Laserfiche WebLink
Request from Laurel Riding Jackson Foundation to the Board of County Commissioners: <br />"That the County Commission authorize the Honorary Designation of Indian River County Poet <br />Laureate " <br />Background: Forty-three states have poets laureate. Florida's most recent state laureate passed <br />away in August 2012 after serving 32 years in a lifetime appointment! In 2014 the Florida <br />Legislature enacted FS 265.2863, establishing the Florida Poet Laureate as an honorary four-year <br />renewable position. (A gentleman from St. Petersburg currently holds the position.) <br />Florida's Poet Laureate promotes reading, writing and the appreciation of poetry throughout the <br />state and encourages residents to express themselves through poetry and reading out loud. Indian <br />River County, as cited in its Comprehensive Plan already recognizes the importance and <br />economic value of the arts. From the rhymes small kids hear and create to the increasingly <br />worldly perceptions mature poet write, to our recollection in our senior years, the poems we <br />write bear witness to our American way of life. Poetry requires precision of thought and <br />condenses thinking. <br />The Laura (Riding Jackson Foundation), a 501 C (3) organization, has promoted poetry and <br />literary appreciation as the voice of poetry in Indian River County for over 20 years and hereby <br />requests the Board of County Commissioners establish the designation of Poet Laureate on the <br />county level. The poet laureate is charged by the county to officially promote poetry and other <br />literary forms to the County's diverse population. <br />LRJF suggests the position be structured as an honorary, four-year renewable term without <br />compensation. LRJF will recommend an individual, accomplished poet as the first poet laureate. <br />Thereafter, future candidates who are residents of Indian River County, have had works <br />published and are well-respected and recognized in their field will be juried by the Laura <br />(Riding) Jackson Foundation with the recommendation submitted to the County. <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />Laurel (Riding) Jackson Foundation <br />Nancy. Lea Offutt, Board Member <br />128 <br />