: PSI Premier Poets
Winners:
First Place: The House by Teresa A. Pruitt
Second Place: Lipstick by Amy Wray Irish
Third Place: Poets' Moon by Jerri Hardesty
HM-1 Nancy Simmonds
HM-2 Janice Miller
HM-3 Lorraine Jeffery
Reserve: (not awarded)
5. LIFE WORTH REMEMBERING AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 32
Subject: Will I (or You) Remember Tomorrow
Sponsor: Joe Ottinger
Winners:
First Place: Waiting for the memories to arrive by Catherine Moran
Second Place: Will You or I Remember Tomorrow by Dietrich Balsbaugh
Third Place: Will We Remember by Natalie Paige Hymes
HM-1 Mary A. Couch
HM-2 Dan Fitzgerald
HM-3 Dennis L. White
Reserve: Justine Vandenberg
6. PSI MEMORIAL AWARD
Honoring PSI members who died during the previous year.
Form: Any Line Limit: 32
Subject: Keeping Them With Us
Sponsor: Poetry Society of Indiana
Winners:
First Place: Ways to remember them by Catherine Moran
Second Place: The Road Leads Back to You by Mary A. Couch
Third Place: Loving Memories by Beverly Stanislawski
HM-1 Justine Vandenberg
HM-2 Joe Ottinger
HM-3 Julianza Shavin
Reserve: Alys Caviness-Gober
7. HOOSIER HERITAGE AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 60
Subject: The People. Places, History, and/or Culture of Indiana
Sponsor: Chuck Kellum
Winners:
First Place: Mekinges, The First Mrs. Conner Alys Caviness-Gober
Second Place: Peace in Daviess County by Don Adams
Third Place: "Indiana" by Justine Vandenberg
HM-1 Nancy Cook
HM-2 Mike Crawford
HM-3 Mary A. Couch
Reserve: Becky Alexander
8. URN YOUR PRIZE
Form: Spoon River Line
Limit: None
Subject: Any
Sponsor: Maik & Kali Strosahl
Winners:
First Place: Joy St. Clair by Jerri Hardesty
Second Place: Marshall A. Cornelius by Dennis L. White
Third Place: Arthur Miller 1836 - 1875 by Mary A. Couch
HM-1 Nancy Simmonds
HM-2 Paula Sweeney Kowszik
HM-3 Janice L. Freytag
Reserve: Beverly Stanislawski
9. BARBARA ANN AWARD
Form: Rhymed
Line Limit: 9
Subject: Living Without Sports
Sponsor: Michael Erdelen
Winners:
First Place: Bad Sports by Joe Ottinger
Second Place: A Tomboy Is Still a Girl by Pandora Nu
Third Place: Where Did They Go? by Christian Shute
HM-1 Janice L. Freytag
HM-2 John Caviness
HM-3 Joyce Shiver
Reserve: Mary A. Couch
10. NORTHEAST INDIANA POETS AWARD (this category received the most entries)
Form: Any
Line Limit 40
Subject: A Dream
Sponsor: NI POETS Club
Winners:
First Place: Thunder Storm by Emory D. Jones
Second Place: A Dream by Mary Ann Bozenski
Third Place: Dreamscape by Joe Ottinger
HM-1 Evelyn Cornwell
HM-2 Beverly Stanislawski
HM-3 John Caviness
Reserve: Nancy Simmonds
11. NOBLE POETS AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 50
Subject: Color or Colors
Sponsor: Noble Poets
Winners:
First Place: an apology to clouds Terry Jude Miller
Second Place: Gray by Steven Leitch
Third Place: What I Learned in 3rd Grade Art by Janice L. Freytag
HM-1 Patricia Barnes
HM-2 Christian Shute
HM-3 Janice Hoffman
Reserve: Barbara J. Funke
12. OBERLIN PRIZE
Honoring Prue Oberlin
Form: Sonnet
Line Limit
Subject: Education or Lifelong Learning
Sponsor: Angela Masterson Jones
Winners:
First Place: Insights into the wealth by Catherine Moran
Second Place: For Learning's Sake by Marcia Gunnett Woodard
Third Place: Growth by Pandora Nu
HM-1 Joe Ottinger
HM-2 Jerri Hardesty
HM-3 Emory D. Jones
Reserve: Patricia Barnes
13. MILLION AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 40
Subject: Favorite Quote
Sponsor: Marlene Million
Winners:
First Place: Returning by Terry Jude Miller
Second Place: Lost to Space by Dan Fitzgerald
Third Place: This Winter Poem by Janice L. Freytag
HM-1 Teresa A. Pruitt
HM-2 Marcia Gunnett Woodard
HM-3 Nancy Simmonds
Reserve: Laura Bridges
14. RHYMED VERSE AWARD
Form: Rhymed
Line Limit: 32
Subject: MAGIC
Sponsor: Peg Heacox
Winners:
First Place: My Charming Mother's Book by Patricia Barnes
Second Place: Woodland's Magical Realm by Mary A. Couch
Third Place: The Tiny Magic Shop by Janice L. Freytag
HM-1 Mary Ann Bozenski
HM-2 Janice Hoffman
HM-3 Janice Miller
Reserve: Marlene Million
15. BABBLING BROOK AWARD
Form: Haiku or Senryū
Line Limit: 3
Subject: Any
Sponsor: Mary Couch
Winners:
First Place: first line: hope trawls the black sea by Lorraine Jeffery
Second Place: first line: safron golden leaves by John W. Carawford
Third Place: first line: male chicadas drone by Dennis L. White
HM-1 Nancy Cook
HM-2 Ann Work Borger
HM-3 Janice L. Freytag
Reserve: Chris Hasara
16. ELEANOR CRANMER & CAROLINE AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 40
Subject: Takes All Kinds
Sponsor: Cranmer & Dewey
Winners:
First Place: The Dance by Rachel Wright
Second Place: She Smiles by Christian Shute
Third Place: Alternative Me by Janice Hoffman
HM-1 Nila Bartley
HM-2 Janice Miller
HM-3 Dennis L. White
Reserve: Joe Ottinger
17. ALDA JOHNSON MEMORIAL
Form: Any
Line Limit: 40
Subject: Sisterly Love
Sponsor: Dena R. Gorrell
Winners:
First Place: No Chance to Say Goodbye by Mary Ann Bozenski
Second Place: Sisters Return their Love by Sara Gipson
Third Place: Through the Years by Paula Sweeney Kowszik
HM-1 Mary A. Couch
HM-2 Doris Y. Burst
HM-3 Joyce Shiver
Reserve: Donna Isaac
18. GRACE POTTER HEARKINS AWARD
Form: Any
Line Limit: 40
Subject: Knitting
Sponsor: Nancy Simmonds
Winners:
First Place: The Language of Knit and Purl by Janice L. Freytag
Second Place: Waters Weave by Teresa A. Pruitt
Third Place: Knitting the Bones by Barbara J. Funke
HM-1 Janice Miller
HM-2 Patricia Barnes
HM-3 Gail Denham
Reserve: Dan Fitzgerald
19. LINDA BANNON MEMORIAL
Form: Any
Line Limit: None
Subject: Blessing or Prayer
Sponsor: Susan Smith
Winners:
First Place: The Sentinel by Nancy Simmonds
Second Place: Faith Within by Robert V. Davis
Third Place: The Blessing of Wings by Janice L. Freytag
HM-1 Dennis R. Patton
HM-2 Nick Sweet
HM-3 Janice Miller
Reserve: Barbara Wood Gray
20. DEBRA SUE LYNN AWARD
Form: Sonnet, Villanelle, or Trijan Refrain
Line Limit: 30
Subject: Death, Silence, or The Sea
Sponsor: Debra Sue Lynn
Winners:
First Place: The Rivers of Hades by James Green
Second Place: Aqualove by Jerri Hardesty
Third Place: Snow's Gift by Patricia Barnes
HM-1 John Seksay
HM-2 Catherine Moran
HM-3 Janice L. Freytag
Reserve: Sara Gipson
21. EKPHRASTIGANZA!
Form: Ekphrastic
Line Limit: None
Subject: Any (Must include a picture of the artwork that inspired the poem.)
Sponsor: Maik and Kali Strosahl
Winners:
First Place: Constant as the Tides by Amy Wray Irish, with inspiring image of Ali and Nino, a moving set of statues that slowly come together and pull apart every day. The statues are located in Batumi, Georgia on the coast of the Black Sea. Click here to go to website that includes video.
Second Place: The Milkmaid's Morning by Joyce Shiver
Third Place: Grandma's Corn by Gail Denham
HM-1 Mary A. Couch
HM-2 Steven Leitch
HM-3 Justine Vandenberg
Reserve: Dietrich Balsbaugh
22. WIN PSI MEMBERSHIP
NOTE: Open only to non-member Indiana residents.
Form: Any
Line Limit: 32
Subject: Any
Prize (First Place Only): Winner receives PSI membership for one year.
Sponsor: Poetry Society of Indiana
Winners:
First Place: Wild Child Free Child by Morgan Galvan
Second Place: A Divine Insanity by Janice Miller
Third Place: Boo-Boos by Marcia Gunnett Woodard
HM-1 Dietrich Balsbaugh
HM-2 Natalie Paige Hymes
HM-3 Evelyn Cornwell
Reserve: (not awarded)
23. WILD CARD AWARD
NOTE: Requires additional $2 fee (Makes total contest entry fee $ for PSI members and $17 for non-members.)
Form: Any
Line Limit: None
Subject: Any
Sponsor: Poetry Society of Indiana
Winners:
First Place: Time is Like A River by Nancy Simmonds, an Ekphrastic poem inspired by Untitled #7, an art piece created by the poet from an assignment from Miller, Margarete (Collage Weekly Planner Series).
Second Place: Recall's Cage by Teresa A. Pruitt
Third Place: Grains of Sand by Chris Hasara
HM-1 John Seksay
HM-2 Nila Bartley
HM-3 Don Adams
Reserve: George Wylie
Congratulations to all!
Stay tuned: we'll be sharing a downloadable PDF of our official 2021 contest results soon, on this page!