SOMOS Weeklies ~

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THE SOMOS 2010 WINTER WRITERS SERIES CONTINUES........

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TAOS KIDS NEED YOU!

First off:  a big THANKS to everyone who has signed up to mentor a young writer.  We’ve had a healthy response to our appeal, and have a terrific roster of adults willing to join the program.

So, what’s the problem?  Well, kind of an embarrassment of riches.  We’ve had such an enthusiastic response from the kids so far that we will DEFINITELY exceed the capacity of the mentor roster.  WE NEED MORE MENTORS!

I can't overestimate how valuable this one, simple gift -- the gift of your attention, for a few hours a month -- can be to a child.

What’s this program, again?  The purpose of the Young Writers' Mentorship Program is to encourage kids, 7^th through 12^th grade, to explore writing in a fun and supported way.  Most mentors meet with their student for an hour at a time, once a week or (more likely) once every two weeks, at a public place like the library or a cafe.  We provide some suggestions for writing exercises to get you started, and resources to find more.  Some mentor-student pairs follow the format of meeting, chatting for a bit (catching up), then doing a few writing exercises, reading the responses to each other, chatting a bit more.  In other cases the kids might be more self-directed, and have a project they want to work on.  The trick is to gently guide while following the kid's lead.  There's no homework, and the emphasis is on FUN, not correction or precision -- although, if a child asks for help in that department, of course that's something you can offer.

Mostly, the program is about this:  kids like stories (poetry, sci fi, you name it), and are curious about writing.  Adults provide a safe, supportive environment to explore that field, and at the same time show an interest in the child's overall well being.  That's just a fancy way of saying that you might become friends.

I should mention that mentors have program support -- we offer workshops you can attend with your student (or not) throughout the program, we have a big festive initial get-together where all the pairs meet (and parents are invited, too), and we're available for help should you run into questions.

The program starts mid-February and runs through the end of April.  Most mentors meet with their kids between six and ten times, total.

We need YOU, and we need your help getting the word out.  Please mention the program to any other writers -- professional or recreational -- whom you know.  We've found the best way to recruit new people into the program is through word of mouth.

And if you’d like to sign up, please email us, somos@somostaos.org

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Available by mail or stop by the SOMOS office,

        CHOKECHERRIES, the SOMOS annual anthology

2008               14.00 each

Muy Especial: Bundles of 11 fabulous past volumes for $5.00!!!!!

Please add $3.00 per book for shipping. Make checks out to SOMOS or use PAYPAL on our website.

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SOMOS HAS A BLOG!!!! www.somostaos.org

With the brilliant technical and creative help of new member Jim Kimmons, Hannah Rappaport is creating a new SOMOS BLOG.  This site will eventually replace our current website.  It will contain all the present information with the addition of some exciting interactive features.  Members will have the opportunity to submit posts such as poems, short stories, links to their own websites, and more.  There will be the opportunity to communicate with other members, keep up with SOMOS activities, find volunteer opportunities, and create new opportunities member to member. 

Through the WordPress Blog we will be able to save paper and postal expense by sending out our Muse News online.  Please notify the office if you do not wish to switch to paperless newsletters as in the very near future we will be making the switch.  For members who adamantly refuse the current technology we will continue to snail mail you paper.  But reducing the costs of this mailing is becoming necessary in this economic climate.

SOMOS began as a venue for local authors to read their works to one another.  This new Blog will carry the muse into the current cyberspace century (21^st for those who have lost count).  Stay tuned for this new format, coming soon.

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Keep those donations coming!
Help SOMOS by taking clothing, furnishings and other items to PIECES!!!!
1024 Paseo del Pueblo Sur

SOMOS' account is SO5 
737-0500

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SOMOS USED BOOK SALE!!
Every weekday from 10-1
10 mass market books for $1 or 25 cents each!!!

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Founded by Ruth G. Hardman
 
FIRST PLACE: $2,000 and publication
SECOND PLACE: $1,000 and publication
 
Contest Rules
 
Contest Begins: January 1, 2010
 
Postmark Deadline: April 30, 2010
 
Poetry: 3-10 pages of poetry (one long poem or several short poems).
 
Fiction: 7,500 words maximum.
 
No previously published works or works accepted for publication elsewhere. Author's name must not appear on the manuscript.  Include a cover sheet containing major title and subtitles, author's name, full address, phone & email.  "Contest Entry" should be clearly indicated on both the outer envelope and the cover sheet. Manuscripts should be stapled, if possible; if not, please bind with a black clip. Manuscripts will not be returned.  Nimrod retains the right to publish any submission.  Include SASE for results only.  If no SASE is sent, no contest results will be sent; however, the results will be posted on Nimrod’s Web site. Submitters must have a U.S. address by October of 2010 to enter the contest. Winners will also be brought to Tulsa for the Awards Ceremony in October. All finalists will be considered for publication.
 
Entry/Subscription Fee: $20 includes both entry fee & a one-year subscription (two issues).  Each entry must each be accompanied by a $20 fee.  Make checks payable to Nimrod.
 
Send to:
 
Nimrod Journal
Literary Contest--Fiction or Poetry
The University of Tulsa
800 S. Tucker Dr.
Tulsa, OK 74104     

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DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR THE SOUTHWEST BOOK DESIGN AWARD

Attention all publishers, book designers and producers, editors, and authors: your entries may now be submitted until March 19, 2010 to be considered for the Southwest Book Design & Production Awards for Excellence! Choose your best-looking books published in 2008 and 2009 and send them to us now; you don’t need to be an NMBA member to qualify! All details and the entry form are on the www.nmbook.org website. Contact Jim Mafchir with questions: (505) 988-7214, westernedge@santa-fe.net.

 

OTHER AWARDS DEADLINES ARE NEAR!

1. Moonbeam Children's Book Awards - Early-Bird Entry deadline Feb. 13: Now is the time to enter your award-worthy children's book into the fourth annual Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, honoring the year's best children’s books, authors, and illustrators. The program accepts entries with 2009 or 2010 copyrights or with release dates between January 1, 2009 and August 21, 2010. Entry is open to authors, illustrators, and publishers of children’s books written in English or Spanish and intended for the North American market. These awards bring an opportunity for recognition to independent authors and publishers who have a hard time breaking through to win library association awards like the Newbery and Caldecott.

Early-bird entry fee is $75 per title, per category (until Feb. 13), with increases to $85 and then $95 as the final deadline of August 21 approaches.

Online entry form: https://secure.independentpublisher.com/secure/moonbeam/entry.php.

Download a PDF of guidelines and entry form: http://www.moonbeamawards.com/MoonbeamGuidelines.pdf.

Questions? Contact Jim Barnes, Awards Director, 1-800-644-0133 x1011; email: jimb@bookpublishing.com.

 2. MPIBA Regional Book Awards - call for nominations: The deadline for nominations for the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association’s Regional Book Awards is February 26. Eligible titles must have been published in calendar year 2009, and their content must deal substantially with the MPIBA region, i.e., Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming. (The authors' place of residence is immaterial for this award.) Booksellers, publishers, sales reps, wholesalers, and authors all may nominate titles. For details, visit: www.mountainsplains.org, or email: lisa@mountainsplains.org.

 3. Border Book Festival. The 2010 dates are now April 8-11 and the theme is Shooting Stars. Our theme, Shooting Stars, celebrates the luminous beauty and spirit that is to be found in life, at once transitory, incandescent and meaningful.  Our children, our youth and our elderly are the shooting stars of our lives illuminating the shimmering trajectory of our days.  Our format for the event has changed, for further information: bbf@borderbookfestival.com
 
February 2010 Book Events in New Mexico

• Feb. 12: NMBA Networking Luncheon, at the Book Forum, 826 Camino del Monte Rey, Santa Fe, 11:30am. Free, bring a friend! Paula Lozar, lozarpaula@cs.com. Board meeting follows at 1:15pm.

.• Feb. 12: Sean Murphy/Mirabai Starr/Jenny Bird, Time of New Weather/Love Poems between St. Teresa of Avila & St. John of the Cross/CD Mystic Muse, SOMOS, MDL Meeting Room, Taos, 7pm-9pm, (575) 758-0081, somos@somostaos.org, www.somostaos.org.

• Feb. 19: Carolyn Gage/James Stevens, Parmachene Belle (one act play/poetry), SOMOS, MDL Meeting Room, Taos, 7pm-9pm, (575) 758-0081, somos@somostaos.org, www.somostaos.org.

• Feb. 20: Winter Storytelling with Joe Hayes, Clear Light Book Gallery, 851 W. San Mateo, Santa Fe, NM, 10am -4pm, (505) 989-9590, harmon@clearlightbooks.com, www.clearlightbooks.com/events.

• Feb. 26: dg nanouk Okpik (poetry)/Catherine Strisik (poetry), SOMOS, Caffe Tazza, Taos, 7pm-9pm, (575) 758-0081, somos@somostaos.org, www.somostaos.org.

 Author Signings & Readings

• Feb. 8: Nancy Bartlit, Silent Voices of World War II, New Mexico History Museum, 113 Lincoln Ave., Santa Fe, 10am, (505) 476-5200, michaelhice@earthlink.net, www.nmhistorymuseum.org/contacts.php.

• Feb. 12: Jennifer Kitchell, Girl with Skirt of Stars, Collected Works Bookstore, 202 Galisteo St., Santa Fe, NM, 6-8pm, (505) 988-4226, ethosah@charter.net, www.collectedworksbookstore.com.

• Feb. 20: Martha Egan, La Ranfla and Other New Mexico Stories, Authors for Literacy Series, Moriarty Public Library, 202 S. Broadway, Moriarty, NM, 9am, (505) 832-2513, moriartylibrary@yahoo.com, www.moriartylibrary.us.

• Feb. 25: Nancy Bartlit, Silent Voices of World War II, Volcano Vista High School, 12:30pm, (505) 890-0343/Ext. 37274, nathan.sokol@aps.edu, www.NancyBartlit.com.

Please visit NMBA at: www.nmbook.org

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THIS PROJECT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY NEW MEXICO ARTS, A DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT  OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, MAG DIMOND, THE VIRGINIA WELLINGTON CABOT FOUNDATION, THE PETER & MADELEINE MARTIN FOUNDATION FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS, HEALY FOUNDATION and the TAOS COUNTY LODGERS TAX.

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SOMOS
www.somostaos.org        somos@somostaos.org <mailto:somos@somostaos.org>
233 B Paseo del Pueblo Sur       P O Box 3225, Taos NM 87571
575-758-0081         FAX 575-758-4802

1) 2/4 Town of Taos Special Council Meeting, 1:30 p.m., agenda attached.

 

2) Town of Taos Gross Receipts for November, 2009 (received in January, 2010) are up 12.53% compared to November, 2008.  Total year-over-year figures put Town of Taos GRT at a negative 4.53%.  Town of Taos Lodgers Tax revenues are down 3.47% year-over-year.  Certainly down is not great, but we’re holding our own far better than other comparable communities with double-digit decreases (of course not that we really think any other place is comparable to Taos).

 

3) Art in Town Hall: The new Art in Town Hall exhibit has rotated for its second quarter installation.  Come and see the new works by Taos artists on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.  Selection/installation of the works is completed by a committee including representatives from Taos Artists Org. (TAO), Taos Center for the Arts (TCA), Taos Gallery Assoc. (TGA), and the Taos Institute TIGA.  Email Assist. Town Manager Abigail Adame if you’re interested in more information, or submitting for committee consideration, aadame@taosgov.com.

 

4) 2/15 is the Taos Tourism deadline for first wave of content submissions for 2010 Taos traveler education effort.  If you didn’t make any of the meetings last Wednesday, or read previous emails, you can still get the form and participate.  Fill it out and get it in.  It’s free, and your info. will be used constructively in a variety of ways.  Hard copies at Town Hall/Executive Desk, or download the form off the front page of the Town’s web site, http://www.taosgov.com/documents/TaosForm2010.pdf.  Or, email this office cconnelly@taosgov.com and we’ll email you back a PDF or Word.doc of the form.  For more info., Joan Griffin 505/764-4444, ext. 222.  Also helpful, is this reference guide: http://www.taosgov.com/documents/TOTMarketingSummary_001.pdf.  And again, if you need it emailed, just let us know.  And if you’re still in a pickle about how to participate, call Cathy Connelly, 575-751-2001.

 

5) Current February dates for Town of Taos Council Meetings:

2/4 Special Town of Taos Council Meeting, 1:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers, 120 Civic Plaza Dr.

2/9 Regular Town of Taos Council Meeting, 1:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers

2/13 Regular Town of Taos Council Meeting, 1:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers         

 Reminder: You can now listen in on Council meetings via the internet.  Just go to www.TaosGov.com and click on the ‘listen now’ button in the lower right hand section of the homepage.  Town Council agendas and information about each item are also available online.

 

6) February Town of Taos Planning & Zoning Meetings:

/3 Town of Taos Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., Council Chambers, 120 Civic Plaza Dr.

3/3, 2010 – Planning & Zoning Commission meeting 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., Council Chambers. 

For more info call Town of Taos Planning & Zoning Div. Supervisor Allen Vigil 737-2646.

 

7) Town of Taos Municipal Election Dates: 

2/2 Last day to register to vote in March 2 municipal election, 5 p.m. deadline, Taos County Clerk’s Offices, Taos County (Not Town Hall)

2/10 First Day of early voting, Town of Taos Clerk’s Office, 400 Camino de la Placita

2/26 Last Day absentee/early voting, 5 p.m. deadline, Town Clerk’s Office

3/2 Taos Municipal Election, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Rio Grande Hall, 121 Civic Plaza Dr. 

Contact Taos Town Clerk Rene Lucero for further information, 751-2005/rlucero@taosgov.com

 

Other Taos Calendar Items as of 2/1/10 for February, 2010:

·           2/6  The top High School Hockey talent in the State of NM - selected by the HS coaches Skills Competition – will play in the NM Star Game, 5-9 p.m., Taos Youth & Family Center, 407 Paseo del Canon, East, For info. 758-4160.

·            2/11 Valentine Craft Making – Town of Taos Youth & Family Center, 3-5:30 p.m., Free for children ages 6 to 12 (6 & 7 year olds need to bring their adult with them) – just bring your creativity and dress to “get messy”, 407 Paseo del Canon, East , For info. call Judy 758-4160. 

 

·           2/11 “How Will it End: A Conversation on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” with  Mark Rudd, author and legendary Students for a Democratic Society activist and with Robert Efroymson, President of the Jewish Federation of New Mexico. The two will exchange opposing viewpoints on the prospects for a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.  Open discussion will follow. Taos Jewish Center, 1335 Gusdorf Rd. Suite R south of the Women’s Health Institute, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Call for admission/details 575-758-8615. 

 

·           2/13 Adventures in Film Making  10 a.m. to 12 noon, Free, Taos Public Library/Community Rm.  Rick Aragón, producer and director for the film Mystery’s Night will present a talk about animation film making.  This New Visions award winner will show his film and discuss producing, script development, storyboarding, finding an editor, recommended software programs, and marketing.  For info. 758-3063

 

·           2/16 VFW Post 3259 Ladies Auxiliary, 5-6 p.m., Los Angelitos Room, Coronado Hall, 120 Civic Plaza Dr.  For info., Virginia Padilla 613-5326.

 

·           2/20 Town of Taos Public Library sponsors the 2^nd annual Teen Poetry Slam, 1-4:30 p.m., Free, Library Community Rm..  Funded by “Friends of Taos Public Library”, the slam is open to poet-participants in grades 9-12.  Audience members can be any age.  Prizes include: 1^st $100, 2^nd $75, 3^rd $50, 4^th $25 and 5^th $25.  Registration is on a first come basis; first 20 students with 5 alternate slots.  Registration applications must be submitted to the Taos Public Library, www.taoslibrary.org.  To register, and for more info. -  Jeanelle Romo-Lucero, 737-2596, jromo@taosgov.com

 

·           2/21-26 Keystone Symposia, Taos Convention Center.  Private event.  Be sure and welcome Keystone participants back when you see them in Town.

 

·           2/20 and 21 Taos Naval Sea Cadet Program, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., El Alcalde Room, Coronado Hall, 120 Civic Plaza Dr.  For info., Roberto Molino 737-0138.

 

·           2/23 Stray Hearts Animal Shelter honors Spay Day USA 2010 - the first and only international day of increasing awareness that spay/neuter is a humane and effective means of reducing pet overpopulation.   To pick up a Spay/Neuter low cost application, call or drop by Stray Hearts Animal Shelter, 758.2981, www.strayhearts.org.  

 

·           The following event update is forwarded on behalf of the Taos Center for the Arts (TCA), housed in the Taos Community Auditorium, owned by the Town of Taos and operated by the TCA.