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OPA member, Betty Bleen Named Runner Up in the Prestigious BlackBerryPeach Spoken and Heard Competition

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The National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS), an organization to which the Ohio Poetry Association belongs, named Westerville, Ohio poet and OPA member, Betty Bleen as runner up in the prestigious BlackBerryPeach Spoken and Heard competition. Bleen has been invited to read her poem at the NFSPS national convention in Denver, Colorado on June 2, 2018, along with the other prizewinners. The BlackBerryPeach competition challenges poets to present their original poetry in print and spoken word.

First Place went to  Rosemerry Trommer of Placerville, Colorado. As 1st place winner Trommer receives the grand prize of $1,000. The second place prize winner of $500 is Susan Chambers of Good Thunder, Minnesota. Third place winner of $250 is Ryan Jones of Grayson, Georgia. 

Vice President Joe Cavanaugh, chair of the contest stressed the importance of reaching out to all poets by recognizing spoken poetry in its many forms as a powerful poetic genre.

A video of the convention performances will be posted on YouTube and NFSPS will publish the prizewinning entries including written and oral versions of four poems from each, in a 6" by 9"book that will be for sale at the Convention and will be marketed on Amazon.com.

To learn more about the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, visit there website at  www.nfsps.com.
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