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Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council: <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />The term of current Pleasanton Poet Laureate Kirk Ridgeway expired at the end of May 2005, <br />and the process to select a successor was initiated in April 2005. A Poet Laureate Selection <br />Committee met on April 27, 2005, to review potential applicants for the position. Members of <br />the Committee included: <br /> <br /> Jerry Hedstrom-Civic Arts Commission <br /> David Wright - Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council <br /> Judy Wheeler - Citizen- at- Large <br /> Blanche Abrams - Writer's Roundtable <br /> Jeanette Smith - Amador Valley High School <br /> Richard Dry - Las Positas College <br /> Morgan Mitchell - Pleasanton Library <br /> Susan Groshans - Media Representative <br /> <br />Mr. Ridgeway also attended the meeting to provide expertise and input, but did not participate in <br />the final selection. Faculty members for Foothill High School, Village High School, and <br />Horizon School did not respond to the Commission's invitation to participate in the selection <br />process. <br /> <br />Three (3) Pleasanton poets submitted application materials for the Committee's consideration - <br />Debra Grossman, Cynthia Bryant, and Elizabeth Fortini. Each applicant was required to submit <br />four (4) original poems, a one-page letter of interest, and a resume documenting their training, <br />background and affiliations, as well as indications of active participation in promoting the <br />literary arts in the community. They were also required to submit an outline of their vision - <br />goals, projects and activities - for the Poet Laureate Program during the tenure of the position, <br />June 2005 - May 2007. <br /> <br />Each candidate was also invited to appear before the Selection Committee on April 27, 2005, in <br />order to read selections of their poetry and respond to questions from the Committee. <br /> <br />Committee members then reviewed each candidate's submittals and presentations, and indicated <br />their choice for Poet Laureate. Ms. Bryant received five (5) first place votes, with Ms. <br />Grossman receiving three (3) first place votes. After a subsequent general discussion, the <br />Committee agreed unanimously to recommend Ms. Bryant as Pleasanton's next Poet Laureate. <br /> <br />The Civic Arts Commission, at it May 9, 2005 meeting, reviewed the Committee's selection and <br />voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council appoint Ms. Bryant as Pleasanton's Poet <br />Laureate for 2005-2007. <br /> <br />SR 05:138 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br /> <br />