As our February 1st, First Friday reading of 2019 comes upon us, I want to welcome you all to CAPS@20, our 20th year anniversary. Started many super moons ago by Jim Eve, Calling All Poets Series has evolved in many exciting and challenging directions at the whims of  its curators, its members, patrons, and supporters. 

There's our traditional First Friday readings at Roost Studios and Art Gallery, 69 Main Street, New Paltz. Please not our new starting time of 7:30PM. Every last Thursday of the month we return to Beacon, notably the Towne Crier Cafe, for our #poemsprosedialogue feature/wide open open mic. We have our 20th Anniversary Marathon on Saturday, March 16 from noon - 11:00PM.  This will be a a membership drive event, so please renew if your time is up and help inspire others to join. We'd also like you to encourage any students you know to join with a one year free membership!

JazzOetry returns to Quinn's Restaurant in Beacon on Monday, April 29, 8:00PM. Featuring the JazzOetry Quartet of bassist Robert Kopec, Eric Person - reeds, Joe Tranchina - piano and keys, and X. Tiques - on drums. Scheduled poets include George Wallace, Mike Jurkovic, Poet Gold, Jim Eve, Penny Brodie and others. We're hoping to schedule two more JazzOetry events before the anniversary year is out.

Starting Wednesday April 17, 7:00PM CAPS, in association with Trattoria Marbella in Ellenville, will host Authors' Night with a reading, book signing, question and answer session and open mic.

So CAPS@20 is something we can all celebrate! Everyone tends to give the bulk of the credit for sustaining CAPS through the years to Jim, Glenn, Greg behind the website, and I, but all of you, members or non-members, veteran poet or novice, have created the nurturing community we all dwell within.

Give yourselves a round of applause. Write yourselves a poem, a sonnet, a haiku. CAPS@20 is all of us!