Katrina Van Tassel Poetry Fund
This is a restricted, field of interest fund. Field of interest funds are responsible for distributing grants to area non-profits within the specified focus.
This fund was started in 1998 by Jill Carter, Maureen Corcoran, Elizabeth Stevens, and Katrina Van Tassel—a group of Guilford poets who formed the Guilford Poets Guild for the pleasure and promotion of poetry in Guilford. It is named for Katrina Van Tassel Wuerth who was the leader in establishing regular poetry readings in Guilford and was a dynamic creative force in town for many years. She taught dramatics in Guilford and New Haven public schools. She also participated in the creative drama troupe Pickle Players; giving thousands of children their first memorable theatrical experiences.
Katrina’s love of poetry began at an early age and continued throughout her years. Founder and editor of the Embers Poetry Journal from 1982-1995, Katrina wrote and published three award winning books of poetry. Her poetry has been included in many publications. The Listening Field, Katrina’s poetry collection about Vermont, is scheduled for posthumous publication in December, 2006.
The first grant from the fund in 1999 supported an anthology of poetry by Guilford poets about their hometown. Through the years, the Guilford Poets Guild has continued to flourish. Members meet each month to critique and support each other’s work. They sponsor poetry readings by well known poets at the Women and Family Life Center on the second Thursday of March-June and September-December. Each year they sponsor a Student Poetry Contest and a Poetry Day with readings in all English classes at Guilford High School. Income from the Van Tassel Fund is used to support the Student Poetry Contest, guest poets, and any new publications.