Oklahoma travel writers qualify for this award!

The call for entries is now open for the 2008 RedBud Awards, an honor given by the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association and the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. The RedBud Awards recognize Oklahoma’s tourism attractions, destination marketing organizations and travel writers for their outstanding efforts to serve and promote Oklahoma’s tourism industry.

“The RedBud Awards represent the highest honor given in recognition of tourism excellence in Oklahoma,” said Hardy Watkins, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. “These awards showcase the best of our state and reward our industry partners for their outstanding efforts operating and promoting world-class attractions.”

Entries must have been produced, published, broadcast or held between June 1, 2007 and May 31, 2008. To be eligible for consideration, entries must arrive by mail or be hand-delivered to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department by 5 p.m. on July 31, 2008. Absolutely no extension will be made to this deadline due to judging schedules.Winners will be announced during a special gala held on Oct. 13, 2008 during the Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Please contact OTIA at 405-942-1121 or register online to make reservations for the awards banquet and conference. Winners and runners-up will be notified a minimum of two weeks prior to the awards presentation.

For full detail on this award program or to download a RedBud Award entry form, visit OTIA or TravelOK Tourism Industry.

The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OTRD) is working to advance the exceptional quality of life in Oklahoma by preserving, maintaining, and promoting our natural assets and cultural richness. Our department is the steward of the state park system and also promotes Oklahoma as a travel destination through many award-winning programs. To learn more about Oklahoma’s unique events and attractions, please visit www.TravelOK.com.

What type of workshops would you like to have available to you, as an artist, as a business owner / manager, as a gallery, and as a self-publicist / marketer? Several organizations have excellent workshops. Which of those have you attended that you found most helpful? Please e-mail ideas and thoughts to Melyn@TravelOK.com.

Don’t forget to check out the Oklahoma Author’s Collection! This online collection highlights the literary heritage of our state through a compilation of contemporary and historical author profiles. It is an ongoing collaborative effort of the Oklahoma Center for the Book and the Oklahoma Collection of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.

Judith Tate O’Brien will read at Connor Center (Our Lady’s Cathedral), 32nd & Lake, on Saturday, June 21 at 5:45 p.m. at a pot luck dinner. If you would like to contribute, bring a dish for 8.

The June 8 Performing Arts Studio Second Sunday Poetry Reading will feature Maria Veres. Held in the Norman Depot, 200 South Jones, the reading begins at 2:00 PM. There is no admission charge. Light refreshments are served. Everyone is invited to attend.

Maria Veres began writing at age eleven. To support her literary habit, she tells us, she has worked as a legal secretary, Medicaid clerk, fundraiser, copyeditor, and magazine publisher. She is now a homeschooling mother and part-time teacher at Francis Tuttle Technology Center.

Her poetry has been published in many literary magazines over the years. Her first chapbook, Waiting for Miracles, was released in 2007.

Veres lives in the Oklahoma City area with her husband and daughter. When not writing or teaching, she confides that she spends hours vacuuming tufts of hair left behind by the family’s various pets.

“As you can surmise from the short bio above and the poem which follows, this reading promises to be a light hearted and delightful treat.” says PAS Executive Director Nancy McClellan.

To the Blond God
Who Checks My Electric Meter

You saw me
once.
You never looked past
my sensible shoes.
How could you know?
If only you asked
I’d sell my Toyota
move with you to Borneo
and buff your toenails
every Tuesday
until I died.
–Maria Veres

Also enjoy “First Time Around,” Photographs by Emily Dutcher, in the PAS Gallery while attending the poetry reading. For additional information about Performing Arts Studio programs, phone 307-9320.

Saturday, June 21st is Library Day at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History! Show your library card between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to gain free admission! Don’t have a library card? No problem. The Pioneer Library System will be there to help you sign up on the spot.

In addition to the regular exhibits, storytimes will run throughout the day. So pack up the family and head to Norman! It’ll also be a great opportunity to catch the exciting new exhibits - the Science of Supercroc and the Paleozoic Gallery.

If you have any questions call (405) 325-4712.

From the Oklahoma Humanities Council: if you are part of a university, poetry society or cultural organization take note and nominate!

The Oklahoma Humanities Council (OHC) has extended the nomination period for State Poet Laureate through June 3, 2008. The successful nominee will serve a term from 2009 through 2010. Nominations will be accepted from universities, poetry societies, and other cultural organizations only, not from individuals.

“Nominees should be distinguished poets who are residents of Oklahoma and who are committed to outreach and the promotion of poetry statewide,” said Dr. Jennifer Kidney, OHC Director of Literature Programs and coordinator for the Poet Laureate nomination review committee. “As part of their service to the state, we ask appointees to devote at least six days per year to Poet Laureate appearances. The Humanities Council will assist the Poet Laureate in arranging poetry readings and presentations across the state, and will provide a travel reimbursement for those appearances.”

According to legislation, the State Poet Laureate is an honorary position appointed by the Governor for a two-year term. The next Poet Laureate term will begin in January 2009. The Oklahoma Humanities Council facilitates the program on behalf of the Governor, organizing a committee of individuals with expertise in poetry who will review the nominations and make a recommendation to the Governor.

For nomination forms and guidelines, contact Dr. Kidney at: (405) 235-0280 or jennifer@okhumanitiescouncil.org.

If you’re in the Wagoner area on Tuesday, May 20th, you may want to head over to the Wagoner City Public Library at lunchtime! They will be hosting a “Books at Noon” author luncheon. Charles Sasser will be there!

The program is free and open to the public. Contact the Wagoner City Public Library at (918) 485-2126 for more information.

Come celebrate stories! Whether you’re a teacher, librarian, parent, grandparent, storyteller or a lover of tales the Spirit of Oklahoma Storytelling Festival is the place to be! The festival will have all kinds of stories told by national award winning storytellers.

The Festival runs June 6-7.

Friday Evening Concert 6:30 p.m.

Saturday Evening Concert 7 p.m.

Featured tellers - Tim Tingle, Elizabeth Ellis and Barbara McBride-Smith

All event festival pass $40

Member all festival pass $25

Saturday day pass $20

Pre-conference Friday workshops $35
(Pre-conference workshops are in addition to all event pass)
Evening concert tickets $10
Seniors and children concert tickets $5
Ghost stories $5

Festival events will be held at the Haney Center, Seminole State College.

For questions and registration contact Territory Tellers Bonnie Smith at 405-932-5406 or Jeanette Harjo at 405-398-4310